Mosquito bite remedies: What works for itching and prevention
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
After recently complaining about vicious mosquito attacks while walking my dog, I asked readers for their best itch remedies.
🦟 The buzz: Axios fans came through with a swarm of great advice for avoiding and treating mosquito bites — a few of which I've had a chance to try.
- Here are some top suggestions and what's worked so far:
Repellents
🫒 "Use ORS Olive Oil Nourishing Sheen Spray. Primarily used by Black women for their hair, it can be found at Walgreens and CVS. Works terrifically to keep mosquitoes and gnats away." — Kevin S.
🐱"I use catnip oil in witch hazel. Put in glass bottle with spritzer top. Works pretty good for keeping mosquitoes away." — Jane V.
🍋 "I’ve used oil of lemon eucalyptus spray for years dog walking through the forest preserves and sitting out on patios." — Louisa C.
💨 "I keep Off Deet Free by my back door and put it in before I head out on dog walks. It works and doesn’t smell that terrible. Good luck!" — Alison M.
🌿 "I swear by Diptyque's geranium and citronella spray. Haven't had a bite in years." — Susan D.
🧴 Skin So Soft with picardin. —Michele H.
Treatments
Try this heat-based "doodad that plugs in to your phone that zaps your itchy bug bites." —Amy R.
"Nothing really stops the itching but the best partial solution I've used is unscented roll-on antiperspirant." —Lyn B.
"I recommend After Bite Xtr." —Ron S.
Try the [suction-based] "Bug Bite Thing, a small tool that stops the itching. I first heard about it on Shark Tank years ago." — Beth R.
"Any vinegar works but apple cider is the best." — Regan B.
"I keep ammonia in a bottle dropper. Works like a charm." — Terry G.
"Fels-Naptha soap! No idea why but my grandma always used it and it's the only thing that stops itching for me - helped my mom with poison ivy itching too! I guess historically it was used by gardeners to ensure poison ivy oils were washed off." — Audrey W.
"As someone whose mosquito bites swell into hives, topical Benadryl gel is a *game changer*. Also, if you have a hairdryer, blowing hot air at them will make them stop itching too." — Laura L.
"Sarna cream over the counter at any drug store. The best!!" —Linda S
"Dead Sea Pearls aloe vera gel." — Lisa A.
What worked: Benadryl gel and "After Bite" relieved itching for a couple of hours.
- The heat method — using a hair dryer, the doodad or a spoon steeped in hot tap water— immediately stopped the itching, maybe because I was so busy screaming.
- Fels-Naptha soap offered temporary relief.
- The Bug Bite Thing that suctions the bite spot worked well for my friend and minimized my bite severity.
What's next: I'll be trying some repellent suggestions on my upcoming dog walks.