7 Ways To Get You Relief From Bug Bite

Summer is arguably the best time of year—you know, other than the bug bites.

Something that makes them even more annoying? Those bug and mosquito bites are little allergic reactions brought on by insects. Think about it: Their symptoms (pain, itching, swelling) are all characteristic of a localized allergic reaction. But as far as those mild, localized, itchy bites go, hold off on a trip to the drugstore to find your anti-itch remedy experts say these 7 natural ways to relieve bug bites can be just as effective as any over-the-counter treatments.

* Ice Cubes

Applying ice (or anything sufficiently cold) can reduce swelling, and should also provide temporary relief from itching, Day says. Ice won’t remove or neutralize the saliva proteins the mosquito left behind, and so your bite will likely start to itch again as soon as you take away the source of chilly relief. But if you’re in agony and just want a respite, ice is an effective option. Pro tip: A strap-on ice pack is useful if you have a number of bites in a concentrated or hard-to-reach area.

* Tea Bags

Natural tannins in tea act as an astringent, drawing toxins out of the skin and helping to lessen your discomfort. Press a used tea bag against your bites until the itching subsides.

* Swab the bite with rubbing alcohol

" Rubbing alcohol works really well in reducing itching and that histamine response,” Day says, adding that he always carries individually wrapped alcohol wipes when he’s studying mosquitoes in the field. He explains that rubbing alcohol “denatures” the proteins in the mosquito’s saliva, meaning it clears away the thing that your immune system would normally react to with itching or swelling. “Rubbing alcohol also has a soothing and cooling effect,” he adds.

* Dab on calamine lotion

“Calamine lotion can be soothing,” says Lee Townsend, Ph.D., an extension professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky. This pink-hued, OTC topical treatment contains zinc oxide, which has long been known to have anti-itch properties. The downside: Calamine needs to be reapplied several times a day to keep the itch away when treating mosquito bites, but it helps if you have it handy.

* Slather on aloe vera gel

If you prefer to turn to a natural home remedy, applying pure aloe vera to your mosquito bite could help it heal. “It can help soothe irritated skin, such as from bug bites, because of its anti-inflammatory properties,” Noelani González, M.D., director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai West in New York recently told Prevention. “It can also help reduce redness in that area.” Just note that it may take a few days for the itch to completely subside—but you’ll reap these aloe vera skin benefits in the process. (Just be sure to test another patch of skin first to ensure that you don’t have an allergic reaction.)

* Reach for baking soda

Mix baking soda with a little water—just enough to form a paste. Apply that to your bites, and you should experience itch relief, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you’re dealing with many bites, you could also add a quarter cup of baking soda to a bath to quell the itch and tame inflammation. That’s why baking soda makes an effective sunburn cure, too.

* Apply hydrocortisone cream

This topical anti-inflammatory agent will keep bite-related heat and swelling down and has also been shown to relieve itching, according to the National Library of Medicine. You don’t need a prescription-strength product. Applying 1% hydrocortisone cream a few times a day should help get rid of your mosquito bite.