How Do I Stop a Bite From Itching?

One treatment of the itch that accompanies a mosquito bite is as close as your freezer.

If you spend time outdoors, you may have experienced the annoyance of an itchy insect bite, perhaps from a mosquito or a chigger. Remedies are available to help ease the itch and pain caused by such bites.

Apply Ice

A simple at-home remedy for an itch caused by an insect bite is the placement of an ice pack on the bite, according to Ohio State University Extension. Ice can help reduce swelling around the bite, and it helps to numb the area and reduce the itching.

Don't Scratch

Although scratching the itchy insect bite might provide instant relief, it can ultimately do more harm than good. According to Tim Gibb, a diagnostic entomologist at Purdue University, scratching the bite may cause it to become infected. This may slow down healing time, making that itchiness linger even longer. It may also cause bleeding and scabbing.

Lotion or Cream

Apply calamine lotion to your insect bites to soothe the skin and reduce the itching. You can apply this lotion as often as your bites itch. A hydrocortisone cream may serve as an anti-inflammatory, reducing redness around the bite while decreasing the itchiness as well.

Antihistamines

An antihistamine may help. Those listed by MayoClinic.com as available over the counter are diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine maleate, loratadine or cetirizine.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Mosquito Bites
• Net Wellness: Tick Bite Itching
• Purdue University: As Chiggers Get Thicker, It's No Time to Snicker
• Quick Care: Insect Bites and Stings
• MayoClinic: Mosquito bites