There is no surefire 100% protection from mosquitoes.  You might find that it is more difficult to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites away from home.  Hiking, camping, vacationing…all these outdoor scenarios present a potential for mosquito bites.

Non-infectious mosquito bites can result in a skin reaction.  This skin irritation comes from toxins in mosquito saliva.  If you have been bitten by a mosquito, you are probably familiar with the bump, redness, and itching a bite can cause.  If not properly addressed, your scratching can lead to a skin infection.  It’s better to be safe than sorry.  The good news is, there are more than a few options for mosquito bite relief.

All-natural Mosquito Bite Relief

Getting rid of the itch and redness of a bug bite does not necessarily require medication.  The CDC recommends a few all-natural mosquito bite relief solutions.  You could try washing the skin immediately after the bite occurs with warm soap and water.  If your skin still itches and swells, try applying ice cubes.  Not only will the ice offer a numbing sensation, it will help reduce swelling.  Keep ice on the skin for about ten minutes.  Repeat if necessary.

Another natural solution is a baking soda paste.  Mix baking soda with water, just enough to create a thick paste.  Massage the paste onto the bug bite, and leave for ten minutes.  Baking soda paste can help alleviate itchiness and swelling, and could even help with bee and wasp stings.  If you do not achieve the desired relief with this paste, you could try a topical over-the-counter antihistamine cream.

What about mosquito bite relief tools?

There are many tools, which claim to relieve bites and stings.  They range in price from $10 to $40.  How do you know which tools work best?  With a little online research, you can determine whether you want to try one of these mosquito bite relief tools.  The good thing about them, is that no medication is required.  For all intents and purposes, they could be considered all-natural mosquito bite relief.  One of the tools that I found, which has great reviews, costs only $10.  The Bug Bite Thing claims to work on bites and stings.  Perhaps at this price, it would be worth adding to your travel first aid kit.  One reviewer says, “This thing works! Every time I’ve used it, my bite has never turned into a bump or irritated me in any way.”  I cannot personally attest to the effectiveness of the Bug Bite Thing.  Here is another review, where you can see it in action.

Mosquito Control and Protection for Bite Prevention

Protecting your family from mosquito bites is easy at home.  Each springtime, mosquitoes will re-emerge.  They show up at outdoor parties and inside our homes.  We hear them buzzing.  We seem them swarming around standing water.  The first way you can protect your family is by following the 7 T’s of mosquito control.  This method of protection includes keeping your yard free of standing water, leaf debris, and talking to your neighbors about effective mosquito control.  The next thing you can do, is hire a reputable mosquito control company.  Full mosquito protection should begin in the spring, and end in the late fall.  EPA-registered mosquito barrier sprays offer a few weeks of ultimate protection, eliminating up to 95% of mosquitoes from your yard.  All-natural sprays are also available.  Natural mosquito sprays will repel up to 85% of mosquitoes from around your home.

Also read: When should you worry about a mosquito bite?