How to Relieve Symptoms of a Mosquito Bite
Some of us roam this Earth knowing that no matter how close we sit to a citronella candle, no matter what clothes we wear, and what time of day we walk a little outdoors in the summer, we will be bitten by mosquitoes. through a layer of insect spray, I swear we just applied.
This summer I decided enough was enough. I was no longer going to listen to me complain that I could not prevent an insect bite in the 12 seconds it took me to walk from the car to the front door. This summer, I was going to take the bites for granted and focus on treatment instead.
(However, I’m not going to stop using my bug spray. It really helps, it’s safe, and especially important if you live in an area with mosquito-borne diseases like Zika or West Nile.)
The bug bite thing
In a desperate search for a cure for mosquito bites, I stumbled upon this insect bitten thing and I feel like I hit the jackpot. I’ve only used it once, but it was six different bites that I managed to get while gardening last weekend. Thing is a suction tool that is said to extract mosquito saliva left behind under the skin.
“Mosquito saliva contains proteins that are allergens to humans,” says Dr. Katie Marks-Kogan, allergist and immunologist (and co-developer of Ready, Set, Food! ). Our bodies make antibodies to fight off allergens, and it is the resulting immune response that causes the redness, swelling, and itching that we all know and love.
“The entire allergic reaction is stimulated by saliva, so if there is a mechanism to expel some of that saliva, I could see that it works, or at least minimizes the reaction,” says Marks-Kogan.
Of the six bites I tested this on, five stopped the itching right away and shrank in size to what the bite usually looks like, about 3-4 days after I received it. The sixth bite was in the tricky area of the ankle and I don’t think I was sucking it well enough. This continued to bother me over the next two days, although not as much as it usually does with a bite. I tried sucking it off a couple more times, but as the website says , “The best results are obtained when the Bug Bite Thing is used within the first two minutes of being bitten or bitten.”
So there is a downside – you have to carry it with you and use it right away to get the most benefit. That’s why I immediately ordered two more so that I could leave one in the house, one in my purse and one in the car. The thing is quite small and lightweight, so it’s a small price to pay.
ZapIt
Lifehacker Health editor Beth Skoreki uses another itch relief tool called ZapIt . This thing uses weak electrical impulses to reduce inflammation and histamine flow (as opposed to scratching, which floods the area with histamine and aggravates the itching). Marx-Kogan, familiar with the science behind such a claim, believes it makes sense.
“There is a hypothesis that this type of electrical impulse may decrease the amount of histamine or affect its use,” she says. “If ZapIt does represent the same electrical impulse (as what has been studied), then it is theoretically possible that it could help.”
The relief is often temporary – Beth says it lasts over 6 hours on her – but we’ll take advantage of it.
Neither has been fully proven, and each organism responds differently to bites and their treatment, but judging by the anecdotes, they are promising. Perhaps one of them – Bug Bite Thing for immediate action and ZapIt for use later if you didn’t have a Thing Thing ready at the time of the bite – is your best bet.
Medication
Marks-Kogan suggests that medications to relieve symptoms may include a topical steroid or Benadryl cream. For what she calls “large localized” reactions – the type of ridiculously large and hard bites that some people are prone to – a doctor may require a stronger prescription topical steroid or oral steroid.
“I often tell (patients) to take oral antihistamines like Zyrtec or Allegra,” she says. “If you know you’re going on a hike, go to the Zyrtec and stay on it (while you’re there). You can still get a bite, but your reaction will not be so bad. “
Her final tip: If you’re still not feeling relieved, consider talking directly to your allergist to find out what other options you might have.