How to Find Sweet Relief From Painfully Itchy Bug Bites
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If you’ve ever been pinched by a spider or bitten by a mosquito, you know how important finding bug bite relief can be. Whether it was a tick bite, spider bite, or a mosquito bite from something you couldn’t swat away, your thought process probably looks a little something like this once you discover a new bug bite in all its glory:
Oh no, what is that from?
Phew, OK, doesn’t look serious.
So. Much. ITCHING.
That’s because, when an insect bites you, a mixture of saliva (and sometimes venom) enters your skin at the puncture mark. Your immune system responds to this invasion by releasing a mixture of compounds, including the chemical histamine, explains Sarah Jackson, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Louisiana State University.
That histamine attacks foreign substances it deems potentially harmful, such as salivary proteins from insects, setting off itching, redness, and swelling in the process.
But just as all insects are different, so is our reaction to them. “Each bug has a different ‘ingredient’ that they are injecting into you that causes a different reaction,” Dr. Jackson says. “On top of that, your own immune response differs from person to person.”
Depending on how your body handles the bite, you could experience anything from no sensation to intense itchiness. That’s why a mosquito bite can lead to swollen welts in people that have a mosquito bite allergy, and insignificant red bumps in others.
To some degree, though, everyone deals with itching—and it’s important not to scratch, otherwise you boost your risk of a gnarly infection. That’s easier said than done, so we talked to experts to find remedies that will heal your bug bite fast. Cue the sigh of relief:
How to stop bug bites from itching
“To stop the itching, there are lots of great over-the-counter remedies that you can use,” Dr. Jackson says, including the following:
1. Opt for 1% hydrocortisone.
This anti-inflammatory topical cream can help minimize redness, swelling, and itching by activating natural substances in the skin, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine. We like Aveeno’s 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream, because it also contains soothing oat, aloe vera, and vitamin E.
2. Dab on a bit of rubbing alcohol.
“Rubbing alcohol works really well in reducing itching and that histamine response,” Jonathan Day, Ph.D., a mosquito researcher and professor of medical entomology at the University of Florida, previously told Prevention. He says the alcohol helps clear away the saliva proteins that would normally set off your immune system. Plus, it has a pleasantly cooling and soothing effect. But be sure not to use too much, as it could irritate your skin.
3. Apply a cold compress.
Grab an ice pack or some frozen veggies and give your bite 10 to 15 minutes of quick, short-lasting relief. Per Cleveland Clinic, you can also try soaking a chamomile tea bag and storing it in your fridge as a compress to make good use of the tea’s anti-swelling properties. Your skin may feel itchy again afterward, but this is a helpful way to reduce swelling and avoid incessant scratching if the area feels unbearable.
4. Soothe it with menthol or camphor.
Dr. Jackson suggests looking for lotions or ointments that contain menthol or camphor, like this one from Sarna, which creates a cooling sensation to help tamp down irritation.
5. Slather on some aloe vera.
Prefer a more natural route? Pure, 100% aloe vera gel is typically a safe bet. “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 told Prevention. “It can also help reduce redness in that area.” (Just be sure to test a separate patch of skin first to ensure you have no allergic reaction.)
6. Try a pramoxine lotion.
There are tons of itch-relief creams to turn to, but Dr. Jackson recommends ones that contain 1% pramoxine hydrochloride, like this gentle formula from CeraVe. Pramoxine is a topical anesthetic, so it numbs the skin by preventing nerves from firing pain and itch signals.
7. Take an oral antihistamine.
Antihistamines, like Benadryl and Allegra, directly counter the effects of the histamines that your body releases after a bite, says Dr. Jackson.
8. Relieve mild pain with OTC med.
Dr. Jackson says good ol’ acetaminophen, like Tylenol, can help reduce any mild pain and itching from gnarly bites.
9. Experiment with colloidal oatmeal
There are more things lying around the house that can provide bug bite relief than you might be aware of. For instance, taking a cool bath with colloidal oatmeal can help relieve itching and soothe skin (per Mayo Clinic). You can either make your own colloidal oatmeal mixture, or try this one from Aveeno, which comes in packets that can be added to a bath.
10. Apply honey
According to Cleveland Clinic, applying unprocessed honey to the affected area is another home remedy to try that can help reduce minor inflammation. Just be sure not to wear it outside, since it can attract more pesky insects.
11. Stop scratching
You knew this one was coming. As hard as it is to resist the urge to pick at and scratch your bug bites, you’ll be better off in the long run if you do. The more you scratch your bug bites, the more inflamed they become, and the more you risk breaking skin and causing an infection (according to Cleveland Clinic). Covering the bite with a bandage or even wearing gloves to cover your nails can help prevent you from scratching; you’ll thank yourself later.
When to see your doctor about a bug bite
Dr. Jackson warns that the bite itself might not be your main worry—it’s what can happen after a few days of scratching, which opens up your skin to new danger.
“A bug bite can easily become secondarily infected,” she says. Pay close attention to the area to see if it gets worse over time, and see your dermatologist if you experience oozing pus at the bite site, warmth in the area, a rash that seems to spreading, or pain that doesn’t seem to be subsiding.
You should also pay close attention to any other symptoms you may experience following the bite, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Tick bites, for example, can cause severe fatigue, fever, body aches, headaches, and a bullseye-shaped rash—all signs of Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses. In this case, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible, just to be safe.
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