Getting bitten by a bug, no matter what kind it is, can be painful and irritating. The initial bite can hurt, and the lingering bite can irritate your skin causing it to itch. Most of the time, an itchy bug bite will cause you to scratch at it, but this will only further irritate your skin and make the bite take longer to heal.
If you really want to cure an itchy bug bite, then you’ll want to use the following remedies.
Put ice on it.
As soon after the initial bite as possible, you want to make sure that you put ice directly on the bug bite. Not only will this help to reduce swelling, but it will also help alleviate the itch. The numbing effect from the ice will also keep you from scratching at it once the ice has been removed.
Use deodorant.
Look at the label of your deodorant. If it contains aluminum chloride, roll it across the area of the bite. The aluminum chloride in the deodorant will help reduce the swelling and the itching of the bite, and you can apply it whenever the bite starts to itch.
Use hydrocortisone cream.
There are many different types of hydrocortisone cream, and any of them will be very effective in helping to reduce the itch of your bug bite. Simply place some of it on the bite directly and rub it in.
Use calamine lotion.
Calamine lotion is a tried and true method for the chicken pox, and it can also help with regular bug bites. Like hydrocortisone cream, make sure to apply calamine lotion directly on the bug bite and rub it in.
Make a baking soda mix.
Combine baking soda and water to make a paste and place the paste on the bug bite. Although you’ll want it to sit there, the baking soda is a great cleaning agent and can help keep the area from becoming infected and help reduce the itch.
Use vinegar.
Place a dab of vinegar on a cotton ball and press it against the bug bite. Vinegar contains ingredients that will reduce the swelling and redness of a bite as well as reduce the itch.
Break out the honey.
Honey is a natural antibiotic, and placing a dab of honey on a bug bite will keep it from itching. This can get messy, though, so you may want to place a bandage over the honey to keep it from getting on your clothes.
Use toothpaste.
Peppermint flavored toothpaste is also a great remedy to alleviate the itch of bug bites. Put a tiny dab on the bite and allow it to harden.
Cut your nails.
You’re going to be tempted to scratch, and if you have long nails, you could end up cutting the skin around the bite, allowing it to become infected. If you think that you will succumb to scratching the area, make sure to cut your nails. This will make it hard for you to scratch, and it will keep you from infecting the area.
