How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bites Fast
In the Florida climate, it’s pretty impossible to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito everytime you step outside. Luckily, there are a few ways to get rid of mosquito bites fast at home for some relief. Learn more about mosquito bites and getting rid of them here:
How to Treat Mosquito Bites
If you have a mosquito bite, you don’t have to just wait it out! Here are some ways to reduce itchiness and discomfort:
- Icepack: Ice, or anything cold, is a great option for reducing the inflammation and swelling of your mosquito bites. This ends up helping the itchiness too!
- Baking soda & water: The alkaline compounds in baking soda help your skin’s pH balance, which is crucial for fighting off bug bites. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with water to make a paste, then put it on your mosquito bite to reduce itching.
- Rubbing alcohol: Putting this on your mosquito bites has a cooling effect when it dries, relieving itchiness, but too much can irritate your skin, so use with caution!
- Aloe: Aloe vera works similarly to an icepack, reducing the inflammation of your mosquito bites and relieving the itch.
- Antihistamine cream: Last but not least, you can always go to your local store and get some over the counter anti-itch cream.
How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
This may come as no surprise, but the best way to stop the itchiness from a mosquito bite is to avoid it all together! Unfortunaly, mosquitos in Florida are relentless. Here are some things you can do besides just spraying bug spray before going outside.
Plant Citronella Grass
Citronella grass is a great option to plant in your yard and garden to repel insects, including mosquitoes! Citronella works by masking the scents that mosquitoes are hunting for, protecting you. However, it’s important that you plant actual citronella grass, and not just citronella scented grasses. What actually repels mosquitoes is the oils in the citronella grass, which isn’t something that scented grasses provide!
Essential Oils as Mosquito Repellant
If you hate the smell of bug spray, use essential oils as your mosquito repellant! Here are some oils you can apply directly on your skin that will deter mosquitoes:
- Lemon Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Citronella
- Tea Tree
- Peppermint
Essential oils are great options if you’re looking for not just a better smell, but also a non-toxic mosquito repellant. The one caveat here is that you might repel mosquitoes, but attract other insects instead.
Bug Zappers
While bug zappers aren’t the most efficient solution for large infestation problems, having one for your porch or deck can help ward off the occasional mosquito bite! Mosquitoes are more attracted to the carbon dioxide that you exhale than they are to light, but they do have some preference for blue and green lights. If you buy one specifically for mosquitoes, make sure you get one in these colors!
Mosquito Bite Facts
How Long do Mosquito Bites Itch?
The duration of mosquito bites varies from person to person. The average mosquito bite itches from 3 to 4 days, but sometimes they go away in as little as a day. If you’ve ever wondered why your mosquito bites last longer than others, or why you get bit more, it’s because of your skin’s bacteria makeup! Mosquitoes prefer different genetic bacteria combinations, so if you ever feel like you’re more prone to bites than your friends, you probably are.
What Does an Allergic Reaction to a Mosquito Bite Look Like?
An allergic reaction to a mosquito bite often looks like a normal bite, just larger, redder, and way more irritated. Anyone can have a severe reaction to a mosquito bite, and just because you have an allergic reaction to one bite, doesn’t mean you’ll have one everytime you get bitten. People with lower immune systems or people in contact with a new mosquito species are more likely to have allergic reactions to mosquito bites.
Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch More at Night?
You might have just thought it was a coincidence, but mosquito bites actually do itch more at night! This is because our cortisol levels are lower at night, which is our body’s natural anti-inflammatory. As these levels go up throughout the day, your body naturally fights the swelling and itching on its own.
Call Tony’s Pest Control For Local Mosquito Control!
There might be ways to get rid of your mosquito bites, but the best option is to not have them at all! If you’ve dealt with mosquito bites in Southwest Florida for long enough, it’s time to call Tony’s Pest Control. With over 35 years of experience, we know how to get the job done right– guaranteed! Don’t put up with mosquitoes any longer, get a free quote today!