Allergy to Mosquito Bites

I read many of the responses to this and it inspired me to let you know what I do. About 20 years ago, I studied natural remedies and was always willing to try those first. I used to use brewer's yeast powder, on skin and also on my pets. It is somewhat messy to use externally. I also ingested brewer's yeast tablets, as well as garlic oil caps. At the time, I gave them to my pets to prevent all bugs, including ticks. It worked like a charm, but the garlic smell was a bit offensive.

Since that time I have had my daughters, one of which is extremely allergic to mosquitoes. I was told by a friend to try Vitamin B1. I added it to my kids vitamin in the morning. After about one week, mosquitoes virtually IGNORED my daughter, as well as the rest of us.
My personal preference, however, is using brewer's yeast tabs internally, because that has many more benefits, other than bug repellant. Brewer's yeast is great for skin, hair, and mood. It is also the natural way to get b1 as well as other b vitamins, and being a food product, the body absorbs it much better than the single vitamin which is processed.
Good luck!

5 moms found this helpful

I see that you've receivd a lot of responses and I haven't read them all, however, our daughter will swell up terribly and the bite location will even get feverish if untreated. OTC itch meds work a tiny bit but very best of all ... sprinkle a quarter size amount of table salt in your hand, dampen your fingers with water and gently massage the salt on the wound. A 90ish yr. old woman told us about this at church and we were all amazed (we had a little boy that morning that had a few bites and it worked wonders!). This is easy to do in the car or anywhere you have a restaurant packet of salt and you can just lick (I know ... but we're moms!) your fingertip and dip on the salt. My little girls now knows how to do this. Within no time, you can't even see where the bite was located. It is definitely our cure all for those bites. Instantly stops itch. It's the natural iodine in the salt that does the trick.

5 moms found this helpful

I've seen so many great suggestions here. My little girl had a similar problem, and we tried alot of products, none that I was happy with since they all contained poisons. For prevention, the all-natural Burt's Bees repellant with citronella oils and citrus oils worked well for us. When she did get a bite, then we would use the Benadryl ant-itch spray, which would help the itching and the swelling, as well. When I was a child, my mother would spray vinegar (1/2 Vinegar,1/2 water mixture) on us, and that seemed to help a little. We were not as allergic to the Mosquitoes as my daughter seems to be.

4 moms found this helpful

My ds2 has the same issue; his welts can get as big as 2 to 3 inches in diameter. We are no strangers to allergies since ds1 has a severe peanut allergy that results in anaphylactic reactions.

As soon as you see the welts give her a dose of benedryl. This will get the welts to go away. The other suggestions may help until the benedryl has time to kick in. Keep giving benedryl until the welts are completely gone; usually within 12hrs or so. Ds2's welts are usually gone within ~6hrs.

Fortunately mosquito allergies are something that is out-grown in time. For more information on this allergy you can go to http://www.aaaai.org/patients/advocate/2005/summer/mosqui....

Good luck! I hope this summer will be better! :)

3 moms found this helpful

I have two children that are allergic to mosquito bites as well. Just last weeek my youngest daughters eye swelled shut from a bite near her eye. My mother-in-law swears that baking soda and water works to take away the itch. Take a small amount of baking soda and add enough water to make a paste. Apply it to the bite and let it dry on the bite. I have not done this to myself, however my girls ask for this remedy all the time. Either it does work or it tricks them into thinking it works. either way they are not scratching at it. Good Luck!

I am a mom of four girls, 10 7 5 3. Married 11 years and counting!

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i know that a salt water paste works to take out the itch out i've used this on myself since as long as i can remember..and i know mesquitoes dont like citrus either so you could try using a salt water paste with a little lemon juice or orange juice mixed in to prevent her from getting bit

3 moms found this helpful

Hi K.,
I too asked a similar question awhile back and received LOTS of suggestions. Rather than retype them all...take a look at my files when you have the time. I personally like the vanilla extract recommendation or the Avon Skin So Soft product for prevention. Then using the cloraseptic or throat sprays for instantly numbing. If they become more swollen or infected then using tea tree oil or an aspirin/salt paste before bed.

2 moms found this helpful

i am having the same prob with my son, he has very sensitive skin, and some excema, i wonder if that is why he is reactign so badly to the bites, anyhow my girlfriend just told me about a product called Sarna, i guess you can get it at walmart, and she said it works really well. She had the same prob with her sons and the dermatologist said it was a great product.

2 moms found this helpful

I don't know how I missed this when you first posted it! This is an affliction I have had for about the past 3 years. My doctor said it is not an allergy to mosquitoes, but to the insecticides used to get rid of the mosquitoes. The best thing I have found is the Benadryl Itch Relief Stick. I know H-E-B carries it here in Waco. If I can catch it when it first starts to itch, the itch relief stick keeps it from swelling up at all! Even if it has started to swell, it gets rid of it pretty quick. I sometimes have to apply 2 times. My great, great niece just turned 6 and it has been a lifesaver for her as well.

2 moms found this helpful

K.,
Have you tried Gold Bond? That stuff really works for just about any type of rash or itch! I used it all the time on my son, who also has the same reaction to Mosquito Bites- His get huge and look like mounds on his legs. It is a creme that comes in a tube. Also - place a bounty dryer sheet on your child when they go outside - tuck it in their shorts pocket with some hanging out, exposed to air. I pin one outside of my sons shirt on the back of his shirt so he doesn't pull at it - and it keeps bugs away. Silly trick I learned on TV and it works!!!

Hope these help!

2 moms found this helpful

I can empathize with your situation.
My daughter, who is now 28, suffered dramatically from this problem, looked like she had been attacked by a welt monster!! I learned two very valuable things over the years with her:
A.) I would spray her with Skin So Soft by Avon before she went outside. I don't understand the reasons but mosquitoes (sp isn't happening much this a.m.) really don't like the smell and tend to stay away. I sprayed her skin and clothing both.
B.) I kept Sting-eze on hand.
Another thing to avoid is bananas, mosquitoes love banana oil and it stays in your system for up to a month after you have eatten them.
My 10 yr old boy has what they refer to as fragile skin and this is a real problem for him too. I try to spray him down but he resists this procedure. We keep benedryl ointment, an anti-itch pen designed especially for bug bites and Sting-eze for him to use as well.
I apply the Sting-eze as soon as I see a spot on him and it keeps him from digging at the bite and causing scabs.
My prayers and thoughts are with you.

2 moms found this helpful

My oldest son did this - one time it was so bad he had to go on antibiotics because his leg swelled from his hip to his ankle. You couldn't see his knee or ankle outline! Basically, it was getting infected due to fluid retention and was easily solved! My doctor's said it can take several bites for children to build a "tolerance" to the mosquitos. He eventually did and now his bites are similar to ours with just an occasional extra large welt (he's 11 now). ANYWAY, we used to use a calming serum that had yling yling and lavender oil in it. The company no longer makes it and I haven't run out of it yet to look for more. It works like a DREAM if you can find something similar.

1 mom found this helpful

I always heard rubbing bounce sheets on yourself works - I tried it a few times and it seemed to work great. Also, to help stop the itch, put ice on it. When I was pregnant I had really bad eczema on my hands and I didn't want to use any anti-itch creams so my doc told me to ice them - it worked so well! I use the ice now when I get bit by a mosquito. Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful

Dear K.,
The same thing happens to me and I'm 46 years old. In my case I lacked vitamin B. I went to a reputable chiropractor and he determined I needed a supplement that had thiamine, vitamin B6, niacin. The bites no longer swell
up and get large anymore.

L. J

1 mom found this helpful

I am also highly allergic to mosquito bites. The bites itch, burn, and swell beyond belief. I have tried a lot of remedies but it didn't work for me. When bitten, I use plain alcohol and rub it on the bite immediately. If you're able to get the alcohol into the bite hole, it will prevent itching and swelling. Always carry alcohol wipes with you in mosquitos areas. If you're not able to put alcohol right away and the swelling is getting worse, I put a compress soaked with alchol and it will take the swelling dowm. Tiger balm works very well also. It stops the swelling and itch. Be careful you don't get it near the eyes because it burns, but it is very effective. Trying bounce, vitamin B, Benadry, and other remedies didn't work for me. Avon skin so soft was okay. Your children are so young, try the alcohol and see the results. Tape a little swatch of cotton ball soak with alcohol on the bite and keep the swatch moist. I hope this helps your children.
Wishing them well. A.

1 mom found this helpful

My youngest son reacts the same way. I read in the newspaper that there is a certain type of mosquito out this year called a tiger? mosquito that causes giagantic welts. The anti-itch cream seems to work for him. I have heard that bounce dryer sheets work to keep the mosquitos away.

1 mom found this helpful

mosquito usually only bite at night, so put her in long sleeves and long pants. Skin So Soft bath oil on her exposed skin should repel them completely.Avon makes it. You may have her not eat bananas also as they seem to attract those pesky critters. Personally I eat Garlic every day and I never get bit by a mosquito.You could also rid your area of any standing water that they can lay their eggs in. A baking soda and water paste works very well at helping to relieve the bites itch.

1 mom found this helpful

My cousin is a doctor and she recommends putting triple antibiotic ointment on the bites. It will help to keep your daughter from scratching and it also helps to keep sites that have been scratched from getting infected. You could use any generic triple antibiotic or something like Neosporin. I do know that I have used the Neosporin with pain reliever in it and it really seemed to help my daughter's severe bites. Hope that this helps and good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi K.,
I used a product called Herbal Armor which worked well for me back home in the northern peninsula of Michigan, and on hikes in the Canadian wilderness as well. Up north the mosquitoes are HUGE and hungry. Here's a link for the product:
http://www.rei.com/product/751172
DEET is very effective, but if you decide to use a product with DEET, please be careful; it should be washed off the skin as soon as possible when no longer needed. I made DEET in organic chemistry class in college, and it's got some nasty stuff in it. Here's a link to learn more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET
I.

1 mom found this helpful

One of my daughters has the same problem. She also reacts horribly to spider bites, which usually end up infected. Mosquito and spider bites cause her a lot of itching and pain. I don't think the pastes help her, and anti-itch cream helps only a little, but the one thing that helps her the most is an ice pack. Since she was little, I would put it on, we'd count to 10, then take it off. I would repeat that until it was numb enough that it didn't bother her to keep it on for several minutes. It always works and is 100% natural.

As for prevention, I bought a 100% natural bug spray made by Burt's Bees. I've never tried the Skin So Soft, but I think the Burt's Bees is very effective. (And it is truly 100% natural - you can confirm the ingredients.)

1 mom found this helpful

Arbonne's hand cream works almost miraculously for insect bites & other things like warts...If you don't know of a consultant, I could probably help you find one. I think it costs around $14.00. And it's all natural.=)

1 mom found this helpful

Just wanted to let you know that my daughter used to react adversly to mosquito bites. They would get quartersized, hard, and ooze (sorry, gross but true!) She is now 10 and has thankfully grown out of the reaction. I believe we were reccomended to give her L. acidophilus, but you may want to consult with a healthfood shop or herbologist, if you want to go that route. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I have a serious allergy to mosquitos. I don't like the Benedryl solution because I remember the Benedryl making me feel 'out of it' when I was a kid. Also, I noticed when I gave it to my kids that it changed their mood making them irritable. I have used Skin So Soft. This helps a lot. Citronella did nothing for me. The mosquitos bit right through it. Hope this info helps. I like a lot of the natural remedies suggested by others.

1 mom found this helpful

I'm the same way as your daughter! What I find works the best is Desitin cream. Just dab some on the bites. Or straight zinc oxide cream. Both dry out the bites and help them go away sooner. Hope this helps!

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You might try Zyrtec for children. It's an allergy medicine for indoor and outdoor allergies. You should also use an oral and topical anti-histamine for all bites received. No Bite for Kids is a topical treatment for bug bits. You can use an oral anti-histamine such as Benedryl.

You may need to reduce the time spent in mosquito areas that have moist grass, creeks, ponds and other types of standing water. You may need to avoid playing outside early AM, dusk and at night.

I had severe allergies to mosquitos when growing up. One bite would swell anywhere between golf ball to baseball sized red spots. They would stand a good half inch off the skin. It was terrible, and it sounds like the same thing your child is going through.

Right now I take the Zyrtec 12 hour tablet in the morning. It helps reduce the anti-histamine reaction. I then put a No Bit formula on the bite as a topical treatment. It the bit still itches terrible and starts to swell, then I take the oral Benedryl.

You might consider having her tested for other allergies as well. This might be an indicator of a long list of outdoor allergies. My family has attended Ear, Nose & Throat doctors for three generations. My friend attends The Allergy Center for her family.

1 mom found this helpful

My son is also allergic to misquitoes. We have always used a prescription cream called Bactroban. It works very well & is covered by most insurances. Benedryl is good for the itch but it makes my son tired so I just use after bite for the itch & it usually works. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi K.,
We have massive problems with mosquitos and their biting on our kids as well. I had gone on google to try to find remedies and how to repell mosquitos, You can also check out webmd and cutterinsectrepellant.com. I just typed in how to repel mosquitos or remedies to help with mosquito bites. I've learned alot on the sites that I have searched through there. Did you know that mosquitos bite because of male hormones and because of people who sweat alot? They also bite people more if they are obese. Some helpful things to help with the bites are baking soda paste, benadryl, cold packs, epsome salt bath. I also rub rubbing alcohol on the broken skin. It hurts for a second, but the itching does stop for awhile. My youngest ended up with a mosquito bite on her eye and it swelled so bad, her eye actually turned blue on the lid and purple. So we called her doctor and they said to give benadryl to her and put a cold pack if possible on her eye for a few minutes at a time. It helped within 3 days later her eye was back to normal! No one is allergic to mosquitos, I've also learned that from the websites and from the doctor. Some people like adults don't swell as bad as children. Good Luck and I hope this helps!!! And that mosquito that one of the ladies had said was a tiger, its the Asian Tiger mosquito and they are black and big mosquitos and they come out early morning and I think during the afternoons. Those are the ones that do carry the West Nile. If you go to the websites I provided above than you'll get the big scoop on everything. =0)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi, K., I use a Benzocaine gel (like Oragel) instead of anti-itch creams. They stop the itch RIGHT NOW. You can reapply in a few hours when you see her scratching again. Also, Repellant creams work better than sprays, but if she's out for a long time, they need to be applied again. Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter is also very allergic to mosquito bites. She once got one on her forehead and both of her eyes ended up swelling shut. I use bounce fabric softener as a mosquito repellent and when she does get a bite we use an oral medication for allergies. I like Children's Zyrtec the best. Creams don't seem to help all the itching.

1 mom found this helpful

My husband just read the other day that if you rub anti-perspirant deodorant on the bite it will help stop the itch and dry it out! Haven't tried it yet but it is worth a shot because you will always have deodorant on hand! It may be because I think some deodorants have aluminum and zinc in them.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter is 6 and has always had the big welts you describe. 2 weeks ago she got bitten on the ankle and her foot was red and swollen all the way down to the base of her toes. I looked on my favorite website, Dr Greene.com and he recommends Thiamine or B1 supplements. I called my children's allergy office(my son gets allergy shots and has for 3 years) and the nurse also recommended B1. The doses are different and I am having trouble getting my daughter to take them since I can't find chewable ones. Anyway, these are supposed to repel the mosquitos so you don't get the welts in the first place. For the first 3 days it is 50mg in the a.m. and 50 mg in the p.m. and then 50mg a day after. Dr Greene recommends 25-50mg 3 times a day. I've used everything after she gets bit, creams, lotions, even ice and tylenol, nothing helps. So, we are working on prevention. Some people do outgrow these but I know adults who are the same way.

L. Etta, stay at home mother of a 6 year old girl and an 8 year old boy.

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I read that someone was having trouble getting their child to take the B1 tablet... So, here's one possible solution:

Can you increase any of these in her/his diet?

Foods high in Vitamin B1 (thiamine), include pork, lean meats, eggs, green vegetables, whole or enriched cereals, wheat germ, nuts, berries and legumes.

This info was taken from the following site:

http://www.weightawareness.com/common/print.xml?document_...

:-)

T.

1 mom found this helpful

This could be just a bunch of hooey but considering the position you are in I thought you might want to try it. I got an email of home solutions type things. One of the things it said was to spray an area, including decks, with listerine or the generic form of listering. Something about the smell, I guess is suppose to repel mosquitos. I've never tried this and don't know if it will work but it's worth a shot, I think, if your little one can go outside without being eaten alive. Good luck! If you try it and it works, let me know! All the best, Shannon G.

I have used the Skin So Soft on myself and my kids but now recommend our ARBONNE HERBAL Diaper Cream- yes, diaper cream. It's natural ingredients soothe and calm the irritation and itching.

As precaution I have also heard and used Vitamin B Complex but check with your Pediatrician.

Blessings,

D.

Epson salt baths seem to help lessen my daughter's redness and swelling from mosquito bites.

I have also heard that Bounce dryer sheets keep the mosquitos away. I have never tried it but my mom has and says it really works. Good luck!

Try skin so soft from Avon. It works really well. I have friends that dillute it with water and spray it on there horses. Works great. I don't like putting prestacides on my kids so I have always used that.

K.
Both of my children have similar reactions. My daughter got bit once near her eye and it actually looked like she had a black eye from it. My son tends to get bit all the time no matter what I do and also swells. I actually carry the single dose Benadryl in my purse at all times. I give it to them as soon as they are bit. That does help keep the swelling down.
As far as keeping them from getting bit, I just dress them in long pants and shirts when I know we are going to be outside in the evening. I try to find thin clothing so they don't get too hot. My children prefer to be hot though if it keeps them from getting bit up so bad.

Hi K.!
Nothing ever worked for my sons. I tried everything under the sun (and all the suggestions I read on here so far.) The only way I could get them to stop itching and the swelling to go away was to pop the bite site (just the bubble at the top) and let it drain. It was like the poison stayed at the top, but spread like mad when scratched. Neither of them had any scaring and it releaved the pressure that triggered the itching and the bites disappeared within a day or so. Goood luck.

This idea may sound really cruel, but I've always had a horrible time with mosquito and spider bites and it's helped me. The spray Benadryl works quite nicely especially after the bites have been scratched (assuming she's not your 4 month old). It stings (which over time might lessen the amount of scratching) while reducing the itch.

Try to avoid dark and/or wet areas (including high grass soaked with dew).

Sorry I'm late on responding, but i figured n e advice would help. My cousins are allergic and their doctor said to wash the infected area, apply peroxide, & then a cortazone (sp?) cream.. It really reduces the size and helps the itching. My cousin would have them the size of golf balls.. so they would dramatically shrink when she would do this twice a day.. morning and bed. Good Luck!

Mom always used calamine lotion or she made a paste of water and baking soda. That also works for bee stings.

This was all great informations. My kids always have a horrible spring,summer,and the fall due to mosquitos. I am going to use the salt paste. And give them Vitamin B1. Thank You! :)

I was there when I was a kid. I remember at Girl Scout camp at the age of 9, getting bitten and it swelled to the size of a softball on the side of my face. My mom used a mix of meat tenderizer and water to make a paste and it helps with the itching. We all are allergic to mosquitos, but some are more sensitive than others. If she's overly itchy, try a dose of benadryl, if she's old enough. Also, plain old toothpaste works, too!!

I know when my husband was young, his parents were told to give him Vitamin B. I don't know if it came in a drop or a tablet. I was told it smells really bad and even made his stolls smell really bad, but it stopped the bug bites. He used this until he was 7 or 8.

I to am allergic to mosquito bites,so what ever advice you get I would really appreciate it if you could also pass that along to me.I have read that spraying listerine on yourself will keep mosquito's away,but I have not had any luck with it. K.

Hi K.! I don't have a home remedy but just a remedy. It's benadryl. It's an antihystamine that will knock the socks off those mosquito bites.

Good luck with the itching! ...I know how she feels!!!

A.

My daughter also has a very bad reaction to bites. Her doctor gave us some free samples of a foam called "Luxiq". It seems to help a lot. You have to massage it into the area which is a little uncomfy for her but it seems to do the trick.

my 3-year -old daughter does the same thing Avons relellant i have found works pretty good to keep them away. as far as the itch part i have been putting raw onion on the bites when i see them and it works for the itching part just not long enough dont know why just know it has been working next bite i am going to bandaid a piece of onio to it and see if the affects last longer. will let ya know

Hi K.,

sorry I am late. I sometimes get the huge bites myself and I am over 50! The tenderizer-and-water paste works for me, also sometimes I put vinegar on the bite and that seems to reduce the itch. Good luck

K. Z.

My now 8 year old daughter also has a really rough time with mosquito bites. When her asthma increased over the summer, her pediatrician advised me to have her tested for allergies. I then discovered that she was HIGHLY allergic to mosquito bites, among other usual things. She gets weekly allergy shots (which contain in minimal doses of her allergens). I've learned from reading several responses some home remedies, but I would recommend having your children tested for allergies. I'm hoping that the allergy shots will boost her immune system before mosquito season begins. I will also consult her allergist as to the best solution to dealing with the bites, because we all know that our children will get bitten. My best advise from experience is to consult an allergist. Good luck!

I know you already responded to all your emails, and I wanted to share one more option. I use tea tree oil as a repellent. It works well for me, and I am one of those adults that is almost 40 and still has horrible welts if bitten. Sting ez helps if you immediately apply it after being bitten.

Try rubbing alcohol on the bites. It really works for me. It takes the itch away. Also, give her some children's Benadryl to help with the itching and swelling. Try using the insect repelling cloths, so you get better coverage and reapply every 2-4 hours, depending on the concentration of DEET.

K.,

I don't know if this is your case or not, but I thought I would mention it. The other day on talk radio they had a highly reknowned and credientialed expert doctor talking about infections, specifically MRSA, the resistant staph.

There are 2 kinds-hospital and community, although they are beginning to cross boundaries. The community MRSA can happen with any skin scratch and often reoccurs in individuals. It can come after scratching a mosquito bite, a knee scrape, injuries just playing in the park or neightborhood, etc. They itch, get red, fill with puss, etc. They almost always go away on their own, but respond well to Bactrin antibiotic and some others.

We all carry this staff on our skin, but a break in the skin allows it to enter and take over for some individuals. Since these mosquito bites are problematic for your daughter, is it possible that the community MRSA is responsible?

I learned a lot from listening to this on Dr. Dobson's radio program and it was specifically geared to parents and children. I'm sorry I can't remember the doctor's name, but if you go to the website, they have that interview. I think it's Focus on the Family. (The hospital MRSA is different and much more serious.)

When my daughter was two she was also allergic to mosquitos and when I asked her doctor what I should do he told me to not let her get bite. We didn't go back to that doctor again and I really didn't respond to his comment in a way I should have in front of my daughter. But she was also outside and didn't like to stay indoors. I ended up having to give her liquid Benedryl before she went out and again when she came in. Everytime! Within dosing instructions of course. This kept her from swelling up three times her normal size, and most of the itching. Something I learned later and after I had to boys is that Bounce Dryer Sheets if wiped on your skin will repel mosquitos. But only Bounce works. It is pesticide free so I was able to use it on the youngest ones outside after dark. Just had to be careful of their eyes. And when my boys would be outside and away from home longer than a hour or so I would send them with one in their pocket so they could rewipe themselves when they started to get bit again. Hope this helps. Also be watchful if your daughter is ever bitten by a spider or bees. My daughter was also highly allergic to Jumping Spiders but not bees. I was told that if a child is allergic to one type of insect, they are more likely to be allergic to more. Just a helpful hint on what to watch for. I didn't know this and my daughter almost ended up in the hospital for a severe reaction to her spider bite.

The itching comes from the mosquito numbing agent, so I tried a q-tip dipped in ammonia to clean the area before the kids started scratching. After you clean the area, then rinse it off with water. Do not do this near the eyes. I think sting-ez has ammonia in it. Don't use this if the child has already started scratching the bite--it will sting.