Bug Bites - Rincon, GA

Updated on July 15, 2008
A.L. asks from Rincon, GA
34 answers

My 2 year old was outside last night as i cut the lawn, and now he has 17 bug bites on his legs. I feel just awful, but not as bedly as he does! He keeps clawing away. Does anyone know what I can do to relieve his discomfort?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all of the great advice. I had never heard of using deodorant before, but I tried it this time. I also used some hydrocortisone cream and gave him his Zyrtec at night to help him sleep. All of the bites are healing up nicely, and I am going to have to get an Aloe plant now. I knew they helped with burns, but I had no idea about the bug bites. I wonder what else they do? What a great plant! (And just for the record, he did not have on any bug repellant because he was already dressed for bed and my DH let him outside to come find Mommy!) lol

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B.P.

answers from Atlanta on

Benadryl has a cream that you can apply to the bug bites that will stop them from itching. I would try that. I've also found that if you put rubbing alcohol on a mosquito bite it takes the itch away as well.

Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Columbus on

there are a lot of great ideas! some i'm going to try!
however, my suggestion was going to be to use the benedryl PEN, if you don't want to give him systemic benedryl...

i love the dab pen - we call it a 'boo boo stick'. we unfortunately have red bugs out here, and they are a mosquito bite to the exponential powers - they itch bad for a week.. and the boo boo stick works on them..

good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Atlanta on

One of the key ingredients in products like "After Bite" is alcohol. I recently discovered that products like hand sanitizers, which contain alcohol, do help relieve the itching.
Other than benedryl, I would try that ...

1 mom found this helpful

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M.S.

answers from Savannah on

A.,

This may sound strange, but my mother-in-law who is a nurse told me that deoderant/antiperspirant takes the itch away. Being a mom who was at her wits end with the anti-itch cream not working, I tried this olds wives tale and to my excitement it worked, my son smelled likes womens deoderant, but its a small price to pay for itch relief. I hope that this helps, even though this sounds srange. If we can put it under our arms than it is ok on other parts of the body.
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Atlanta on

I have a daughter that gets very large welts when she gets bitten. I've tried all the bug bite sticks and other over the counter medicines that I could find and they all seem to work pretty well. I received an Aloe Vera plant two weeks ago and was told to try that on the bug bites. She stopped scratching almost immediately. I've been cutting off little pieces ever since. I am not sure if it is proven, but its worth a try!
Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A.,

A high grade melaleuca oil will take the sting right out. I know you can buy a tea tree oil that is a lower grade at the health store and I know it will help, I'm just not sure how fast. You can apply it as often as he likes.

I actually keep it at my house for all types of emergencies. It will take a second degree burn down to a first degree in a matter of minutes and it penetrates deep into the skin so that any type of boo-boo heals quicker because it heals from the inside out, basically getting to the root of the problem. It also works with infections and viruses.

Hope I helped.

Regards,

M.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from Atlanta on

lavender oil works great for itchy bug bites!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

Hi A.!
My son & I are allergic to most everything that bites or stings. For mosquito bites, good old fashioned Aloe Vera has helped us tremendously. We have a plant close by, deck during the summer, in the kitchen during the winter. It soothes & most importantly, takes the itch out!!!
I hope your boy feels better,
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.Y.

answers from Charleston on

Make a paste with water and baking soda (and lavender essential oil if you have any) and apply to the bug bites and let dry. Mosquitos seem to seek out my 2 year old as well! Also put him in cotton pants and dress him light colored clothing next time you go outside.

After reading some of the other replies, I have to say that I'm completely shocked at the suggestions to use a deodorant stick (full of toxic chemicals) and WD40!! What???!! Do you all not realize how toxic these products are? And I would be very careful about those bug repellants because most of them do not work and are also poisonous.
C.
www.LostRiverNaturals.com

1 mom found this helpful
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T.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

Hi - This worked for my family so I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try... We dab dishwashing liquid on the bites and it takes away the itch for us...... Any kind of dishwashing liquid I have heard.... We used Dawn and Joy in the past...
Hope He feels Better..
T.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.F.

answers from Atlanta on

The pharmacist at Wal-Mart recommended Band-Aid anti-itch gel. The main ingredient is camphor. I seems to work well for my son who has horrible reactions to bug bites. After buying noticing it's main ingredient, I remember my mom using camphor oil when I was a kid.

My grandmother used to mix sulfur powder with Vaseline for chiggers. It really seemed to work. Like a previous post,I have also heard of using deodorant. I think it is the aluminum salts in it that work.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.W.

answers from Atlanta on

i know this sounds crazy but it works. take your solid deoderant stick and rub on the bits. it really works. i came across this tip on a home remedy site, tried it and it works!

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A.P.

answers from Atlanta on

Try some Dermacort...let me know if you don't know where to get it.

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D.H.

answers from Atlanta on

The cortizone type creams never worked for us! I have one child that when he goes outside, they flock to him! lol. What worked for him when coming indoors from bug bites is tea tree oil. Once we put that on, I never heard another word about how they itch or anything. He gets that stuff on his own now.

As your child gets older, and if he is still continuing with the massive amounts of bug bites, use Vitamin A orally. My mother used that with my brother and his bites not only lessened, but were not difficult to deal with. It really makes a difference.

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S.W.

answers from Atlanta on

Been using something called Dermoplast... it's a anesthetic spray.

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S.J.

answers from Atlanta on

Buy some calamine lotion from a local grocery store. It works great on itching and is mainly used for this purpose. I used it when I was growing up and I use it on my boys now.

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N.H.

answers from Atlanta on

You can try putting Witch Hazel on the bites with a cotton ball. That helps mine not itch so bad.
Also, next time he goes out, you might want to spray him with Avon Bug Guard. That works pretty well; or the original Skin So Soft bath oil.

Good luck! Bug are amuck!!

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N.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

I use witch hazel to relieve the itch.

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B.M.

answers from Atlanta on

My son had over 200 hundred bites this past weekend while camping. We didn't realize he was getting bit while he was sleeping. Because it was so hot he was only wearing underpants so his whole body was covered. It looked like the chicken pox but we knew it wasn't. The clear Caladryl was recomended by the pharmacist. He recomended Benadryl but my son has such a strong reaction to it that I stay away from it. I started with the caladryl twice a day on sunday and they are almost all cleared up now. Once I put the caladryl on him he stops itching and tells me how cool his tummy feels.

Good Luck

B.

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C.D.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

Try cortizone cream, that usually does the trick.

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B.E.

answers from Atlanta on

One of my son's used to come in from playing in the evening covered in mosquito bites. Someone told me about Sting Stop. You can only get it at a health food store. It worked miracles on my son. Our whole family has been using it for 15 years now. The secret is to put it on him shortly after he gets a bite. If the bites are chiggers, then he might have to be seen by a doctor and get on a steroid pack, because those itch horribly and last for weeks!! Try the Sting Stop first. It's amazing!!

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E.T.

answers from Atlanta on

A.,
Try children's Benadryl, not sure of the dosage but you can call the Dr. and ask how much to give based on his weight. There is also a Benadryl cream that I use for my child. Hope that helps!

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J.J.

answers from Augusta on

If they are ant bites, you can use WD40 on them. I don't know if it works for other bites but I know it helps the ant bites.

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K.L.

answers from Atlanta on

This sounds familiar! My daughter just went camping in Florida with my parents. Mosquitoes love her even if she is wearing repellant. She ended up with 90 bites on her arms and legs. One thing that really helped her was putting calamine lotion on each bite. I'd let her bathe and then put it on her before she went to bed. It seemed to help them dry up quickly. Benadryl also sells a spray you can use for the itching.

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S.G.

answers from Savannah on

There is a product called sketer stick or bite relief. Looks like an extra wide pen and you just dab it on the bites. Helps for short term though. You might want to think about giving him some benadryl as well, especially at bed time to help calm the itching.
Good luck!
S.

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M.J.

answers from Charleston on

Benedryl cream works well for my 3 yr old and myself:) It is safe for 2yrs and up. Also for the future, I've found that Burts Bee's bug spray works wonders and it has no deet! Dont feel bad, we live in bug country:) Best of luck!

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G.M.

answers from Columbia on

Call your doctor for advice on how to take the itch out, if possible and watch for infection with all his scratching. I feel for him, because I have had over a hundred sand flea bites and was totally miserable for days. I quickly learned to spray myself religiously before I went out again and wore long sleeves and pants.
Mosquitos are hazardous because of West Nile and fire ants are so painful and so itchy, bee stings, etc. not to mention the possibility of an allergy reaction that could be life threatening.
Always cover him up and use a safe insect repellant on him.

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K.W.

answers from Macon on

After watching fireworks at the lake on the 4th, my 2 1/2 year old has the same thing. I have been using Benedryl liquid and cream and it has stopped her from scratching. She is about 30 pounds and the pediatrician told me to use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon. It will knock him out though if he has never had Benedryl before(but he wil get a good night's sleep-and so will you!). Calamine lotion may help, too.

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J.L.

answers from Atlanta on

Try Dermoplast spray. works great to relieve itching and burning

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J.M.

answers from Atlanta on

Mama,
Relax. Unless he was bitten by a scorpion or anaconda, I wouldn't worry. Kids get bug bite. You can't put him in a plastic bubble.
However..here is a good suggestion. A good insect repellent such as cuter would help. If he is a little guy try cutting it down a bit with some sunscreen.
Then to relieve the itch..Alveno oatmeal bath it grrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat as Tony the tiger would say
Good luck with your little one try to remember he is a growing child and things happen,
Take Care Mom..
Good Luck...
Nana

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S.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Rub the bites down with rubbing alcohol, then Lanacame and give him some infant benedryl. I've also heard that ammonia works but have never tried it.

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S.B.

answers from Atlanta on

I know how you feel. The same thing happened to my daughter. Try an Aveno Oatmeal bath. If he has some bites that he has scratched to the point of bleeding, you might want to put a band-aid on it (after you put med on it), especially at night.
Hope this helps.

E.M.

answers from Atlanta on

Are the bites any better? If not take him to the dermatologist ASAP. You do not want for the bites to get infected

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S.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Go to any local drugstore and get 0.5% cortisone cream; this is the one for kids. Its is called Cortizone kids...Hope this helps, my daughter used to get bitten alot when she was younger also.

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