Both of my kids have pretty severe reactions to mosquito bites. What does everyone use to stop the itching and/or is there anything natural that stops the itching? They are miserable and bloody! LOL!
Also, while we are on the subject...what about an insect repellent? I have heard you are not supposed to use DEET so what is out there that we can use on little ones that works?
Thanks mamas! I always get great advice here!
For mosquitos I got citronella bracelets for my kids they worked great also those off coupons work really really well. If we are in a heavy tick area bring on the deet! My oldest had Lyme last summer and now suffers from arthritis and who knows what other long term effects it will have so I'll take my chances with deet.
As far as bug bites go we use after bite.
Witch Hazel, swear to Bob. I didn't know about it until my fiancée brought some home when I was scratching myself to death. Stopped the itch right away and it is cheap!
There are a couple of creams that work wonders for me (I'm super irritated by bug bites, too). Both are homeopathic/herbal; about 80% of people get good results from this class of non-toxic remedies.
You might get a tube of Sssting Stop and/or Florasone, both produced by Boericke and Tafel, both widely available in health-food aisles. Between these two handy creams, all my frequent itches and rashes are quickly handled.
You can also find repellents based on Neem Oil in garden centers and health food stores, or just thin regular neem oil with water and pat on exposed areas. This stuff is so safe it's been used for toothbrushing in India for centuries. This works well for a friend of mine who's a mosquito magnet. I've used it myself, but can't tell you whether it really helps because I don't usually get bitten anyway.
I have used the Avon Product, O my gosh I can't remember the name, but they have been selling it forever. I don't know if it has deet it in or not, but I used the OFF as well for kids. I have also given my children Benadryl for itchy bites too, especially when little boys get bit in the "you know where" and they want to scratch it into eternity.
DEET is the only thing that will prevent bug bites. There have been many scientific studies of other potential repellents and none of them have been shown to work. DEET has been used for decades now and works and is safe. It just smells bad...
Some of my mom friends use Tuck pads to wipe over bug bites. They seem to reduce the swelling and itching. I need to buy some soon, as my daughter swells up and itches badly from bites, where I don't.
I've heard that a dryer sheet in your pocket will keep the mosquitos away. I think that one of the companies, OFF maybe, had a wristband thing you can wear. We've always used bug spray on the kids. We just make sure to keep it away from their faces and hands.
For the bites, I use rubbing alcohol. I just put a little bit on a cotton ball and dab the bites with it. It seems to help the itching. There used to be a product called After Bite. It was in a pen type thing. I think it was mostly filled with alcohol, but I'm not sure.
You might want to Google all natural insect repellants and see if you find anything.
Good luck! Mosquitos are my least favorite part of the summer
Bactine
Soap
Avon, has insect repellants without Deet.
Or look online.
An ice cube helps numb the area & stop the itch (though it gets a little drippy...) Another vote for witch hazel, too!
Someone mentioned the After Bite... it is actually ammonia based, but works wonders! The sooner you get it on a bite, the better.
Be sure you get the REAL AfterBite... there is also another one in a pen, I don't remember what it is called, but it is just a benzocaine type item that doesn't neutralize the itch reaction like the ammonia does.
http://www.tendercorp.com/product.php?category=Insect%20B...
I would check with your Dr but mine told me to use DEET, but make sure I kept it away from their eyes or hands when they were babies. We camp everyt weekend and she said it was fine just wash it off before bed.
Benadryl itch stopping gel. I'm allergic to mosquito bites, they swell up to several inches on my legs and arms. If I slather the gel on right away, the bites don't swell as much and they seem to dry up and go away sooner.
My mom used to mix bacon grease with salt and put it on our bites - it took the itch away, don't know why, but it worked!
You can get the skin so soft spray/lotions from avon - they are deet free and they work. You can also get stuff from pet stores that are made for horses, but are safe on humans that are deet free......
My family camps and my son reacts to bug bites the same way as your kids. I LOVE the Off clip-on fan! It works great and you do not have to actually put anything on the kids. Good Luck
A.
Benadryl by mouth and/or topical cream works OK for us, helps a little not great. Ammonia work better, you can just put cleaning ammonia in any container, I can't remember if ammonia is the acid and the sting liquid the base, but one neutralizes the other. My mom used to make us make an x with a fingernail in the bite and then dab ammonia on it. That way you actually get to the liquid that the mosquito squirted in your skin to keep your blood from clotting while it sucks out your blood. Ice helps with itching too, I used ice packs when I had poison ivy.
Here are some other ideas: http://www.home-remedy.org/home-remedies-for-mosquito-bit...
I try to do non-deet products.
I use California Baby Bug Repellant Spray - entirely organic.
A safe and natural alternative to toxic bug repellent chemicals. Non-toxic, DEET free, non-chemical, hypoallergenic formula repels bugs while it soothes existing bites with organic aloe vera, yucca, Irish moss and herbs that are specific to the healing of the skin. Lemon eucalyptus and citronella do not cause harm to humans, pets or the environment.
Kind of expensive...it is $16.00 for a 6 oz bottle, but worth it!
My mom used apple cider vinegar for the itch. Seems that would be safer than ammonia.
I use hydrocortizone anti itch cream on bug bites then I cover with a band aide so my daughter won't scratch at them. For something natural I think ammonia works. For bug repellent I use Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus. It is a bug repellent lotion with sunscreen (SPF30). So it's a one shot deal, which with younger kids is important! They also have come out with bug repellent in a wipe form. I haven't tried it yet though.
Good Luck! The bugs are already bad around here (I'm just north of you near FT.Wayne)
I am always the first and last person to get bitten by mosquitos, and then I swell up--only thing I found that works is household ammonia on a cotton ball--I keep it in a 35mm film container--wipe the bite immediately, before scratching, and then rinse in water. Gone!
