HELP! Relief from Insect Bites???

Updated on October 10, 2008
J.R. asks from Edmonds, WA
45 answers

We are covered in insect bites. I must have at least 50 on my lower extremities. My youngest daughter has about 30. I think we've tried everyt remedy: OTC's such as Benadryl, Caladryl, every insect bite relief ointment sold, plus aspirin paste, white vinegar, tea tree oil, baking soda/salt baths. NOTHING is doing the trick. We're miserable and these no see um bugs toxin is eating holes into our skin. My daughter is having the most severe reaction, with painful swelling and extreme itching. I'm still scarred from last fall's bug season. Can you please recommend something that truly works?

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So What Happened?

WOW, the sheer number of responses were amazing! Thank You! Thank You! I went through every reply and made a comprehensive list of all the recommendations. The suggestions range from prevention to treatment. All have merit so hopefully I included all of them and eliminated duplicates: Here they are in order they appear:
Insect bite Prevention & Remedies:

Mamasource replies:
Garlic pills
Avons skin so soft
steroid shot
drying agents to dry up the bites (alcohol, calamine
oatmeal bath
tea tree oil
Lemon Eucalyptus oil
chloraseptic spray for your throat (sticky)
B-vitamins (6 or 12?)
Sarna Original
Sangre de Drago - it's a sap from a tree
OTC hydrocortisone cream
Go see a doctor!
cool baths
euricin spray
coil bracelet
benadryl stick
Avon's Skin-So-Soft
an allergist
Aloe Vera Gel
Afterbite
nail polish for chiggers
benadryl pills
lavendar oil
ice cube on the bug bite numbs the spot
call the county vector control
MUD
rub with baby oil
Zyrtec
For black pepper mites go to:http://www.naturalginesis.com/info_bitingmites.html
deoderant/antipersperant rolled onto the bites
taking B1/rub with alcohol
natural repellants: citronella, catnip (catmint)
Gold Bond Medicated Cream
Toothpaste (collage original paste)
baking soda paste
campho phenique
Young Living Essential Oils has a blend called Purification
triple antibiotic cream
grilled limes
herbal combination of Plantain and Comfrey as a topical salve
Calendula and Lavender oil
Seasource detox mud mask from arbonnne
Clorox
ammonia. promise it works.
witch hazel.
Meat tenderizer paste
Homeopathic remedy from Sprouts
Caladryl
Pure Vanilla as a rub and as a spray
I've heard of spraying Listerine, but have not tried it.

Stay healthy and strong!

Featured Answers

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N.W.

answers from Phoenix on

When I use to go to Maine every summer we avoided getting mesquito bites by either taking garlic pills or Avons skin so soft works great they hate it for some reason...Good Luck!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.G.

answers from Phoenix on

A steroid shot is the only thing that will do the trick. My husband had the same thing and the doctor had to give him a steroid shot. Then, use drying agents to dry up the bites (alcohol, calamine etc.) Also, you need an oatmeal bath ie. Aveeno etc. to bathe in. This will relieve itching and dry up the bites. Good luck! We have had this happen many times with the sand fleas from Central America etc. It is not fun!

1 mom found this helpful
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G.D.

answers from Flagstaff on

Geese! I'm really sorry to hear, I don't know if it'll help yet I always use tea tree oil, I prefer when it's mixed with lavender to take the smell down a bit.

1 mom found this helpful

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M.G.

answers from Phoenix on

Try tea tree oil mixed with water in a spray bottle, it will stop the bugs from biting and relieve the itching.

Good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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G.A.

answers from Phoenix on

I am allergic to misquitos, ants and several other insect bites. I get the painful swelling and extreme itching as well.

When I get this reaction I take benadryl and it helps calm the extreme effects of the bites.... I usually will make a meat tenderizer paste to calm the bite site.... if this does not work... I have recently come across using witch hazel... It is wonderful.

I hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Eugene on

I thought that we were the only ones!! My two children are covered in bites too. The Caladryl seems to be working for now. I have also put them in long pants to prevent itching. I hope other moms can provide some relief for you. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.D.

answers from Phoenix on

This is going to sound stranger than the toothpaste, but when I was little, we would make a paste out of water and meat tenderizer to put on top of th mosquito bites. It relieves the itching. I'm not sure if it would work if they are some other types of bites (fleas?). The only reason I mention fleas is because of the quantity you have - and they are on your lower extremeties.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Phoenix on

This may sound a little strange but if you coat the bits with a little toothpaste it will help with the itching. Are you getting the bug bites at home? You may want to have an exterminator come and spray a time or two.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Flagstaff on

Hi Jennifer,
It helps me to take the benadryl pills as well. I put lavendar oil on the bite to help faster healing with less itching. For immadate relief, rub an ice cube on the bug bite it numbs the spot and takes the itch away for a while, just not too long.
Good Luck M.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Phoenix on

This just happened to me and my little ones. We used afterbite for kids. It worked great. I'm pretty sure I got it at Target.

Good luck, i hope you find something that works for you and your daughter.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.G.

answers from Tucson on

Young Living Essential Oils has a blend called Purification .. a few drops in a 2 oz.spray bottle of purified water helps deter the bugs from biting. I spray this in the air and on my skin.... Lavender oil used neat or diluted with grapeseed, coconut or olive oil can help soothe the bite wounds and stop itching.
B. Gettel OTR/L CHT CCH
Eclectic Body Work
Tucson
Young Living Distributor
____@____.com

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Tucson on

Hi Jennifer-

Are you sure tey are no see ums? Could they be chiggers? If they are, then everything you are doing would irritate more. If they are chiggers, you have to suffocate them. You do this by painting your bites with nail polish (as they are there, you just can't see them). I recommend clear polish, but any will do. It won't happen instantly, I think it's a day or something like that.

J.
www.livetotalwellness.com/safemommy

1 mom found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from Santa Fe on

Try a baking soda paste

1 mom found this helpful
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B.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Try rubbing baby oil or Avon Skin So Soft oil on. It helped 20 years ago on my then newborn and toddler sons. It helps take care of the itch and works as a repellant to a point. Theirs were showing up in the mornings, so I just did so at night on all exposed areas. IT may not totally get rid of the problem, but it should help quite a bit.

Good luck!
B.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Good heavens, Jennifer. Go see a doctor!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Tucson on

The best thing for bites or stings of any kind (including mosquito, ants, scorpion and rattlesnake) is Sangre de Drago - it's a sap from a tree that grows in the rainforest and it draws out poison, relieves pain and itching, and heals tissue - it also works for a number of other first aid needs - I have two dogs who were bitten by rattlesnakes that were saved by it - as well as a friend bitten on the toe by a bark scorpion who used it - I always have it in the house and with me when I travel - you can't buy it at the drug store though but if you are interested I would be glad to give you a website link where you can get some - it really works - also make sure you check all your bedding (even underneath the bed and mattress) and really vacuum all the cracks and crevices well as you may have a kissing bug or something that keeps biting you over and over every night - squash them if you find them!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.E.

answers from Phoenix on

I'm assuming you've tried triple antibiotic cream? I recommend this because maybe they
are infected and that is why they may be taking longer to heal.

I hope you get the relief you need. I'll pray for your family. I think there are definitely more
bugs this year because we have had more bites than usual.
Take care,
K.

1 mom found this helpful
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I.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi Jennifer,

Try alcohol. This will take the sting out of the bites and help the itch go away. I would also consider going to see the doctor since your daughter has painful swelling and extreme itching. I hope that this helps!

I.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Lemon Eucalyptus oil is the best. You can wear it like perfume and it will keep them away. If you apply it to the bites it will pull out all the poison.
I have some if you need it.
Take care,
N.
www.aromaticbotanicals.com

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Albuquerque on

That happened to me once and I looked like a lepper and I couldn't sleep because of the itching. I went to the doctor thinking it was hives, but after finding out it was mosquito bites, the doctor told me to take an oral allergy medication (Zyrtec) for the itching. The bumps are actually an allergic reaction to the bites so the oral allergy medication works and will relieve the itching. Check with the pharmacist with what is safe along with the dosage for your daughter to take since she's young. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.H.

answers from Flagstaff on

If you have tried all that, I would seek medical attn. Another person suggested chiggers. If you scratch the bug bite and it is even more painful, you have chiggers. Use the suggestion of nail polish to suffocate them suckers. I hate chiggers.

For future reference, always wear some type of bug repellent when going out. If you are looking for natural repellant besides citronella, catnip (catmint) works very well for keeping mosquitos away. I use a spray made from the extract. Eating lots of garlic helps also.

I hope you and your family get better soon.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Phoenix on

My duaghter has a severe reaction to mesquito bites and I buy a Remedy from SPROUTS ~ It is in the Homeopathic section and its specifically for "Insect Bites".... It's a remedy with little white almost BB size pellets. You put 5 under your tounge and let them disolve. THere is a worker in that section at the store that can help you! It seems to really help reduce the swelling and the itching...

Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.E.

answers from Anchorage on

An herbal combination of Plantain and Comfrey as a topical salve. Added soothers might include Calendula and Lavender oil. We have the salve in stock at Chakra Botanika in Payson. If you can't find it at an herb store near you, we can ship it. Call me at ###-###-####.

Blessings,

M. M. Ernsberger
Certified Clinical Herbalist

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Phoenix on

Jennifer- I have the most amazing stuff that works- just found it out, tried it and it is amazing.
It is the new Seasource detox mud mask from arbonnne- my husband is even using it and it makes the itch and redness go down in less than 30 minutes. I am truly amazed.
I will help you get some- I did not believe it would work and I am super excited that it is- I have already helped 3 friends with severe bites find relief. I cannot stand when you have a bite and it drives you nuts all day- it is especially not fair when the kids have to deal with it.
Best wishes,
D.
###-###-####

1 mom found this helpful
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V.J.

answers from Phoenix on

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON! I too have suffered from this. They are called black pepper mites or biting mites because they looks like tiny flecks of pepper on your skin. The American Medical Association has denied that they exist in America, but luckily I got my first infestation in Europe and went to a dermatologist that knew exactly what was going on. They are little tiny parasites that only some people react to because only some people are allergic to them.

I have had them on and off for 5 years. I go over to someone's house that has animals and bam, I get them again. I used to quarantine entire sections of my house for 3 days at a time and take really hot baths, but luckily I found the only thing that works.

Go to the following link. I swear by this stuff. Now, when I go over to someone's house and start getting bites, I spray this stuff all over myself, take baths in it, wash my sheets and clothes in it. It's totally non-toxic and safe. The green stuff burns away the parasite's outer shell so that it dies instantly. To treat my skin, I then put a little rubbing alcohol on the bites and then some cortizone cream.

I feel for you! Here are some links:

http://www.naturalginesis.com/info_bitingmites.html
This is where you order the Kleen Green stuff. It comes in a heavily concentrated bottle that will last a long time that you dilute in a spray bottle. It's totally safe. I used it when I was pregnant and with my young baby. If you have pets, you will want to bathe them in this too because they will still carry the mites.

http://bitingmites.org/
Here's some more information about them

1 mom found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Our pharmacist recommended chloraseptic spray for your throat. He said it helps numb it. Use a q-tip and apply to bites. It seemed to help my son.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Zyrtec is what you need for this. It is amazing stuff and I believe it's sold OTC now. There are pills for adults and a liquid for kids. From hives to allergies, it is fantastic!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.Y.

answers from Santa Fe on

Hi Jennifer,
My Mom always used Clorox on our ant, horse fly and mosquito bites. Just apply some with a cotton ball and it will take away the swelling and itching. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.E.

answers from Phoenix on

I am very sorry to hear about all of your bug bites. For me when I get bit I putting rubbing alchol on them and that really helps take the itch away.

But if you don't want to get bit at all start taking B1 and it has to be B1. I read an article about it and it said that after taking it for a month you will not get bit and it worked. So we swear by it. There is something in it and we ask a Phamarcist and they agreed. So try it out and try the alchol too.

Good Luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi Jennifer,
My legs are covered in mosquito bites as well, I feel your pain! I have found that an OTC hydrocortisone cream works really well. I just bought the $1.98 generic at Walmart and it works great. The only problem is you can only apply it about 4 times a day, but that seems to be enough for me. I also put alcohol on them a couple times a day with a cotton ball to dry them out, it doesn't relieve the itching for very long though. When the itching or swelling gets really bad, taking benedryl orally really might help. Also, something in Avon's Skin So Soft lotions and oil help keep the bugs away. I sell for Avon as well so let me know if you're interested in getting some of that :) Hope that helps!

-Nicole

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S.G.

answers from Phoenix on

First off I would suggest going to the doctors. You really don't want to risk infestions for either one of you and it sounds as if it may be a problem now.

Remedies vary depending what kind of bug bites they are. I get hives from mosquito bites so I use benadryl to calm the itching down and try not to touch them. Also for mosquito you can try grilled limes. Cut them in half and grill cut side down maybe 2 to 3 minutes and put on bites... but as yours are open wounds on you and your daughter, I would not try that one unless it is a new bite.

But pleaae see a doctor and try benadryl at night,it will help.

S.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.K.

answers from Tucson on

I know that deoderant/antipersperant rolled onto the bites defintiely helps! As far as avoiding getting bit in the first place, Skin So Soft by Avon works wonders!

Best,
C.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from Phoenix on

You have so much good advice. I only want to add that you should not use the Benadryl cream at the same time you use oral Benadryl. You can overdose on this, and it's easier for a child to do so.

I don't know why, but it does seem to be a buggy year. Maybe winter wasn't cold enough. Hang in there.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Phoenix on

We, too, are covered in bites! We use rubbing alcohol on our bites. It dries the bites up and the itching subsides pretty fast. I put some on my bites last night and I haven't itched since. Hope this helps! Make sure to get your cotton ball or tissue really wet, as just dabbing it on there doesn't seem to have the same effect. You have to get the bite really wet with the alcohol.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from Phoenix on

I've heard that one of the B-vitamins (6 or 12?) helps prevent mosquito bites (I usually don't get bites because of my prenatal vitamins). I don't know if it would work for whatever is biting you. Also, we've liked Sarna Original for itch relief even though it smells awful. I would also probably see a doctor for the infection. My dad got bites from no-seeums about 15 years ago and still has purple spots on his legs. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Tucson on

Holes in your skin sounds like chigers (sp?)try clear nail polish on the bites. Chigers get under the skin and burrow causing really bad itching and holes. The nail polish sufficates them.

1 mom found this helpful
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V.R.

answers from Albuquerque on

Ice or an ice pack will reduce infammation and swelling.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Tucson on

Jennifer,

Be sure to use mosquito repellent every time you go out, even for a few minutes. We prefer the family flowery smelling Off! brand.

For itchy relief, sometimes applying campho phenique (forgive my spelling) to the individual bite helps--if you can find it. Sometimes hard to. Or, while I've not tried it, I am told a solid, white anti-perspirant deodant applied helps. Also, original Colgate toothpaste. I can't tell you if either truly works, but Campho is what my mother put on me when I was very little and it helped, and I was one of the ones to get the welts and itches.

Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

A.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I have two suggestions -- First one being to try Gold Bond Medicated Cream. It is THE ONLY THING that stops itching in our family. My husband has the most sensitive skin in the world and the second he gets a bug bite, the scratching is out of control. Gold Bond helps him tremendously. 2nd thing being, (I cannot speak from experience on this one) my mother-in-law always puts nail polish on her bug bites and swears that takes the itching away. I know all her kids (including my husband) do this also. Like I said, I've never tried it, but they all say it works. Hope this helps!! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.K.

answers from Albuquerque on

ammonia. promise it works.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.R.

answers from Phoenix on

I have found that the over the counter cortisone creams work best to relieve the itching. Like you and your daughter, I have them all over my body. Cortisone works for me. I have also found that Aloe Vera Gel also gives relief.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Phoenix on

Wow..You got some great advice. I would call the county vector control and report the problem. I have lived hear all my life and the most pesky bugs are mosquitos and flys. Maybe somewhere nearby is a breading ground. When all else fails-use what Jesus used, MUD. When I get a bite I spit in the dirt and rub in on the bite. It stops the itching and it travels anywhere.

When you have sooooo many bites on a regular basis, I agree-seek medical advice-Triggers? Bed Bugs? and contact he county.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.J.

answers from Tucson on

My daughter always has a really bad reaction to bug bites and the doctor gave us some prescription ointment that seems to help. You could try calling your doctor's office to see if they could get you something.

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J.F.

answers from Phoenix on

I don't have a solution for the itching but I have been researching online recently how to prevent the bugs from attacking my daughter and it seems that Avon's Skin-So-Soft bug repellent is the most suggested solution I have found. Good luck.

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L.G.

answers from Phoenix on

i'm sorry. cool baths not hot help.
i use to bathe my kids in an oatmeal bath. i also gave them the euricin spray to squirt themselves whenever they felt like an itch, also the benadryl stick that you dab on.
now i keep bug spray in the car always. there is a coil bracelet from target ($1 for 4) that my daughter wears on her wrists and ankles which she claims works great on keeping the bugs away.
You may need to send her to an allegist if her reactions are that severe. he'll probably test her a start her on shots. it is a choice, extreme, but if she is so miserable every fall, it is an option.

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