mosquito bites

[emmasmommy]

do any of you have any at home remedies for mosquito bites, or have you found anything that keeps the pesky little buggers away? my youngest is really allergic to them and as soon as she gets bit, it swells up about 5 x's the size of a normal person's mosquito bite. she doesn't really complain about them, but she looks almost scary with all these welts all over her. i can't keep her inside all summer bc she LOVES being outside. i spray them with bug repellent but it doesn't help all that much.

anything anyone recommends?

[newfiemountiewife]

I have bug repellent and it's useless. During my run yesterday I almost got carried away LOL.

I have no idea.

[KateD]

I've heard that eating garlic helps - something about the scent coming out in our sweat, I think. I have no idea if it actually works, though.

[emmasmommy]

Originally Posted by newfiemountiewife

I have bug repellent and it's useless. During my run yesterday I almost got carried away LOL.

I have no idea.

as always jamie....you are my wealth of knowledge

[Leah]

Avon Skin So Soft is great for keeping them away! I've also heard that citronella bracelets work great too, but it takes a few days to "kick-in".

As far as the bites, I don't know. My swell up like welts. Toothpaste? I've heard it takes the itch out??

[Lyd]

For hornet and bee stings we use a little baking soda paste and that helps take the sting/itch out. I don't know if it would work for mosquitoes, but it might be worth a shot. As for keeping them away in the first place, you might want to invest in a few chickens or ducks. I heard they work pretty well.

[emmasmommy]

Originally Posted by ltarbox

As for keeping them away in the first place, you might want to invest in a few chickens or ducks. I heard they work pretty well.

*snort*

[lliella]

my DD is also allergic and they leave dark spots on her skin which takes a long time to fade. i recently discovered Sting-Eze. applied soon after the bite, it doesn't swell as much and the itch just goes away (i also use it) although it still leaves a mark on my DD's skin, it's not as large because she's not scratching it and minimal swelling. i got the Sting-Eze from drugstore.com

[emmasmommy]

ooh allie, i may look into that! my dd gets the brown marks too. in fact, she still had some come christmas time last year (the mosquitos had been LONG gone by that point)

[kscwgirl]

J does the same thing. I know you're shocked. I give him benadryl before he goes outside. It helps some but it's not great. I just try to really not let him get bit.. which is futile. Benadryl. Lots and lots of benadryl.

[jessica31876]

I use rubbing alcohol on mosquito bites because I swell up like crazy from them too. the rubbing alcohol makes them stop itching for me. I cant use most bug sprays they make me break out. One thing I would do is walk around your yard and try to get rid of any place the mosquitos may be breeding. Anything that can hold water empty it out. Ive heard certain colors and fragrances attract them more but I have no idea what it is. I get bit no matter what Im wearing. I just seem to attract the little suckers. So I stay inside during their peek hours and try to stay away from areas where they are really bad

[Leontine78]

I would love to know a good cure.
Because I had a "little" souvenir from Italy...a giant mosquito bite. I doesn't really hurt or itch (only when I touch it it itches) but I am wondering what the reason is that sometimes I have only a small spot and this one is really big (like an inch in wide).

[newfiemountiewife]

Originally Posted by emmasmommy

as always jamie....you are my wealth of knowledge

Haha, you know it! I actually think they LIKE the bug spray. Little buggers.

[emmasmommy]

Originally Posted by newfiemountiewife

I actually think they LIKE the bug spray. Little buggers.

meee tooo! the kid who has the biggest reaction and gets sprayed down the most is the one who winds up with the most bites. i don't get it.

[kim21673]

I will definitely be watching this thread!!! Seth is really allergic to bug bites/stings...and anything that can bite or sting him, does!!!

We went hiking around the pond so I could get some pictures one day and a darn mosquito bit him on his hand...his hand was triple the size in less than a minute. It is scary how fast he reacts to a bite/sting. We always keep Benedryl with us when we are going to be out and about. The poor boy is so afraid of bees too b/c he always seems to get stung and he swells up with that too.

[Paula]

Vitamin b1 helps keep them away!

[Libby Pritchett]

I use rubbing alcohol on them, too. I've always swollen up really big when I get a bite, and the alcohol helps with the itch AND the swelling in my case.

[emmasmommy]

hmm, we have lots of rubbing alcohol at home! LOL
as far as b1...what has a lot of b1 in it? she's 3 so asking her to take a b1 vitamin is out of the question. unless they make chewable b1's lol she does take a kids vitamin everyday, but i'm sure that wouldn't help much.

[kscwgirl]

Originally Posted by emmasmommy

hmm, we have lots of rubbing alcohol at home! LOL
as far as b1...what has a lot of b1 in it? she's 3 so asking her to take a b1 vitamin is out of the question. unless they make chewable b1's lol she does take a kids vitamin everyday, but i'm sure that wouldn't help much.

Very good sources of vitamin B1 include asparagus, romaine lettuce, mushrooms, spinach, sunflower seeds, tuna, green peas, tomatoes, eggplant and Brussels sprouts.


Good luck.

[jessica31876]

Oh I think I read somewhere witch hazel helps also. so that might be something to try to relieve swelling/itching