I have the most sensitive skin since I was a little kid I have gotten get eaten alive by mosquitoes and every other bug. In Austin a few months ago we got to find out what chigger bites were all about, now that was fun. At Andrea’s wedding this weekend I also fell victim to more bug bites. My entire arm swelled up the next day it was red, itchy and hot. So since summer I’ve been seeking major bug bite relief I thought I would share with you what works best for me and what a very handsome doctor that I know has to say about how to treat bug bites as well.
There are a lot of homemade remedies out there just google it and 100 will pop up. These are the best ones over the years that have worked for me.
1. Aspirin, crush it up and make a paste. Stephanie taught me this one in Austin and it helped so much with the itching and swelling it’s an anti-inflammatory so that is probably why.
2. Toothpaste (or baking soda), I sometime get desperate when I’m traveling and I don’t have benadryl cream so toothpaste comes in handy. It dries out the skin and you smell minty fresh at the same time!
3. Lemons, I think my Mom told me this one. She could basically live on lemons alone she thinks they are the cure for everything and who needs any seasoning or salad dressing when you have lemons right mom? I think in a moment of panic I was so itchy I grabbed a lemon and started rubbing it on my bite. It seemed to help and it started stinging at the same time. Maybe it was the stinging feeling that made me feel like it wasn’t itchy anymore, regardless I needed a good distraction and this worked.
4. Alcohol, rubbing alcohol if you have it, or once again I’ll get desperate when traveling or at someones house and just grab some vodka or hand sanitizer its basically the same idea. It helps with infection and then it also stings so once again it works as an distraction from the itching. After I put alcohol on it and let it dry I usually then put calamine lotion on. My bug bites are then happy for a few hours.
5. Ice…..agh! My bug bites get really swollen and this seems to help a lot. Espcailly if there is one that keeps itching I just keep icing it till it’s numb! All 5 work for me and all 5 you can be traveling or at a friends and usually find!
What my husband has say (this is the handsome doctor I speak of)!! I should do something totally embarrassing like putting a picture of him dressed in his cute scrubs. But I think he would not be happy about that.
1. Aspirin, crush it up and make a paste. Stephanie taught me this one in Austin and it helped so much with the itching and swelling it’s an anti-inflammatory so that is probably why.
2. Toothpaste (or baking soda), I sometime get desperate when I’m traveling and I don’t have benadryl cream so toothpaste comes in handy. It dries out the skin and you smell minty fresh at the same time!
3. Lemons, I think my Mom told me this one. She could basically live on lemons alone she thinks they are the cure for everything and who needs any seasoning or salad dressing when you have lemons right mom? I think in a moment of panic I was so itchy I grabbed a lemon and started rubbing it on my bite. It seemed to help and it started stinging at the same time. Maybe it was the stinging feeling that made me feel like it wasn’t itchy anymore, regardless I needed a good distraction and this worked.
4. Alcohol, rubbing alcohol if you have it, or once again I’ll get desperate when traveling or at someones house and just grab some vodka or hand sanitizer its basically the same idea. It helps with infection and then it also stings so once again it works as an distraction from the itching. After I put alcohol on it and let it dry I usually then put calamine lotion on. My bug bites are then happy for a few hours.
5. Ice…..agh! My bug bites get really swollen and this seems to help a lot. Espcailly if there is one that keeps itching I just keep icing it till it’s numb! All 5 work for me and all 5 you can be traveling or at a friends and usually find!
What my husband has say (this is the handsome doctor I speak of)!! I should do something totally embarrassing like putting a picture of him dressed in his cute scrubs. But I think he would not be happy about that.
1. Benadryl- works as an antihistamine, helps with itching, redness, and swelling. When I get really bad bites like at Andrea’s wedding Jay also had me take a Zyrtec, but this makes me really sleepy so don’t drive after taking these.
2. Calamine Lotion- when I asked Jay what works best he said calamine, guess our parents had it right when we had the chicken pox and they covered us with calamine.
3. Hydrocortisone cream- helps with itching and redness.
4. Dermoplast spray- has benzocaine in it which is a topical pain reliever.
5. Benadryl spray- may help with itching.
6. After Bite- Jay didn’t recommend this product I did. I love it and it fits into your purse.
Happy camping, boating, hiking, or any outdoor activity. And remember OFF is your best friend, that’ll prevent all these bug bites. I tend to always forget this or don’t want to wear it cause I hate the smell.
Cheers,
Jess
2. Calamine Lotion- when I asked Jay what works best he said calamine, guess our parents had it right when we had the chicken pox and they covered us with calamine.
3. Hydrocortisone cream- helps with itching and redness.
4. Dermoplast spray- has benzocaine in it which is a topical pain reliever.
5. Benadryl spray- may help with itching.
6. After Bite- Jay didn’t recommend this product I did. I love it and it fits into your purse.
Happy camping, boating, hiking, or any outdoor activity. And remember OFF is your best friend, that’ll prevent all these bug bites. I tend to always forget this or don’t want to wear it cause I hate the smell.
Cheers,
Jess