Mosquito bites are an (unfortunate) inevitability of spending more time in nature, and during the summer months, sometimes it simply does not matter how much bug spray you apply. If you are battling the incessant itching that comes with getting bitten by mosquitoes, we’ve got you covered with a few doctor-approved tips that will help you fight the urge to scratch your mosquito bites.

From oral medications to topical creams, there are plenty of over the counter and natural remedies that can help diffuse the itchiness of your bites. Dr. Jen Caudle, a family physician and assistant professor at Rowan University, breaks down everything you need to know about finding fast relief. 

Why do mosquito bites itch?

When you are first bitten by a mosquito, you will typically experience a localized reaction around the site of the bite. Common symptoms include “some itching, maybe a little bit of tenderness or pain, some redness, some swelling as well,” she says. 

A mosquito bite will itch due to a histamine response, Caudle says. As a mosquito bites you, it pierces your skin to suck up blood, per the CDC. In doing so, the mosquito secretes saliva into your bloodstream. Your body reacts to the saliva as an allergen, prompting your immune system to direct histamines to your mosquito bite. As the histamines work to diffuse the allergen, itching and swelling will occur, according to Cleveland Clinic. 

How to stop mosquito bites from itching

Reactions to mosquito bites will always differ from person to person, and treatments will vary accordingly. “Some people don't have much itching,” Caudle says. “Other people can actually get pretty severe reactions to mosquito bites.”

To treat your itching, try taking cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin), which are non-drowsy oral antihistamines, according to Mayo Clinic. When it comes to over the counter topical treatments, steroid creams, such as 1% hydrocortisone cream, can effectively combat itching and swelling that persists, Caudle adds. Calamine lotion can also help soothe your mosquito bite, per WebMD.  

What household item stops mosquito bites from itching?

When it comes to finding home remedies that relieve itchiness, Caudle recommends applying ice to the site of your mosquito bite. 

In addition to ice, at-home staples you can apply to your mosquito bite include: oatmeal, heat, basil, honey, baking soda, aloe vera, vinegar, thyme, onion, garlic, peppermint oil, garlic, chamomile tea, witch hazel, arnica and lemon balm, per Healthline. 

Mosquito bites are a pain.A doctor weighs in on how to ease the discomfort.

However, if you are going to use any home remedy to soothe your mosquito bite, always make sure to consider if you have a potential sensitivity or allergy to an ingredient.  

“Sometimes we can actually get allergic reactions to the remedy,” Caudle says. “So, sometimes I'm a little cautious about that.”