The nasty little pest’s saliva causes swelling, redness, a lot of itching and in some cases severe allergic reactions.
The tropical nights are arriving again and with them come the dreaded mosquito bites . They are annoying, itchy , sometimes inflamed and the more you scratch the worse. There are dozens of repellent products to try to scare away these insects and avoid their bite, but the problem comes when preventive measures fail and the mosquitoes have already nibbled away at you. Mosquitoes have no shame – they are not too fussy and bite anywhere on your body to which the evil critters have access.
The mosquito (female only) feeds on blood . To do this, it uses its horrid needle-shaped appliance to puncture the skin and slurp the blood. During the process, the insect injects a small amount of saliva into the body. This is the origin of the discomfort of the sting . The red, painful and itchy swelling is known as “Skeeter syndrome” and is the result of an allergic reaction of the body to proteins in mosquito saliva. The initial reaction is compounded by irritation and secondary skin damage caused by scratching the area to try to relieve the itching.
However, there are several home remedies to relieve the itch and cope with the bites.
Raw garlic
One of the simplest is raw garlic. The medicinal properties of garlic are well known and using a peeled and crushed garlic clove on the skin can relieve itching and prevent further inflammation.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is very moisturizing . A home remedy that can contain itchiness and reduce the inflammation. Use oatmeal powder diluted in milk or water. Applying this product to the skin calms irritation and helps hydration.
Ice
If you don’t have garlic or any other product, don’t worry. The ice or cold application on the bite will also achieve reduce inflammation and burning sensation. The principle is very simple. It is about reducing discomfort to calm the area and allow the allergic reaction to pass.
Sodium bicarbonate
“Bicarb” cures all ills and seems to works for everything! But it also helps to cope with bites. In this case, the best alternative to apply this remedy is to prepare a paste with a mixture of water and bicarbonate. Apply it directly on the bite. Reapply as necessary.
Diluted Ammonia
Nitrogen trihydride or ammonia is a chemical present in some pharmaceutical preparations to treat stings. It can also be used as a home remedy against mosquito bites but with certain precautions. In this case, use gauze or cotton with water and a little ammonia. Application to the wound can be effective in relieving discomfort. After a bite, it would be highly recommended to use this remedy as a first measure, since it acts as a neutralizer of the acid of the toxin present in the mosquito’s saliva.
Risk of severe allergies to mosquito bites
However, there are people who are extremely sensitive to mosquito bites and have severe allergies to the proteins in their saliva. In these cases, and as long as a very intense allergic reaction is detected, it is advisable to go rapidly to a health centre so that specialists can evaluate the injury and proceed to apply antihistamine and other suitable medical treatments.
And now to the Precaution Plants…
Five plants that you must have at home to repel mosquitoes
Geraniums, Citronella, Basil, Lavender and Mint:
In addition to being the most colorful, GERANIUMS are a perfect mosquito repellent . These flowers act as a barrier against mosquitoes , so you will simply have to put some pots on your windows and balconies and you will create a good barrier wall against mozzies.
The aroma that the CITRONELLA plant gives off is a real trap for mosquitoes. In fact, many anti-mosquito products include it among their ingredients.
Some pots with BASIL around your house or in your garden will be allies against mosquitoes. The insects will be trapped in the basil and will not enter your home.
The benefits of LAVENDER, its colour and its pleasant smell make it one of the most popular plants. It does not require a lot of care and, in addition, its leaves are a natural repellent.
The uses for PEPPERMINT, like “Bicarb”, are countless. Keep them a little way away from your home as the smell attracts the greedy biters and they then fall directly between its leaves and stay trapped there… in this way, do not sneak into your home for a nibble!
