The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
ACV + Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Michael (Westchester NY) on 08/15/2019
★★★★★
Recently had this bug bite on the top of my foot ankle. Not sure what kind of bug, but it itched for 4 to 5 days. My mistake was to scratch it which made it worse and turned it into a bright red dime size mark.
After reading some remarks on this site I did the following. Washed the area with warm soap and water, applied apple cider vinegar with paper towel let dry for 30 min. more ACV then applied Tea Tree Oil with Qtip and sprinkled some foot powder on top of the TT Oil. I started this 1 hour before bedtime. In the morning the itch was gone and the red mark turned dark reddish brown. I think this helped the healing process.
Alcohol Prep Pads
Posted by Jane Hicks (Midway, WV USA) on 06/23/2022
★★★★★
When working or playing outdoors for extended time in summer months I try to remember to keep a couple alcohol prep pads in my pocket in case I get a mosquito bite. Apply the alcohol pad to the bite as soon after being bitten that you can. The alcohol will dry up the venom before it settles deeper into the skin. Next morning there is usually no appearance of the bite.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Milaine (Nyork, US) on 07/22/2014
★★★★★
My son has been bitten today on his arm, so I just put aloe vera on his arm, and after less than 5 minutes, he stopped scratching himself.
Replied by Katarzyna
(Poland)
08/13/2014
Aloe Vera
Posted by Cocoandrico (Kingston, Ny, Usa) on 07/11/2011
★★★★★
Aloe Vera applied to an insect bite is very soothing and anti-inflammatory, reducing the urge to SCRATCH and risk infection. It's also antibacterial and dries to form a protective barrier, speeding the healing process. Store it in the fridge and it feels even better. For instructions for how to use the leaves of the plant and how concoct a spray with aloe at home, check out: www.aloeplant.info/natures-powerhouse-aloe-vera-for-insect-bites-and-poison-ivy/
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by My2cents (Sc) on 07/30/2016
★★★★★
Apple cider vinegar is the BEST mosquito bite cure there is. Take a cotton ball or a piece of a paper towel and tear off a small bit, soak it in apple cider vinegar and place it on the bite for maybe 5 minutes. No more mosquito bite!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lrhouse (Mesquite, Tx, Usa) on 10/15/2012
I was just wondering if the ACV would work on Flea Bite Dermatitis I have read alot of the post and a lot on itching. I have tried everything but vet says all it takes is one bite to have a reaction. I dont want to keep her on steriods and am looking for relief for her. She has lost all her hair from the hips down. And yes we have been through all the testing. Yeast, mange and such. But am looking for relief for her. Any suggestions?
Apply Heat
Posted by Libby (Brighton) on 02/03/2022
★★★★★
Applying Heat for Insect Bites
Thank you for all the thumbs up for this..it has worked for me brilliantly. Bitten to pieces and I was scratching endlessly, nothing else worked. It lasts a long time too before I have to repeat, and things seem to be clearing up too now. Thank you again. My daughter says she does the same for her eczema on her hands and that works for her.
Apply Heat
Posted by Barbara (San Luis Obispo, Ca) on 11/27/2016
★★★★★
Insect bites treatments using a blower dryer to heat the bite on the skin. It denatures the painful proteins. I got about 50 bites one evening bird watching in Florida swamp. Blow dryer took the pain way down to where I didn't scratch and I slept through the night. Next morning I felt fine! Wave the hot air back and forth across the painful area keeping it pretty hot, but using care not to burn your skin. Highly recommend!
Also, life guards use hot, hot water for sting ray hits. They have tubs at the life guard stations and tea kettles. They pour the boiling water from the tea kettle into the tub and mix with some tap water. You put your stung foot into the tub for half and hour until pain is gone. They add boiling water occasionally to keep the water as hot as you can stand - works like magic!
Replied by Angela Chavez
(Colorado Springs)
05/30/2017
★★★★★
Apply Heat
Posted by Oceanman58 (Los Alamitos) on 08/10/2016
★★★★★
I hate fleas. If there was a way, I wish someone would wipe them out. LOL.. Anyway, I got a bite tonight on my arm from taking the dog out for walk..She doesn't have fleas due to homemade ACV spray, spraying each time for each walk. Anyway I took a hot shower and made the hot water as hot as I could stand in the shower and ran it on the new bite and some old ones from a week ago.. Two hours later and no itching. Thank you to everyone who shared about this easy home remedy. Remember, the water has to as hot as you can stand it without burning yourself. Keep the hot water on the bite for at least twenty seconds...
Apply Heat
Posted by Lokismum (Banbury, England) on 09/26/2013
★★★★★
I just got a bite on my foot four days ago which itched so much I nearly scratched myself raw. I had a look on Earth Clinic as I knew the wonderful people who pass on wonderful remedies would have the answer. I tried a lot of things that didn't work as this bite was really fierce with the itching, and remembered I had tried using a hair dryer on a hot setting aimed at the bite until it got too uncomfortable, which had helped when I had a milder bite a couple of months ago. So when I saw the remedy using boiling hot water to soak a flannel and applying that to the bite I wanted to try it. As soon as the flannel hit the red inflamed skin covering half my foot and also half my ankle which was swollen the itching was intense, but strangely comforting. When the itching stopped I took the flannel off, and for the next six or so hours it was absolute bliss. No itching! I woke at three last night with my foot starting to itch, and slapped the very hot flannel on my foot, and once again it worked wonderfully. Thank you so much all of you who recommended this treatment. Colloidal silver sprayed on it several times a day from yesterday evening has taken the swelling down and stopped it looking so angry. I took a tablespoon of silver a couple of times yesterday and today as well, as it was so swollen and itchy yesterday I thought I might have to see the doctor, but I don't want to take anti biotics and it was obvious the foot was infected and that is what the doctor would have prescribed. So once again thank you Earth Clinic.
Replied by Dave
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
09/27/2013
Apply Heat
Posted by Sealion (Alexandria, Va, USA) on 05/10/2013
★★★★★
Worked for me too. Just be careful not to accidentally scald yourself:) Aspirin rubbed in wet worked also but only for about 4 hours and left the bed sheet a little gritty.
Apply Heat
Posted by What Worked For Me (Bev Hills, Usa) on 07/14/2011
★★★★★
Ok I was in soo much pain with itchy flea bites that just got worse after the first day, red inflamed and extremely itchy. I came here and tried a few of the solutions. clear nail polish, nail polish remover, tea tree oil, camphor, deep heat (linement, which worked but only for an hour or so), tiger balm and lime. NOTHING worked...
then I thought oh what the hell and I tried the making an X through each bite with my fingernail then I put a very hot water bottle on each bite (the back of a spoon dipped in very hot water will work too) and wouldnt u know instant relief, they stopped itching straight away. A realy inflamed one I did twice, just held the hot water bottle on it for 2 mins, two times and yep im all good now. I highly recommend this.
Replied by Lizzie
(London, Uk)
08/14/2011
★★★★★
Replied by Molly
(Corte Madera, Ca)
04/19/2013
★★★★★
Replied by Wahine23
(Orange County, Ca)
03/01/2015
★★★★★
Aspirin
Posted by April Dawn (Inland PNW, USA) on 06/13/2022 1 posts
★★★★★
Aspirin did the trick for me! One area had two bites that were about a week old and had been scratched raw several times (usually in the night) and the other area was a really large red area where I was bitten two days ago. In the past I've tried silver ointment, hot spoons, essential oils, Calamine lotion, PawPaw ointment, Bag Balm, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, clay poultices, baking soda. None of these remedies worked, either at all or for any duration. The hot spoon trick worked for about an hour to stop the maddening itch.
TODAY THE ASPIRIN WORKED! I dissolved one aspirin tablet with a tiny bit of warm water from the tea kettle and rubbed the paste into the bites. RELIEF!! I'm looking at the worst (freshest) bite and the horrible redness is almost completely gone. As a test, I scratched just it and it did start up with that deep itching that comes with deep-set insect bites, but I reapplied the aspirin paste and it is no longer bothering me.
As a preventative, I plan on consuming Brewer's Yeast and giving it to my family, as it is known to be a powerful deterrent to biting insects. Since we have a camping trip in two weeks, this will be a great test! The dosage is a mystery, but I plan on researching on here and other sites to glean as much knowledge as possible to make an informed choice. If I can remember, I will post results. But I will definitely be taking aspirin along on the trip just to have on hand if the Brewer's Yeast doesn't work :)
Aspirin
Posted by Hope (Sacramento, CA) on 05/13/2021
★★★★★
I just used aspirin on an insect bite the had been itching badly and had a rather large red ring around it. It immediately stopped itching and it also looks like the swelling is going down a bit!
Replied by Madelyn
(Idaho)
05/13/2021
Aspirin
Posted by Jodi (Wisconsin) on 07/07/2016
★★★★★
Try using aspirin dissolved in apple cider vinegar for insect bites. I have bad reactions to bug bites and it works for me.
