Mosquito bites… aren’t they one of the most annoying things about summer? You spent a great evening in the backyard with your friends, only to pay for it with the itching and scratching. And what’s worse? Your spouse seems to be just fine! Why is this only happening to you? Your reaction to mosquito bites is actually an allergy. Dr. Rajani Katta, a board certified dermatologist from Texas, explains to Country Living Magazine,“The reaction is caused by salivary proteins introduced when adult female mosquitoes penetrate the skin,” she says. So just like bee stings, shellfish, peanuts some people react, and some people don’t.
How to Stop an Itchy Mosquito Bite
So what if you are one of the unlucky ones? How can you heal these itchy, red, possibly swollen mosquito bites quickly? Dr. Katta says that hydrocortisone cream is the best possible remedy. It helps the healing while stopping the itch at the same time. There are also steroid creams available for extreme cases. However, they can cause thinning of the skin that leads to cuts and bruising. If you use these, it’s best to use them sparingly. And then there is what not to do when it comes to mosquito bites. Home remedies are not a good idea. The old wives tales, like lemon juice and witch hazel, can actually irritate the skin more. Most importantly…DON’T SCRATCH! Scratching can lead to open sores which can cause an infection. Katta suggests pressure or tapping of the bites as a way of distracting the nerves and the brain from the feeling of the itch. Give it a try!
While dealing with the annoyance and itch of mosquito bites correctly is important, at Mosquito Squad of Greater Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra we want to help you focus on avoiding them altogether. Mosquitoes are not simply a summer pest, they also carry disease, and the best thing you can do for the sake of your family’s well being is keeping your yard clear of them. Take it upon yourself to follow the Ts of mosquito-proofing your yard.
And when it comes to that final T… treatment…call us. Our 100% guaranteed mosquito barrier treatment eliminates 85-90% of mosquitoes on contact and continues to work for up to 3 weeks. Our treatment programs are the hassle free way to avoid mosquito bites. Call us and schedule your first barrier treatment today!