Suddenly have an itching sensation on your arms, face, chest, neck, or legs? Have you noticed a small pink or red swelling on the itchy spot? If you’ve spotted these signs and suspect that you have been exposed to mosquito bites recently, you likely have an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite.

As the weather becomes warmer, mosquito activity starts to peak. So, your chances of getting a mosquito bite while on a walk, enjoying some barbeque in the yard, or even sleeping in the house increase exponentially.

It is possible to get a mosquito-borne disease after a bite from a mosquito carrying the West Nile Virus. However, most mosquito bites are harmless to your health. However, your skin may react to them and cause unwanted discomfort. So, as you gear up for the summer heat or before you go for a vacation to warmer and wetter destinations, take a look at ten tips that will help you prevent and treat mosquito bites.

How to Treat or Relieve Your Mosquito Bite

Here’s what you should do when you have a mosquito bite anywhere on your skin:

1. Clean the Area
Once you notice a mosquito bite, the first thing you should do is clean the area with water and mild soap. The purpose of washing is to help prevent further itching and infection if the skin is broken from scratching.

Once the area is clean, you can proceed to other forms of treatment. Remember, if you want the bite to heal as soon as possible, you need to stop scratching it. Scratching will only aggravate the bite. Plus, the bacteria under your nails may infect the bite and cause more serious issues.

2. Apply Ice to Reduce Inflammation and Itching
The itch relief you get from cleaning your mosquito bite will typically last a short while. So, feel free to get an ice pack and press it on the bite. Cold temperature relieves inflammation and numbs the skin, which gives you short-term relief from the constant itchiness.

However, don’t leave the ice for prolonged periods on your skin as it may damage it. You want to use the ice pack periodically until the mosquito bite gets better.

3. Apply Natural Compounds for Itch Relief
You could use a couple of things you probably already have in your pantry to treat reactions to mosquito bites. The most common ones include:

• Honey (a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial)
• Baking soda mixed with water
• Steeped basil
• Vinegar
• Lemon balm
• Chamomile or green tea
• Garlic
• Oatmeal (applied as a paste or added to bathwater)

4. Grab an OTC Anti-Itching Cream
If you don’t have access to these natural items, or they are just not giving you the relief you’re looking for, consider getting an over-the-counter anti-itching cream. You want to look for a cream that contains either lidocaine or benzocaine, both of which are great numbing agents. If the cream also contains cooling agents like peppermint or menthol, the better.

5. Take Oral Anti-Histamines
You can also consider buying anti-histamines if you’re experiencing a more severe allergic reaction or have several itchy mosquito bites around your body. Anti-histamines are a group of drugs used to alleviate the side effect of different allergies, including reactions to insect stings or bites.

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites

To prevent, or at least, reduce your chances of dealing with a mosquito bite in the first place, here are a couple of things you can do:

1. Use an Insect Repellent
One sure way of safeguarding yourself from mosquito bites is using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- registered insect repellent. You want to be on the lookout for products with the following active components:

• DEET
• IR3535
• Picaridin
• Para-menthane-diol
• 2-undecanoate
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus

It’s important to note that many people have concerns over the use of insect repellents. Fortunately, EPA-registered products are as safe as they are effective when used as directed. Pregnant or breastfeeding women can also use them.

2. Install Screens on Your Windows and Doors
Installing screens on your windows and doors will keep mosquitos and other pesky disease-carrying organisms from getting into your home. You should also point to sealing any holes in your screens to ensure that mosquitos do not find an entry point into your house.

3. Up Your Yard Maintenance
Upping your yard game is another action you can take to prevent mosquito attacks and protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases. Some of the steps you can take in this regard include:

• Hanging nets pre-treated with insecticides in your yard.
• Using a large oscillating fan to keep your deck mosquito-free.
• Cutting grass in your yard and ensuring that there’s no leaf litter other debris that can shelter mosquitos.

Besides ensuring that your yard is not conducive to mosquitos, you need to get rid of any stagnant water around your house. It means eliminating even small containers of water such as a birdbath or even the water in your plant vases because mosquitos can very well breed even in small amounts of stagnant water.

4. Invest in Tightly-Knit Protective Clothing Whenever You’re in a Mosquito Territory
If you’re in a mosquito-infested area, it’s best to have some protective clothing in your wardrobe. Be sure to go for clothing with a very tight weave since mosquitos can’t penetrate it. While cotton and linen usually aren’t excellent armor against mosquito bites, many synthetic fibers—especially high-tech athletic apparel—tend to be woven tightly enough to keep bugs out.

Clothes that offer sun protection will also have a tight enough weave to keep female mosquitoes biting you. It is especially effective when you don long-sleeved clothing and pants.

Ensure that you treat all of your clothing with 0.5% permethrin, an insecticide that kills or repels mosquito species for the best results.

5. Make Your Body Odor Less Appealing
Any scented perfume, lotion, or soap could potentially attract mosquitos. So, to minimize your appeal to these pesky creatures, you want to go easy on strong scents, clean off sweat, and control alcohol consumption. These measures can reduce your risk of mosquito bites.

Have a Mosquito Problem in Florida? Skymark is Just a Call Away

If you have a mosquito situation in your Florida home, you need to hire professionals to get rid of them. Skymark boasts of an excellent track record in eliminating mosquitos and other pests from residential and commercial properties. The best part? We’ll also share some valuable tips to help you prevent future mosquito problems.

Call Skymark Pest Control on 352-552-3290 to get professional help with your mosquito infestation!