Treating insect bites at home

Although insect bites can cause severe allergic reactions or transmit diseases (such as Lyme disease or malaria), most of them are quite harmless, but even then they can be very inconvenient.  Some insect bites cause pain and others cause itchiness. These ‘minor’ symptoms do not require medical attention and they can be alleviated with some readily available home remedies.

Bee stings are usually painful, wasp stings even more so. When a bee stings a person it leaves its sting in our skin and the sting continues to pump the venom from its attached venom sack. The first thing that one should do is to remove the sting. This step is simple, grab it with your fingers and pull it out. At this point it could be useful to pinch the part of the stung part of the skin, this may help squeeze out some of the venom. The stung area should be then treated with a paste made of baking soda and water. Some people claim that vinegar also helps. If these remedies are not available some cold water or even mud can help. Be aware that bee stings (no pun intended) can cause allergic reactions in certain people which range from mild to life threatening. Mild reaction could include itchiness on the spot of the sting or over wider areas of the body and severe reactions include narrowing of the throat which can cause suffocation. People with such strong allergic reactions should carry an EpiPen.

Insects such as mosquitoes, fleas and others usually cause itchiness on the point of bite. When these insects bite down they release blood thinning chemicals that stop blood from coagulating while they are sucking it. These chemicals along with dirt, bacteria and other contaminants make our bodies release histamine at the point of bite and this is what causes itchiness. Common remedies for this include cold water and ice, but there is another approach that I find more effective and that is hot water. Hot water causes increase release of histamine, but after a while the level of histamine will drop sharply. When I have an itchy bite I pour hot water over it. I use water that is almost scalding. For a few seconds the offended area itches like hell, but then it suddenly stops itching. This effect lasts at least 2 or 3 hours.

Most of the insect bites can easily be treated, but prevention is even better, so try not to get bitten.