Heat works for me for itchy bites, although maybe it’s a placebo. In any case, here’s what I do: boil/microwave a cup of water; put a spoon in it briefly; dry the spoon; let it cool just enough so it won’t burn me; press it against the bite for a few seconds. The itching intensifies while I apply the heat, then subsides to less than it was before, and stays low for an hour or two.
There’s also a commercial product called After Bite that might work if you apply it soon after you’re bitten. However, it’s basically just a 3.5% ammonia emulsion with a special applicator, so you might as well buy plain ammonia and dilute & apply it as necessary.
Thank you! I’m using Picksan, which uses the same active ingredient as (p)icaridin, and it did seem to work. I was just spooked a few days ago when a mosquito sat on me while I was wearing the stuff. It didn’t bite though; and maybe I had forgotten a spot, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t shake before using it like it says on the bottle. I’ll definitely try the heat thing. I have tried After Bite, and it didn’t seem to do much. I do have a bottle of ammonia in the house; maybe a stronger solution works better.
Icaridin (a.k.a. “picaridin”) comes out well in head-to-head comparisons against DEET, and it’s CDC-approved. When I’ve been lucky enough to buy it I’ve found it easier on the skin than DEET.
Heat works for me for itchy bites, although maybe it’s a placebo. In any case, here’s what I do: boil/microwave a cup of water; put a spoon in it briefly; dry the spoon; let it cool just enough so it won’t burn me; press it against the bite for a few seconds. The itching intensifies while I apply the heat, then subsides to less than it was before, and stays low for an hour or two.
There’s also a commercial product called After Bite that might work if you apply it soon after you’re bitten. However, it’s basically just a 3.5% ammonia emulsion with a special applicator, so you might as well buy plain ammonia and dilute & apply it as necessary.
More about heat and various other methods to deal with mosquito bites
Thank you! I’m using Picksan, which uses the same active ingredient as (p)icaridin, and it did seem to work. I was just spooked a few days ago when a mosquito sat on me while I was wearing the stuff. It didn’t bite though; and maybe I had forgotten a spot, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t shake before using it like it says on the bottle. I’ll definitely try the heat thing. I have tried After Bite, and it didn’t seem to do much. I do have a bottle of ammonia in the house; maybe a stronger solution works better.