There are many things to love about summer, from playing at the park to grilling and stargazing. One thing we can all agree on: mosquitoes aren’t one of those things. While mosquitoes can transfer dangerous diseases, for most of us, the most annoying part of their presence is the itchy bites. Read on to learn why they itch and how to treat itchy mosquito bites.

Why Mosquito Bites Itch

When a mosquito bites you, it pierces your skin and draws blood with the tip of its straw-like mouth. During the process, some of its own saliva, which contains an anticoagulant that prevents your blood from clotting around the proboscis and trapping the mosquito. Your immune system identifies this saliva as a foreign identity and creates an immediate attack of histamine, which causes the itching. Because it is an allergy reaction, everyone reacts differently.

How to Treat Itchy Mosquito Bites

• Heat up a spoon and apply it to the bite. The heat destroys the protein that causes the itching.
• Make a baking soda paste with water and dab it onto the bite.
• Use a cold compress. The cold causes your blood vessels to constrict, reducing the amount of blood that reaches the bite.
• Apply a hydrocortisone cream. It has corticosteroids that counteract the histamine (that causes the bite to itch).
• Try not to scratch the bite! It can irritate the area, causing further itching.
• Take an antihistamine. While it takes time to be effective, you’ll find relief once the medicine kicks in because it prevents histamines from binding with receptors at the blood vessels.

ExtermPRO Prevents Mosquitoes

Your local pest professionals at ExtermPRO are experts at taking back your yard from mosquitoes. And we care about your family’s safety, only using products that are safe for you, your kids, and your pets. Call us today at 571-620-1168 for a free quote.