How to get rid of mosquito bites on your legs overnight

Picture this…

Table of Contents Show

What are the antihistamines?
Oral antihistamines vs. topical (skin treated) antihistamines, which is better for mosquito bites?
Using corticosteroids to get rid of mosquito bites
What does the research say?
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Infection from scratching
Keloid scarring
Treat with aloe
Exfoliate the area
Try OTC anti-scarring products
Massage to promote blood flow
Moisturize with shea butter or coconut oil
Apply antibacterial ointments nightly
Use anti-itch cream to prevent scratching
Sooth inflammation with calamine lotion
Scar cream and regular massage to the area
Chemical peels and microdermabrasion

It’s summer, and you decide to go on a nice run during the summer months. Of course, you opt for some mosquito repellent at the store to help with the bugs. You apply the solution and go on your way. Fast forward to after your run, and you’re now covered in bites.

Great.

This type of scenario is quite common with runners and anyone who likes to be outside.

So if you get a mosquito bite is there anything you can do to treat it?

Yes, antihistamines.

What are the antihistamines?

When you come into contact with something that you are allergic too (in this case the mosquito’s saliva) your body produces a histamine. The presence of an histamine results in your red blood vessels to swell so that your white blood cells can identify the source of your problem.

This swelling in the cause your mouth, eyes, and body to react. You might get a stuffy nose, hives, itchy eyes, etc.

The job of an antihistamine is to stop histamines from wreaking havoc on your body and suppress allergy symptoms. Delilah Warrick, M.D encourages patients to take oral antihistamines a couple of hours before going into mosquito infested areas.

Oral antihistamines vs. topical (skin treated) antihistamines, which is better for mosquito bites?

If you’re thinking about antihistamines, you have two options. You can either take a topical ointment (e.g., cream that you’d apply to your skin) or something by mouth that you’d swallow.

Dr. Warrick recommends oral antihistamines (Allegra, Claritin, Benedryl, etc.), but I know some people who swear by Vick’s Vapor Rub. There is no one magic bullet. Also be mindful of the side effects because they do exist!

To help you out, I’ve listed all the ways people have been able to treat and relieve mosquito bite itches. From banana peels to hot spoons, they’re all in here. I tried to organize them by effectiveness, but your results may vary.

If antihistamines aren’t your thing, consider corticosteroids as an alternative.

Using corticosteroids to get rid of mosquito bites

As an alternative to antihistamines, hydrocortisone cream has been the go-to recommendation by many physicians to get rid of itchy mosquito bites.

While antihistamines reduce the presence of histamines in your body, the corticosteroids treat the inflation on the skin and reduce the itching sensation. Both are answers to the same problem, and it’s up to you to figure out what works best for your particular situation.

Please note: Long-term use as well as application of corticosteroids across a wide body area may lead to unwanted side effects, especially in children. Click here to learn more.

What does the research say?

Despite the fact that many doctors recommend antihistamines and steroid creams, there isn’t that much scientific research that supports one method over the other.

A study published in 2012 examined the evidence of mosquito bite treatments and found there isn’t a clear-cut winner. Doctors and other professionals provide their opinions (although expert opinions) instead of facts.

Again everyone’s body will react differently to a mosquito’s bite and any treatments to reduce the itching. I do recommend trying an over-the-counter antihistamine or corticosteroid, but you should always consult your doctor before doing anything that involves your health.

When you’re spending time outdoors during the warmer months, coming home with an itchy welt or two might just feel like par for the course. Symptoms usually disappear after a couple of days. But in some instances, mosquito bites leave a more permanent reminder behind: tiny, pinhole-shaped scars.

This article will cover scarring from mosquito bites — why it happens, how to prevent it, and how to treat these scars when they’ve already started to become visible.

Mosquitos cause more insect bites than any other bug worldwide. Most of the time, these bites disappear within a week.

Symptoms tend to be the most severe in the hours right after the mosquito bites you. They include:

itching
inflammation
redness

In cases where marks or blemishes on your skin linger after that, the three most likely reasons are:

inflammation
infection
allergies

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

After the symptoms of the initial bite subside, you may notice a circular dark spot where the bite occurred. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can also result from acne. These types of blemishes tend to fade slowly over several months, and certain home remedies might help them become less visible.

Infection from scratching

Sometimes mosquito bites can become infected during the healing process. Scratching the bite and then opening the scab can increase the chances of this.

If you interrupt the healing process by scratching and that scratching destroys new skin growing underneath a scab, scars and infection become more likely.

An infected mosquito bite will become inflamed and may have a yellow or green discharge. After the infection is gone, it can leave a permanent scar.

Keloid scarring

Some people are just more prone to scarring when they have mosquito bites (or anything else that breaks the top skin layer). These scars, called keloid scars, can become larger than your original mosquito bite wound.

A keloid scar is a raised deposit of collagen that occurs during healing. It’s usually permanent.

Treat with aloe

Aloe promotes healing after your skin has been compromised by a burn, cut, or insect bite wound. Applying aloe to the site of your bite can help your skin heal.

Exfoliate the area

After the initial scab has fallen off, you can begin to exfoliate the area of the bite to lower your risk of scarring and encourage a layer of healthy new skin cells.

Use an exfoliating skin scrub or gentle exfoliating brush, like a sea sponge, over the bite whenever you shower.

Try OTC anti-scarring products

An over-the-counter (OTC) scar cream can help encourage skin healing. Apply these products to the mosquito bite as soon as you’re able to, and continue daily application until the blemish is fully healed.

Massage to promote blood flow

Some people swear by regularly massaging the area of a mosquito bite in order to promote blood flow. Increased circulation may encourage healthy collagen production, which would make scars less likely to appear.

Moisturize with shea butter or coconut oil

Keeping the area moisturized is critical during the healing process. You can safely use natural moisturizers with no added ingredients on the mosquito bite as the scab starts to fall off.

Shea butter and coconut oil are proven to lock moisture into your skin without interrupting its natural healing processes.

Apply antibacterial ointments nightly

Treating your mosquito bite with bacitracin or another antibacterial ointment every night before bed will reduce your chance of infection, which will in turn lower the risk of your bite turning into a scar.

Use anti-itch cream to prevent scratching

An antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream that cuts down on itching can help your mosquito bites heal more quickly, making scars less likely to form.

Sooth inflammation with calamine lotion

Soothing calamine lotion can be used to reduce inflammation and calm your itchy skin following the initial bite.

Scar cream and regular massage to the area

Scar cream and regular massage to the area of your mosquito bite may help make old scars less visible. How well these home remedies work will vary depending on:

your skin type
the severity of the scars
how regularly you use the treatments

Chemical peels and microdermabrasion

Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are clinical options that a dermatologist may recommend to help heal scars. These methods can be costly, though, and aren’t guaranteed to work.

Keep in mind that over time, scars from a mosquito bite will continue to fade and become less noticeable.

If you find that you’re prone to scarring easily, you may want to consult with a dermatologist. They can give you tips on scar removal and scar treatment, as well as prevention strategies.

Not everyone gets scars from mosquito bites. If you’re prone to scarring or have a mosquito allergy, you may be more at risk for permanent blemishes as the result of insect bites.

If you’re concerned about scarring from mosquito bites, speaking with a dermatologist is your best bet for treatment options. In the meantime, home remedies for mosquito bites can help prevent infections, control symptoms, and reduce the appearance of scars.