Shea Simmons
Summer is time to indulge in the great outdoors. Here’s the thing, though. With summer, comes mosquitos, and with mosquitos comes itchy bug bites. Thankfully, though, there’s a solution right in your pantry.
Baking soda can help soothe a mosquito bite; this isn’t just any old home remedy. The Centers for Disease Control recommends it!
We’ve all heard about some DIY bug bite remedy from a family member, but this one has science to back it up. The skin is inflamed and irritated when your mosquito bite starts itching and swelling. A baking soda paste, thanks to the substance’s alkalinity, can help soothe the skin.
To use the remedy, you’ll add a few drops of water to baking soda to create a thick paste. Apply it to the bite and let it dry. The itching should subside as a result, and you can wipe it right off once it’s dry.
Baking soda isn’t the only DIY solution you can try, though. Oatmeal is another oft-cited remedy for the itch. Just like with baking soda, you’ll make a paste using water and oatmeal. Apply it to the area, and leave it on for 10 minutes. If you have a multitude of bites, you can also try an oatmeal bath.
Ultimately, though, the best way to deal with mosquito bites is to avoid them altogether. While these are handy tricks, you might want to grab some peppermint essential oil for a DIY repellent, too.
