Best way to relief bug bit itch and/or prevent them?

[hsumam11]

Having just moved to FL about a month ago, we've been getting so many bug bites (mosquitoes, no see-ums, etc) and they itch like crazy!! Besides ice and hydrocortizone creams (we try not to use those too much), what can we do! We've also been using sprays made of citronella, catnip and lavendar oils but it's not helping - what else can we use on ourselves (hubby and I) and the kiddies? Help!!

[Rebecca]

Applying ammonia works. You can get afterbite stuff with ammonia in it at the grocery store in the first aid section. Benedryl at night sometimes helps if you can't sleep from the itching.

I know, it's anti-natural, but bugspray with DEET is really the only thing that works well and consistantly. People will argue with me about how well the EOs work, but frankly mosquitos and black flies here in New Hampshire see them as marinade, and they only repel other people and make you greasy. I've tried them all AND made my own without luck. Even Avon's Skin So Soft. It just makes you stink and be greasy enough so the bugs slide off, but they'd still try to eat me.

Up here we have lots of mosquito and tick-bourne illnesses that I'm not willing to risk. My 5 yr old had Lyme disease this winter and an alpaca around the corner died of EEE last fall. West Nile is common in birds up here too. We use a LOT of bugspray on clothing and bathe it all off every night.

[~Nikki~]

My handy-dandy vinegar book tells me that dabbing it onto bites will help kill the itch. I haven't tried it yet, though.

We use the Burts Bees bugspray and it works decently for repelling mosquitos. I'm sure the DEET stuff works much better, but it makes me so nervous.

[rachelmarie]

I've been using a blemish stick on mosquito bites and it kills the itch almost instantly. It is very similar to this, but not the same brand. I'm not sure where it is right now or I would go look to see the exact brand. However, looking at the ingredients in the one in the link I think they are about the same. It works amazingly well! I was really surprised.

[lactivist]

Sting Stop. B & T Brand. It is homeopathic and has citronella in it. I am pretty allergic to mosquito bites (wheeze if they bite me on my face) and it takes away the itch and everything within about 10-15 minutes. I usually apply it twice and never think about them again. It works on all sorts of bites and the citronella keeps more from biting. I couldn't live without the stuff. It is the homeopathic stuff in it that does the trick.
Wendi

[hsumam11]

Thanks, all! I have to look into these products! In the meanwhile, I'll hafta try some vinegar! Thanks, again!

[reducereuserecycle]

you can put a paste of baking soda and water on the bite

[koofie]

I was told once to use straight dish soap and it works for me!

[Barbee]

putting an onion on a bite will make the itch go away. of course you'll smell like an onion though.

[momto l&a]

We use straight lavender EO on the bite works very well.

Straight lavender EO dabbled all over my babies clothes also keeps flies, bees and skeeters away from her.

[gingerstar]

Our pharmacist swore by Adolph's Meat Tenderizer - make a paste and apply.