Mosquitoes are able to bite animals and people to draw blood. These bites are produced by female mosquitoes, as male mosquitoes do not have that natural need. And you may wonder why female mosquitoes bite, well, the reason is related to the reproduction phase, that is, they need blood with proteins and other components that favor the production of eggs. Mosquito bites, like those of other insects, produce inflammations in the form of red bumps. This form varies according to the reaction of each person's body to a certain bite.
To find out how to lower the inflammation of a mosquito bite, why inflammation takes place and how to treat it, at we recommend that you continue reading this article.
Why Mosquito Bites Become Inflamed
Swollen mosquito bites originate from a mild allergic reaction of the body along with contact with the insect's saliva. Your body releases histamine to fight insect bites, especially coagulants secreted by a mosquito.
Histamine released to fight the bite of the tiger mosquito or any other insect causes inflammation in the affected area. The itching you feel in the moments after a bite is due to your body's reaction to this segregation: the blood vessels in the area swell, the nerves are irritated and, consequently, you feel the itching. There are mild reactions of bites in some people, but others suffer harder in the form of redness, pain and inflammation.
How long a mosquito bite lasts
As discussed above, female mosquitoes are the ones that bite to produce the eggs. These use a special part of the mouth, called a proboscis, to penetrate the person's skin and suck on blood.
In this way, the mosquito can feed itself by injecting saliva into the skin and producing the bite on the body of an individual. The initial redness of the bite disappears within a few hours, resulting in a more uncomfortable lump. The bite lump, called a papule, appears within 2 to 6 hours of the bite and lasts for an average of 1 to 2 days. In certain cases, the papule takes longer to disappear, needing several days or weeks. To prevent this time from increasing, it is essential that you do not scratch the area affected by the bite by relieving it with ice or washing it with soap and water.
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What to do to lower the inflammation of a bite
You can lower the inflammation of a bite through some simple treatments and tips, we show them below:
- Soap and water: Washing the area affected by a mosquito bite with soap and water helps relieve itching and reduce inflammation.
- Placing an ice pack to lower inflammation is effective if done for 10 minutes. After this time, check the condition of the bite and, if you feel more discomfort, put an ice pack back on the area for 10 more minutes.
- Consult a doctor or pharmacist and take an antihistamine that helps relieve itching and inflammation.
- Do not scratch the bite to prevent inflammation from growing.
What to apply for mosquito bite
There are different home remedies for mosquito bites that are easy to prepare and apply. opt for one of the following remedies whenever you need to treat the inflammation of an insect bite:
Baking soda
Mixing baking soda with water is a good natural resource for treating a bite. A tablespoon of baking soda and a little water will be enough to create a paste, you should apply it to the area of the bite and wait 10 minutes for it to take effect. Finally, you need to rinse it off.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera has many natural properties that help fight skin damage such as burns or insect bites. In addition, it is an excellent natural antiseptic that helps reduce itching, swelling and pain.
Toothpaste
Many toothpastes include menthol in their composition. It is an organic compound found in mint plants and that, applied on the inflammation of a mosquito bite, helps reduce it and relieve the area.
Honey
Honey has been used for many years as a home remedy to combat different pains such as throat, inflammation or cough. It contains several properties that make it a natural antibiotic, thus helping to treat the bite.
Antihistamine cream
Free trade antihistamine creams are not a home remedy but also help relieve an inflamed mosquito bite. Follow the product instructions (on the label) at all times to apply it correctly.
And if you also want to know how to scare away mosquitoes with natural products, keep reading this article from.
