What are the Most Common Treatments for a Swollen Mosquito Bite?

The most common treatments for a swollen mosquito bite are anti-itch creams, antihistamine pills, and topical home remedy ingredients. The anti-itch creams and home remedies may be applied directly to the area of the insect bite and generally provide immediate relief for the swelling and itching that occur. The antihistamine medication should be reserved as a relief for situations in which the sufferer has experienced multiple bites in one centralized location and is experiencing pain as well as swelling.

Mosquitoes are a stinging insect that breed in water and feed on human and animal blood. Only the female members of the species bite other mammals and ingest their blood. These insects are often found in warm climates or moderate regions during the summer season. They prefer to hunt during the early hours of the morning and the late hours of the afternoon, both of which provide fairly cool temperatures and moderate to low sunlight. The best repellent against these creatures is to wear protective covering while outside during their peak hunting hours, but when an individual finds he has been bitten, there are a few remedies he may use to lessen the discomfort.

Rubbing anti-itch cream over the area of the insect sting typically provides immediate relief for a swollen mosquito bite. Calamine and hydro-cortisone are often the primary ingredients in such creams that are used to help relieve skin irritations. These types of topical treatments are available at most local grocery and pharmacy stores. They may be purchased in cream form, lotion, or as a light misting spray. These creams also possess mild antiseptic qualities, which help prevent any infection occurring at the site of the irritation.

Taking an allergy relief pill provides long lasting relief from a swollen mosquito bite. When a mosquito stings an individual, she leaves some of her saliva in the wound. This chemical agent causes the body's immune system to send histamines to the site to render the foreign substance neutral in the blood stream. This causes the initial swelling and continued feeling of itchiness. Sometimes multiple mosquito bites received in a localized area can cause intense muscle swelling and some pain. Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine allergy pill can reduce the painful inflammation that is resultant from the body's auto-immune reaction.

There are a variety of home remedies that may be applied to a swollen mosquito bite that do not require purchasing any type of medication, either in topical or pill form. These remedies include rubbing salt into the wound, pouring apple cider vinegar over the wound, and covering the wound with toothpaste. Each remedy should be tried separately and not as a combination. These methods tend to dry out the affected area and bring the saliva quickly to the surface of the skin, where it may be washed away. They also have the effect of neutralizing the body's auto-immune reaction to the bite.