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Get the Itch Out with these natural, effective bite remedies.
Vitamin B1 Studies suggest that taking 25 to 50 milligrams (a safe dosage for adults and children) of thiamin (vitamin B1) three times a day, starting two weeks before mosquito season, reduces your chance of getting bitten. The vitamin produces an odor on skin that, though undetectable to us, is thought to be disagreeable to mosquitoes.
Ice Treat a bite the same way you would any swollen bump: Put ice on it. The cold will reduce itching and inflammation.
Meat Tenderizer Apply a dab of meat tenderizer directly to the bite to neutralize the itch-inducing allergen and reduce swelling.
Baking Soda Pour a teaspoonful into a little water, stir to make a thick paste; apply to bites. Helps heal irritated tissues and reduces itching.
Menthol Dab anything with menthol in it—say, Tiger Balm or Vicks VapoRub—on a bite to relieve itching quickly.
But if you're really covered in bites and they're driving you crazy, use an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl, which will provide quick and effective relief. You can take it orally or apply it topically in cream or ointment form.
