HOW TO ALLEVIATE THE ITCHING AND BURNING OF A MOSQUITO BITE

Who likes to be bitten by a skeeter?  If you know someone that does please let me know by commenting.  I can not think of anyone who likes to have their blood sucked by those vicious mean little vampire bugs.  For some unknown reason, they adore me.  I can go outside and they can find me within seconds.  I guess my blood is that delicious for them to feast upon.  Scott and I have always had this thing between us on who they like better.  Believe me, this is one I would love to lose but I think I always win.  

As our vacation approaches, I was going to order my favorite over the counter cream to help with the itching but dang it, they were out and I can not find it in any stores.  Which leaves me to find alternative methods.  I love natural ways of doing things.  I do not really care for a lot of chemicals forced down my throat with purchasing various beauty and food products.  With the cream nowhere to be found it really forced me to get serious about how in the world Scott and I are going to survive a trip to the Florida Keys without being totally miserable due to bug bites.  

Believe me, I could make this post long by putting all kinds of ways to help the itch but I am only going to name 3!!  Can you believe that?  Me, only naming 3 things?  Well, I am doing so because I wanted to make sure you understand that I have personally used all the ways of alleviating the pain and itch from not just mosquitoes but noseeums too.  I can vouch that these methods have truly worked for me.  I can not say they will work for you but I promise you all 3 I have used and all 3 work.  

Just a few fun facts before I get started here.  

• Your blood type does have something to do with how tasty a mosquito finds you.  I am O negative.  Scott is B positive.  O blood types are twice as likely to be devoured by mosquitoes as does A blood types.  Scientistic proof that they do like sucking my blood better then they enjoy Scott's blood.  With Scott having B blood type he falls in the middle of the spectrum. 
• Exercise also has something to do with it too.  When you sweat ceratin chemicals are released and a mosquito can actually smell them and are attracted to their scent.  
• Beer drinking also has been found to attract the bloodletting suckers.  
• Colors you wear.  Black, dark blue or red makes you easier for them to see.  Therefore they can find you to take a swig of your blood.  

There are more ways that scientists have found but these are the ways I have found to be true.  

Now let's get to the 3 ways to help with your itchiness after a bite.  All 3 are pretty much chemical free.

Baking Soda: This stuff works.  I read somewhere a while back that baking soda can help balance the pH of your skin.  If this is true, it makes sense why this would help when you are itchy.  I make it into a paste and apply it to whatever rash I may have.  It helps to reduce the swelling, the itch and also helps to dry up your skin irritation.

Jewel Weed:  I know you are thinking just what is this weed.  Well, 8 years ago Scott and I were canoeing down the Dan River and I was set upon by mosquitoes like... well I better not use that analogy.  Let me say they left many red swollen bumps on my back.  Scott said jewelweed works.  I have never even heard of the stuff.  Well, nature is good.  Scott spotted some and paddled up to it.  I was very skeptical.  I had no clue how my body would react to some weed extract being put on my back.  I am very fair and do not tan at all.  I am also very sensitive, making it hard to use anything with a scent to it.  From washing my clothes to lotions, I have to be very careful.  Even sunscreens can break me out.  Now, you understand why I was skeptical.  Plus this was only our second date.  I had no clue if this man I was to later marry was some type of nut case.  Well, that is another story.  Scott took some of the stems and made it like a paste and applied some to each ugly looking mass on my back.  I swear within a few moments not only had the bumps stopped itching but they had totally disappeared.  Click here for more information.  

White Vinegar:  WOW does this stuff work.  I would rank it as good as Jewelweed but it is more accessible.  Since I could not find that cream, I started doing research yesterday and used this method this morning.  It works!!!  I went out to feed the quail and rabbits and was bitten 4 times within minutes.  When I say I get ugly swollen bumps, I am not lying.  They become huge knots of ugly angry hatefulness within seconds on my skin.  At times I have had bites become infected and I never even scratched them.  So, this morning as soon as I got inside I poured some white vinegar on a cotton ball and applied it very liberally on and around the area I was bitten.  Within a couple of minutes the itch ceased and within 15 minutes the bumps were totally gone.  

Needless to say that I will have white vinegar and some baking soda packed in my travel bag for vacation.  Jewelweed is better used fresh or by making it into cubes and freezing.  I will be making some and having them stored in the freezer soon. 

I tried to put these in order as I found how well their effectiveness works for bites.

ENJOY!!