How to Soothe Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bites can put an itchy downer on a tropical getaway to countries like Tonga. If you haven’t followed our advice in 10 Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Tonga or used the insect repellent recommended in 10 Best Natural Mosquito Repellents for Tonga, and you managed to get bitten by a mosquito, we’ve put together a short list of ways to soothe the bite. So, find out how to treat mosquito bites in the list below!
For more health and safety tips for Tonga, head over to How to Keep Safe in Tonga, as well as Do You Need Vaccines to Travel to Tonga?
1. Take Antihistamine
The main purpose to take antihistamines before or after being bitten by a mosquito is to remedy allergic reactions. They also help prevent or soothe itching. What’s more, antihistamine is even known to help prevent getting bitten in the first place! Check out brands like GoodSense antihistamine tablets as a good example, of effective antihistamine tablets. However, if you have any doubt about taking antihistamine tablets, it’s always best to consult with your doctor first.
2. Use Antiseptic Soothing Cream or Spray
To help soothe itchy bites, help reduce swelling and reduce the risk of infection, apply antiseptic soothing cream or spray to the affected area. We recommend using natural products like All Moms Natural Soothing Cream where you will not need to worry about any nasty chemical reactions on your skin or when combined with other skin products like sunscreen. Plus, natural products have the added bonus of being safer for the environment.
3. Get a Mosquito Bite-Soothing Gadget
Commonly known as a “Zapit” device, these mosquito-soothing devices are nifty little gadgets to help reduce the urge of scratching your itchy mosquito bites. Just hold the device over your skin, just making contact with the skin, and press the button to release a quick burst of electricity on the affected area. Some devices also allow you to adjust the strength of the zap to make it suitable for kids. Check out popular Zapit devices like Bite Helper.
4. Use Hydrocortisone Cream
Only if the skin is still sealed and there are no open wounds on or around the mosquito bite should you use hydrocortisone cream. A cream that contains 1% of hydrocortisone contains corticosteroids that help reduce redness and swelling, as well as help heal bites faster. It’s also one of the creams we recommend packing in your Tonga first aid kit!
5. Apply Ice to the Bite
Histamines, which causes the itchiness associated with mosquito bites, dilate blood vessels filling the area bitten with excess blood. The cold, however, can help constrict blood vessels and make the area feel a lot less itchy. So put some ice or a cold ice pack on your mosquito bite.
More About Health and Ways to Treat Mosquito Bites
Author
Robin C.
This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Tonga Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with the Ministry of Tourism of Tonga. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.