Stop Mosquito Bites from Itching

Those pesky mosquitoes. You've been bitten and you've tried everything to get those darn bites to stop itching -- what are you going to do?

Go into a bathroom and thoroughly wash the affected area with rubbing alcohol [1] before anything else. Pat dry (don't rub it).
Take a nice, relaxing hot bath.
Use your fingernail to press an "X" into the bite. This disperses the protein and stops the itch for a while.
Use the scalding method:
Dip a wash cloth into scalding hot water, but not so hot that it burns your skin.
Press the wet part of the cloth against the bite.
Hold it there until you feel the bite tingle.
Repeat once or twice. Your nerves will be confused and the itching will vanish for hours. The heat causes all the histamine (the protein used by the body to initiate immune responses, which include irritation and itching) in the skin surrounding the bite to be released at once.
Rub any of the following fluids and creams on it:
Baking soda and water paste
Lemon or lime
o Cut into pieces and rub gently on the affected area, or just squirt a bit juice on it.
Nail polish (preferably clear)
o Be sure that the bite is not raw from scratching.
o This keeps it from itching and acts as a seal to protect it.
White or apple cider vinegar
o Make sure it is not an open wound, and brush the vinegar on with your finger.
Hydrocortisone cream
Antihistamine and water
o Rub a little onto the bite and cover with a band aid.
o You can take a Benadryl as well.
Vicks Vaporub
o Keep applying Vicks to the area, especially if it rubs off.
Water
o Rub on with a cotton ball or q-tip.
Aloe vera
Ice or cold water
Lavender oil
Saliva
Toothpaste
Bar soap pieces
Melaleuca oil (also known as tea tree oil)
Saltwater
Oatmeal
Mud
Oil and vinegar
Banana peel citation needed
o Rub it against the affected area.
Common Plantain
o Either roll leaves of common plantain between fingers to extract juice, or chew on common plantain leaves a little bit, then rub the juicy leaf over mosquito bite. The itch goes away in less than a minute.

Remember, it will eventually stop itching.
Dry skin may make you itch more, so, applying some protection lotion could help too.
See your pharmacist, who can help offer advice on the use of antihistamine.


Do not pick the heads off of the bites as they will get infected.
If you feel you must scratch, try patting or (if it really itches,) slapping the area instead. Dermatologists will verify that patting or slapping stimulates the same nerves without damaging the skin.

Whatever you do, don't scratch or rub your bites. This will make the itching worse.