Reddit mentions: The best insect bite treatments

Multipurpose waterproof match case. I prefer this case because it's not much bigger than other waterproof cases, but has other stuff built into it. I put waterproof matches in it along with the striker strip from the package. The whistle is good for signaling. The other functions are marginal, so I supplement them with the actual things, which consist of a signal mirror, lensatic compass, and emergency fire starter.

A stove and solid fuel. I was pretty impressed with this particular one when I received it. It's stainless steel, well constructed, and you can store four fuel tabs inside of it.

A multitool and a fixed-blade knife. I don't have either of these specific models, but they seem pretty decent.

A folding shovel. These are good for burying waste, helping a car gain traction in the winter, etc.

A self-adhesive bandage. This is a three-pack. The single one cost $4 locally. Buy this one and leave the other two in your medicine cabinet. Wrap the remaining one around a piece of cardboard and put it in your emergency pack.

Disposable antibacterial wipes.

Antimicrobial silver gel. Like Neosporin, but better. Stays on a wound for multiple days without covering, and the colloidal silver is a strong antimicrobial agent. See the oligodynamic effect.

Dust masks. This is for a 50-pack, but for half the price, you only get 10 at a local store. These help prevent you from spreading germs if you're sick, and keep you from inhaling macroscopic particles if you're in a dusty/dirty area.

QuikClot sponge bandage. This helps to stop bleeding from major injuries. Along with an Israeli battle dressing you have two great ways to help stem major bleeding, separately or combined.

Local anesthetic for stings. Good for numbing injuries other than stings, too.

Sterile pads, 4” x 4”.

Sunscreen.

Cigarette-adapter power inverter. Good for charging small electronics.

Hand warmers.

Work gloves and watchcap.

All of the following are probably best bought in stores or scrounged up around the house:

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, all with obvious uses.

Aspirin, for heart attacks and pain, ibuprofen for pain, anti-histamine for allergic reactions, and Imodium or off-brand equivalent for diarrhea. I can't stress having Imodium enough. Having cramps and shits can render you unable to do anything for long periods of time, even more so than other ailments.

A disposable razor can be used to shave to keep up appearances, or to shave the area around a wound for better bandaging.

Maxi pads and tampons can be used as intended as well as to prevent bleeding from wounds.

Toilet paper. Wrap it around a piece of cardboard to save space.

Bandanas or an old shirt can be used to make a sling, protect yourself from the sun, filter macroscopic particles out of water, filter dirty/dusty air, etc.

Hot chocolate with caffeine added can be used to help stay alert.

Lighters are a must-have to start a fire.

I also have a Ziploc bag containing about ten cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. They're great firestarters.

Cash. Keep various bills and coins in an amount that you think is suitable for emergencies.

Maps. Carry folding maps of your area, state, and surrounding states.

I think that covers everything that I have. There's a lot of redundancy, but it all fits in my bag, so I'm happy with it. I'm definitely interested in hearing thoughts as to what can be added or changed.

Have you been to a Dr. or a Derm yet? They may be able to prescribe you something and give you more ideas to help soothe the itch.

The longest mine has ever lasted was a week and I did the above methods along with hydrocortisone. I had luck a few weeks ago with Aveeno Baby Eczema lotion too.

I've heard Caladryl or Calamine lotion may also help, at least from what I've read while trying to search for quick remedies.

Oh same!!! My bites get really big, and itch like crazy. The skin will get super hard around the bite and it can get to be the size of my palm. No joke, a baseball sized bite on my calf or whatever and it gets hot even. They can itch for a week and make it hard to go to sleep. I’ve never found anything that helps until recently.

Bug Bite Thing Suction Tool, Poison Remover - Bug Bites and Bee/Wasp Stings, Natural Insect Bite Relief, Chemical Free, 3 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EAS3ER8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JnixDbDAZ9QEF

If I can use this within 30 mins of getting bit, I forget I was even bit. Game changer.

StingEze! It is a miracle worker for swelling and itching. Very cheap and easy to find as well!

Yeah totally can be! I have a few kinds of mosquitoes that make worse bites for me than most. That does sound like an allergic reaction. Basically, all humans have what is called a histamine reaction to mosquito bites (foreign organic material tends to get an immune response) but a lot of allergies (this is why they do skin-based allergy tests) are histamine reactions. That kind of swelling and redness that you mentioned sounds a lot like it.

If you want a solid after-bite fix, this stuff called sting stop (metal toothpaste tube looking thing that says “sssssting stop” on it) is magic against most bug bites and has really helped me deal with mosquito bites.

Here’s a link, hopefully it works — I haven’t really put links in replies before, and I’m on mobile:

https://www.amazon.com/Boericke-Tafel-SssstingStop-Health-Beauty/dp/B0036GT4HU/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?adgrpid=56080920236&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI28-gmMKV4wIVSbXACh3eUQfyEAAYASAAEgLoh_D_BwE&hvadid=274719903077&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9032596&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=14274556536349841062&hvtargid=kwd-300230144349&hydadcr=7853_9886193&keywords=ssssting+stop&qid=1562045837&s=gateway&sr=8-5

I just ordered a set of these based on a Reddit comment recommendation, and I'm REALLY hoping to no longer deal with the outrageous amount of itching from the shitloads of mosquitos in NC. I figure these won't be a 100% solution but really ANY difference would be great for me.

Alternatively, you could lightly zap yourself with a barbecue igniter a few times. The little spark neutralizes the proteins just the same without the danger of burning yourself.

edit: tis the same technology as products like this one.

use a hot spoon, run it under the hot water for a while, then put it on the bite, keep doing it til it gets hot enough you have a hard time holding it there, but don't damage your skin. it supposedly kills the saliva/protein/bacteria which is what causes the itch. but you do have to get the skin hot


they sell little battery pen things for it on amazon, works great. https://www.amazon.com/Bite-Helper-Neutralizer-Relief-Solution/dp/B01K3BRSGE/

Always better to build one yourself.

Here's mine. Might give you some ideas.

6x6 Med Pouch (Modified with fingernail polish)

1. Personal prescription meds inside quart ziploc for additional water resistance.
   
2. 2x 4inch Gauze rolls
   
3. 8x 4x4 sterile gauze pads
   
4. 2x tampons 2x menstrual pads (these are meant more for backups for wife rather than wound care)
   
5. 4x pair sterile surgical gloves
   
6. 4x 4x4 tegaderm
   
7. various butterfly closures and bandaids
   
8. 1x triangle bandage
   
9. Immodium & Pepto tabs
   
10. Tylenol
    
11. [redacted because people lack reading comprehension and I'm not going to debate it.]
    
12. 2x Epi Pen (These are in case I have a run in with sunflower seeds.)
    
13. 10x Alcohol swab
    
14. Burn gel (the lidocane is good for more then just burns.) x10
    
15. Antibiotic ointment x10
    
16. Sting wipes x10
    
17. 1x tweezers
    
18. 1x tick remover
    
19. Medipore tape
    
20. Clotting Sponges
    
21. Shears
    
22. Israeli Bandage x2
    
23. Chest Vent
    
24. CAT Gen3
    
25. SAM splint
    
26. Hibiclens
    
27. Mini USB light
    
28. Bic Pen
    
    Not all of this fits inside the med pouch itself. It's meant for quick access to the critical items.

BiteMD, which is made for this exact purpose, is also effective. Especially if applied immediately after being bitten.

Gosh, this. I’ve tried to modify just about everything in my control. I live in a beach town and hear you on the sunscreen front. There really aren’t a lot of great natural options that actually work, but for bug spray I swear by this stuff.

I'm also allergic to mosquitoes. Same as you, they swell up huge. If I get more than 2-3 bites, I have to get a prescription antihistamine or I will not sleep for days from the itching. But if I only have a few, this stick from Burt's Bees helps.

My friend and I go hiking on part of the AT every summer. And we swear by this stuff. I find it is pricey but it works and I don't have to spend money on something that doesn't work. [SallyeAnder No Bite Me Cream 2 Oz. Jar] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008J5YBOE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NFEoxbW0VYMK3)

noooo, it's like this plastic suction that you apply to your skin. https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Bite-Thing-Suction-Remover/dp/B01576DWQU/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=bug+bite+sucker&qid=1563746909&s=gateway&sr=8-2

This should be standard issue when you join the game:

Chigg-Away

“Bug Bite Thing”

Caladryl

https://www.amazon.com/Caladryl-Lotion-Calamine-Reliever-6-Ounce/dp/B005631726

Here you go... StingEze

You guys should really have a first aid kit with these in it.

If you don't have a first aid kit, STOP SLACKING AND GET ONE

That is all.

After bite

https://www.amazon.com/After-Bite-Insect-Remedy-14Ml/dp/B000KU919G

I'm just going to leave this here.

https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Bite-Thing-Suction-Remover/dp/B01EAS3ER8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=56158097676&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9pDpBRCkARIsAOzRzivZkKrzfMrD8RRM6DbGuLpwpMgv8v1F8i5k-R4QZUyrJVmrIkGdy_saAoYxEALw_wcB&hvadid=274810582757&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9029738&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4457462228313333972&hvtargid=aud-676677759524%3Akwd-324181625009&hydadcr=7852_9531066&keywords=bug+bite+thing&qid=1562723384&s=gateway&sr=8-1

The Bug Bite Thing! This is the first summer I have not suffered through mosquito bites (although I may have accidentally given myself a hickey or two)

https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Bite-Thing-Suction-Remover/dp/B01576DWQU

You can also get little battery powered heater devices to make this easier. Eg, Therapik: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZJE6SWG

Edit: Wonder if this would work for mouth sores? Those are caused by a virus, wonder if it would be killed by heat

I heard about this Bug Bite Thing in the news yesterday, sucks the mosquitoes saliva out of (ideally new) bites to stop or reduce the itching. Sure could have used that last week when I was covered in clusters of bites and going mad in the middle of the night...

Don't use polysporin unless you are allergic to neomycin and most people are not. Use neosporin, also known as a triple antibiotic. If it doesn't get better or gets worse after a week, go see a doctor.

Stop scratching and use afterbite ( http://www.amazon.com/After-Bite-The-Eraser-Relief-Insect/dp/B0027I20NI ) or the steroid cream when it itches, also make sure not to get the afterbite on your clothes.


If you have to, wrap it so you don't scratch it.

Get you some of this stuff right here, it'll help kill the pain of it and reduce the swelling and redness.