mud works as an emergency help on bee stings, You can always make mud. I don't see why it wouldn't work on skeeter bites. Cool chamomile tea bags is supposed to work, I haven't tried that, because when I'm outside there is always good clean dirt to make mud with.

antihistamines should help.

vinegar helped my flea bites.

Mix ammonia with a little oil. It's the two ingredients in those after-bite daubers.

Joe

Well, this works for poison oak... heard it works for Mosquito bites... go out and grab a couple of leaves of Plantago major, mash them up and use them as a poultice.

Wow! I am going to try these and see which one works best. I appreciate it!

I use essential oil of lavender as an all-purpose first aid remedy. Or if I'm in the garden, some crushed (or chewed and spit out) lavender or yarrow are good cure-alls.

Mosquitos love me and I really react badly to them.

For a very good, but temporary solution run very hot water over the bite. I picked up elsewhere on garden web and it works. Other wise, I alternate between the standard solutions but just have to tough it out.

Regards, Michele

I take two Benadryl tablets, put some Caladryl lotion on the bite (contains Benadryl, which you aren't supposed to use both topically AND orally at the same time) and find a quiet place to sleep for the next 4-6 hours. With Benadryl, sleep is not optional. It just happens. Zyrtec works well for itching, too, but it's expensive and not OTC. It makes me even sleepier than Benadryl. And for the WORST itches, Atarax (also an antihistamine, and prescription only) will put you to sleep and you won't ever know if you itched or not. Atarax is the most powerful of the sleepy-making ones I've ever been prescribed. Don't even try and operate an electric toothbrush or a TV remote if you have taken Atarax, because it's just pointless.

Thanks again, everybody, for all the advice. I've never had such trouble before until just this spring. In fact, I used to live in Chicago until 7 years ago, and there, mosquitos can be horrible,--- there's always out. The only thing that saved you was the wind! However, for some reason, I've been ravaged this year so far, but hopefully it'll get better!

It's all this rain. We have to make sure we upend anything that has even the tiniest puddles otherwise we're soon to be engulfed in CLOUDS of skeeters.

I put nail polish on my bites - read about this on one of the forums a couple of years ago, tried it out and it works!

It's good to know all these remedies, thanks much! I'm going to try them too.

A couple of years ago we used a special mosquito spray on the lawn before a party. It really helped reduce the mosquito population at the party a lot. (I've been given to understand that they like to hide in the lawn during the day.) I also keep Mosquito donuts/rings in all water filled containers -- including the hidden drainage pots below the drainage grids. Doing these help eliminate many biters.... I just wish everyone in this area would treat for them too.

The Benedryl anti-itch ointment works well.

plumeria/frangipani sap is an old polynesian remedy. just use the white milky sap that drops out when you remove the flower from the tree.

Yet one more to try: Neosporin with pain relief (ointment). I know you don't need the antibiotic. But the pain relief component really help with my daughter's very large, itchy bug bites.

Go to the store and buy Benadryl tabs, benadryl anti-itch ointment, Neosporin, or cortizone (Cortaid) cream as some of the other posts have mentioned. They all help. The other crap that has been recommended does not, so don't waste your time. The special mosquito spray on the lawn works too to stop it in the first place. Out.

actually, cara, you are speaking without knowledge, and MY remedy DOES work! and it's a heck of a lot cheaper! Maybe you outta try it before you call it crap. Funny... benadryl has only been discovered recently, but people have been mosquito bitten since the beginning of time... and all those people weren't stupid, unlike some modern peoples.

I prefer prevention over cure. I have a t-shirt and cap that is treated to repel mosquitos. The trade name is "Buzz Off". My wife ordered mine from LL Bean, but they are available from others as well. I am impressed since I have yet to be bitten when wearing them. Al

:D Ha ha ha! That's a good one!

Heathen, Al wasn't joking. LOL

Amazing technology.

Brenda

Here is a link that might be useful: BUZZ OFF Insect Repellent Apparel

For my own good, I too try to prevent being bitten. Mosquitos as with fleas seem to prefer me over animals! I spray on "Skin So Soft" from Avon. My former boss gave me a bottle to try. They spray it on their horses to keep flies away. I just gave some to my grandson to spray on their dogs and he said it worked. It really does help me when I am out in the evening. I've also tied a sheet of Bounce on my pant loop when I go out to garden in the late afternoon and have not been bitten. If I recall correctly, P. Allen Smith said he uses sprigs of mint when he has a gathering outside in the evenings to keep mosquitos away.

Oh Brenda! I read that too late at night! I thought the shirt said Buzz off! :D Like he was wearing a shirt with a giant BUZZ OFF written on it!
I use Repel's lemon eucalyptus... works like a charm, a little smelly, but works well.

I've tried the SSS, but I had to keep applying it every few minutes. I think it was my thrashing around while applying a new coat of SSS which scared the mozzies off, and not the product itself. :)

I'd been using the high-DEET-content Deep Woods Off, but I think it was making me sick. It worked, though.

I have been taking my chances lately, scurrying through the yard as quickly as possible to take care of business, but...I know that's not good. I may try some lemon eucalyptus.

Brenda