A bug bite can cause itching, stinging, redness, and swelling on the skin that will take a day or two to go away. While most insect bites are mild and can be treated at home, some can be serious and transmit disease-causing viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Bug bites can sometimes cause severe allergic reactions that will need medical attention. The main symptoms of bug bites include pain in the area where you were bitten or a small lump on the skin.
Bug bites can leave a mark on your skin or have lots of bites grouped in a small area. You may develop allergic reactions or the area might get swollen if infected. Bug bites are mostly painful and can cause immediate skin reactions. There are various treatments for bug bites. You treat them at home or seek medical help if the condition is serious. However, the first thing you should do is clean the stung area with soap and water. Some home remedies include essential oils, baking soda, anti-itch cream, turmeric, aloe vera, ice pack, basil, and vinegar.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are concentrated extracts of beneficial plants used in therapies to inhale or rub on the skin. Essential oils are highly known to improve sleep, ease anxiety, enhance mood, reduce inflammation, treat insomnia, boost immunity, and eliminate bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Some common essential oils include lavender oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, frankincense oil, and eucalyptus oil.
Essential oils are extracted from plants and are commonly used in soaps, perfumes, cosmetics, flavorings, preservatives, additives, and the medical industry. Since essential oils are rich in anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties, they have been used to treat various health conditions. Also, essential oils are considered safe and effective for bug bites, as they help reduce swelling, inflammation, and redness caused by a bug bite.
How Do Essential Oils Help With Bug Bites?
Many use essential oils to treat bug bites, as their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties help relieve discomfort, pain, swelling, and redness caused by bug bites. Essential oils help change the way the body reacts to the bug bites. This helps reduce itchiness and irritation.
Essential oils are a more natural and safe way to treat bug bites. However, those allergic to essential oils should avoid using them, as they might trigger asthma attacks or other health conditions. People generally use essential oils by diluting a few drops with water and mixing them well to apply them to the affected areas. Use a spray bottle to apply the oil to get the best results.
Essential Oils For Bug Bites
Some of the essential oils effective for bug bites are;
- Lavender Oil
Lavender oils have a very good, pleasing fragrance and are highly known for their mood-enhancing and calming effects. Lavender essential oils help reduce the itchiness and pain from bug bites. They also help ease stinging and irritation.
Peppermint And Menthol Oils
Peppermint and menthol oils provide a cooling sensation on the skin, which helps treat the itching, burning, and stinging sensations caused by a bug bite. Since peppermint oil is rich in antimicrobial properties, it helps reduce infection and discomfort.
- Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is referred to as a natural antihistamine, which reduces the body’s histamine receptors. Histamine receptors have a major take in allergic reactions and itching. Tea tree oil reduces the risk of infection by preventing bacteria and other microbes’ growth on a bug bite. Tea tree oil is ideal for children who cannot resist scratching.
- Chamomile oil
Chamomile oil is renowned for its soothing properties in traditional medicine. This oil helps treat itching and irritation associated with insect bites and stings. Its anti-inflammatory properties help with allergic reactions, itching, and burning sensations caused by bug bites.
- Lemongrass oil
The anti-microbial properties of lemongrass oil help prevent insect-borne diseases. Also, its anti-inflammatory properties reduce pain and itching caused by insect bites. By reducing pain, this oil makes biting less painful and tolerable.
- Camphor oil
Camphor oil helps ease itchiness caused by bug bites by creating a warm sensation on the skin. However, camphor oil is only suitable for use when you have itchiness, and do not use it if the bites burn, as it can make the sensations worse.
- Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil helps prevent infection, which is why it is an ideal choice for bug bite relief.
- Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil has antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, and analgesic properties, which help ease the discomfort of bug bites and help prevent infection.
Oils To Avoid
Avoid using essential oils if you are allergic to them as they can trigger asthma attacks or other side effects. Also, essential oils should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. Only apply them after consulting a healthcare professional. However, there are certain oils to avoid after a bug bite if the skin is irritated or broken. Those oils are;
- Clove
- Thyme
- Sage
- Parsley
- Cinnamon
- Benzoin
- Allspice
- Fennel
- Spruce
- Tagetes
- Bay laurel
- Cassia
- Fir needle
- Oregano
Other Treatments To Use For Bug Bites
Sometimes essential oils might not be enough to treat the pain and itching of bug bites. There are other treatments like;
- Ice packs on the affected area.
- Calamine lotion on the bite.
- A topical anti-itch remedy like hydrocortisone cream.
- An oatmeal bath.
- Honey.
- Aloe vera gel.
- An over-the-counter antihistamine like Benadryl.
- Baking soda.
- Heat therapy.
- Basil.
- Vinegar.
Conclusion
Bug bites can be annoying. While some bug bites are mild and go away on their own, some might be serious and need medical attention. A bug bite can result in itching, stinging, redness, and swelling on the skin that will take a day or two to go away. You may also develop allergic reactions or the area might get swollen if infected.
Bug bites are mostly painful and can cause immediate skin reactions. They can be treated at home using home remedies like essential oils, baking soda, anti-itch cream, turmeric, aloe vera, ice pack, basil, and vinegar. However, do not hesitate to get medical help if the condition is serious or you develop an infection. Essential oils are concentrated extracts of beneficial plants used in therapies to inhale or rub on the skin.
Essential oils have long been known for their ability to treat bug bites and ease irritation. They also provide various other benefits like improving sleep, easing anxiety, enhancing mood, reducing inflammation, treating insomnia, boosting immunity, and eliminating bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Essential oils are extracted from plants and some common essential oils include lavender oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, frankincense oil, and eucalyptus oil.
The essential oils help reduce swelling, inflammation, and redness caused by a bug bite, as they are rich in anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. However, those allergic to essential oils should avoid using them, as they might cause serious health conditions or side effects. Also, pregnant and nursing women should avoid using essential oils without consulting the doctor first.
FAQs
Lavender oil is considered the best essential oil for bug bites, as it can be applied directly to bites and its soothing properties relieve pain, itchiness, and inflammation.
Mix a few drops of the essential oil into an ounce of water and shake it well. Transfer that into a spray bottle and apply it on the bite.
Mix lemon eucalyptus or lavender essential oil with 10 parts witch hazel in a bottle.
Consult the doctor immediately if you notice an infection or develop a fever, neck pain, headache, or flu-like symptoms. Also, if the redness around the bite is spreading it is warm, very hard, and tender to touch or there is pus coming from it, seek medical help quickly.
Yes. Essential oils should be diluted before applying them on the skin since they are highly concentrated and might cause irritation or sensitivity to the skin.
