What Actually Helps an Itchy Bug Bite

Chomp: Bug bites are pretty much an unavoidable (yet annoying) part of summer. And the urge to scratch becomes incredibly hard to resist the second one shows up. We all know, however, that scratching always backfires by making the itch worse. That feeling comes from your immune system reacting to proteins in insect saliva, which triggers a histamine release that causes the swelling and redness. Scratching sets off more of that same immune response, so the itch keeps coming back stronger the more you give in.

How to Do It: Instead of scratching, the best strategy is to press a cold, damp cloth or an ice pack against the bite instead. The cold temporarily numbs the itch and reduces the swelling. An over-the-counter antihistamine can help too (this one is tried and true for us). If the bite still feels irritated, an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or a dab of hydrocortisone or calamine can also help.

The Benefits: Resisting the urge to scratch interrupts what dermatologists call the “itch-scratch cycle.” It also protects your skin from the physical damage scratching causes, which can make it more prone to infection. Most bites clear up fine on their own, but increasing pain accompanied by pus or a fever is a sign to get things checked out.