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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staff
Topical treatments
If you scratch mosquito bites, you could break the skin, which may lead to an infection. Instead of scratching, try applying a hydrocortisone cream (0.5 percent or 1 percent), calamine lotion or a baking soda paste to the bite several times a day until your symptoms subside. A baking soda paste can be made with a ratio of 3 teaspoons (15 milliliters) baking soda to 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) water. A cold pack or baggie filled with crushed ice may help, too.
Oral antihistamines
For stronger reactions, taking an antihistamine containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Tylenol Severe Allergy), chlorpheniramine maleate (Chlor-Trimeton, Actifed) or loratadine (Claritin) may ease your body's response.
