With the weather getting warming and my kids spending the afternoons playing outside, we’re starting to see a lot more bug bites on their tender, sensitive skin. Mean ones. The kind that turn bright red, itch like crazy, and keep them up at night. Ugh!
But, I’ve found an incredibly easy, quick-fix, natural bug bite remedy that I’m itching (ha!) to share. Because, it really works! And you most likely already have everything you need to make it right in your pantry at home.
Related: Your essential guide to the best, safe tick repellents for kids this spring. Because, eek.
All you need to cool the itchiness on those nasty bites is 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and enough water to make it pasty. That’s it!
Related: The best bug sprays for Zika virus protection and how to apply them safely.
I did a little research, and it turns out that the alkalinity of the baking soda neutralizes the pH in your skin and takes away your urge to itch.
When I tried this at home, I mixed it up until it was pretty thick, covered the bite completely, and then put a Band-Aid over the top.
I left it on overnight, and by morning, sure enough, the redness and itchiness had reduced dramatically. The bite was still there, but it was all but forgotten.
Pssst… We’ve found that this DIY balm works well for splinters too. Use the same method — create a paste and cover overnight — and in the morning the pesky splinter that just won’t come out will have risen to the surface of your skin so you can easily pull it out.
Hey, when summer starts to get crazy on you, this is one simple solution to really aggravating problems that will seriously help. And, yay for that!
