Insect bites: fast relief, smart care, and how to avoid them

Some insect bites are just annoying. Others can be dangerous. A sudden, itchy bump from a mosquito or a red, spreading sore from a tick call for different responses — so knowing what to do right away saves time and worry.

First, look at the bite. Mosquito bites are usually puffy and itchy. Ticks attach and stay stuck — check for a tiny dot with legs. Bee or wasp stings are painful immediately and sometimes leave a stinger. Spiders can cause localized pain and, rarely, more serious symptoms. Noticing the pattern helps you pick the right care.

Immediate care that works

1) Clean the area. Use soap and water to reduce infection risk. 2) Cold compress for 10–15 minutes eases swelling and pain. 3) For itching, try a 1% hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion. 4) Oral antihistamines (like loratadine or cetirizine) can calm widespread itching. For stronger, short-term relief at night, diphenhydramine helps but may cause drowsiness.

If there’s a stinger from a bee, scrape it out with a flat edge (credit card) — don’t squeeze it. For ticks, remove with fine-tipped tweezers: grab close to the skin and pull straight out. Don’t twist. Save the tick in a sealed bag if you can — your doctor may want to identify it.

When to call a doctor

Get medical help if you have breathing trouble, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness, a fever over 38°C (100.4°F), or if the bite area becomes very red, warm, or starts to drain pus. If a tick bite is followed by flu-like symptoms or a bullseye rash, contact your provider about testing for Lyme and possible antibiotics.

Also see a doctor if a bite keeps getting worse despite basic care, or if the person bitten is very young, elderly, pregnant, or has a weakened immune system.

Avoid common mistakes: don’t cut or squeeze bites, don’t apply unproven home remedies that can irritate skin, and don’t ignore signs of infection.

Prevention is often easier than treatment. Use EPA-registered repellents with DEET or icaridin, wear long sleeves and pants in tall grass, treat clothing and gear with permethrin, and sleep under a net if bugs are bad. Remove standing water around your home to cut mosquito breeding, and keep pets treated for fleas and ticks.

Small bites usually clear in a few days. If you’re unsure what bit you, or how to treat a reaction, reach out to a healthcare professional. Quick action and simple prevention go a long way toward keeping bites from ruining your day — or your health.