Are you searching for ways to get rid of insect bite scars? Here you can find clinically proven natural home remedies as well as over-the-counter medicines you can use for insect bite scar removal.
One unfortunate side effect of bug bites is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Some hyperpigmentation will resolve on its own within a year or so; others will require further treatment to remove the scar from the insect bites. Keep in mind that most scar treatments are more effective if they are done on newer scars than on scars from previous insect bites.
Dark spots after insect bites are more of a post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation response and most likely due to a mosquito bite or bee sting.
Contents
A Healthy Regime to Heal Skin
Exfoliate
Exfoliate regularly to help reduce scars. In time, most scars will disappear on their own as the skin rejuvenates. When the skin sheds the old layers, the scar will often slough off with the skin. Move this process along by using a gentle exfoliate on your skin in the shower.
Wear Sunscreen
Wear sunscreen each and every day. Many people fail to see how this can help to reduce the appearance of scars. However, it can significantly reduce their appearance. New scars are more sensitive to UVA rays and will begin to darken as they are exposed to the sun. The sunscreen prevents this darkening and reduces their appearance.
Daily Massage
Massage your legs daily to help break down the scar. Use some cream or cocoa butter and gently massage it in. The scars will eventually fade away. You can also do this in the shower after you exfoliate. It can help if you use circular motions or long strokes over your scars.
How to get rid of bug bite scars
Remedies
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E Oil is another great remedy for scars. Long touted for its healing properties, rub some Vitamin E oil on the scar daily to reduce the appearance. The Vitamin E oil will moisturize and use its power antioxidants to heal the skin from the scar. Be sure to test the Vitamin E oil on a small area of the skin first to make sure that there aren’t any allergic reactions.
- Provides natural d-alpha tocopherol
- Restores the damaged skin and reduces the appearance of dark spots
- Organic product, Non-GMO, Non-SMO
Aloe Vera
Try some Aloe Vera sap. The Aloe Vera plant is well known for its healing properties. It can soothe irritated skin, moisturize and heal. The plant contains anti-inflammatory properties as well as anti-bacterial properties. Applied daily it should begin to heal the skin. Never use Aloe Vera to open wounds.
- Certified organic product with 99,7% aloe vera content
- Reduces skin irritation, itching, and discomfort
- Proven to promote skin regeneration
Olive Oil
Olive Oil is an excellent all natural treatment for scars. According to research, it’s best to choose the Extra Virgin Olive Oil that’s believed to have a higher acidic content than other forms of Olive Oil. Gently massage the olive oil into the skin to soften, moisturize and help reduce the scar. This treatment can also be done in the shower as with the cocoa butter.
Cucumber
Cucumber is often used to treat scars. It breaks down the scar tissue and is also very soothing. It will reduce inflammation and soothe the scar area as it begins to itch. Peel and chop the cucumber and place in a blender or a food processor. When it is a paste-like consistency, apply it lightly to the scar and leave on overnight. Rinse off in the morning. Repeat as needed. Again, cucumber works best on new scars as well.
Many people choose to mix and match several of the above and create their ‘designer’ scar reduction cream. These tips will work if you keep applying them to your scars.
OTC Medicines
You can also rely on certain OTH medicines in case you would like to fasten the healing process. Note that the formulas we collected are backgrounded by both clinical trials and positive patients’ experience:
How to remove mosquito bite scars?
Remedies for mosquito bite scars
Banana peel
Banana peel has many health and beauty benefits such as tooth whitening, skin tightening etc. As soon as a mosquito bite scar forms where the insect pierced the skin, the banana peel will do a great job. You should just rub the area affected with the inner part of the banana peel, let it work for a few minutes, then rinse with water.
Garlic
Crush a garlic clove, so that you can apply the liquid extracted to the scar. Garlic is a natural antibiotic with a strong healing effect, which should act for no more than 15 minutes a day, every day until the scaring is completely removed. Note that after every procedure, the area should be well hydrated.
Aspirin
Aspirin can be a miracle product when it comes to mosquito bite scars. Mosquito bites leave highly pigmented marks (usually red or brown) and the acetylsalicylic acid, the active compound in Aspirin, acts like a bleaching agent – it will lighten the discoloration, leaving the area exfoliated. You need to crush 2 aspirin tablets and mix the powder substance with a couple of drops of water. Apply the so-prepared paste, leave it for 15-20 minutes, and wash with lukewarm water. Again, to avoid skin dryness, make sure you apply a hydrating lotion after each application.
OTC Medicines for mosquito bite scars
There are several formulas, which have built and maintained scar patients’ trust over the past few years. Depending on the location of the mosquito bite scar, you can choose between products with SPF in combination with silicone (sun protection factor in case the area affected is often exposed to sunlight), only silicone-based, and collagen-based formulas. They all promote the skin cell regeneration while creating a hydrating barrier on the skin surface, which won’t let further scarring to develop nor harmful environmental particles to penetrate the skin surface.
How to get rid of old mosquito bite scars?
Old mosquito bite scars, just like any other scarring that appeared a long time ago, may be harder to treat. You need to arm yourself with patience and be persistent – the dark spots from mosquito should be well moisturized and nourished in order to help your skin repair faster.
Note that the 100% removal of old mosquito bite scars is not possible – your target is to reduce the skin discoloration and improve the skin texture.
We recommend using anti-acne scar formulas, as they have the exact same purpose – balance the complexion and even out the skin texture. The treatment period for old scar formations usually takes a couple months but if you start following a strict routine, you can reduce the time by half.
Mosquito bites prevention
A wide variety of mosquito repellents are available on the market – in the form of spray, lotion, gel or roll-on. Their prices vary between 5 and 15 dollars, depending on the brand and the content. The more expensive ones are made of bioproducts, or hypoallergenic products for babies and young children, as well as preparations that protect the skin and the sun.
When using repellents, the eyes and mouth area should be protected. Spray formulas should be sprayed at a distance of 15-20 cm, experts say.
The use of repellents on children should be according to age, as it may lead to allergic or respiratory tract irritation.
Indoor mosquito protection
The mosquito net is a must during the hot months. However, if insects are able to get into the room you are located in, anti-mosquito devices that run on electricity or batteries are also an option.
Their principle of action is different – both evaporation of different types of preparations and ultrasonic resistance of insects.
Another option is the ultrasound-based repellents – their prices vary between $20 and $40. They are silent and harmless to babies and toddlers and act within a radius of 3-10 meters. Their price depends on whether they work on electricity or are portable and require batteries.
Outdoor mosquito protection
Electric mosquito lamps are the most simple, yet an effective anti-mosquito option for your garden, porch, terrace or pool, depending on their size and capacity.
It works on mosquitoes, flies, moth and other flying insects within 350 square feet, and is absolutely safe.
The open areas can be also protected against mosquitoes by repellent bracelets or aromatic candles, which are offered at very affordable prices. The downside is that they should be replaced regularly.
Essential oils against mosquito bites
The essential oils that provide best effects against insects are the following: cinnamon and castor oil (mosquitoes), lemon, eucalyptus (mosquitoes, ticks, lice), citronella (mosquitoes and biting flies), orange (fleas), rose and geranium (lice). Safe oil-and alcohol base can be made by mixing the essential oil with sunflower oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, almond oil and other cooking oil, hamamelis, vodka.
You can rub or spray repellent on your skin by avoiding the sensitive area around your eyes. After an hour or after bathing and sweating, the repellent should be reapplied. The natural preparation can be stored in a dark bottle, away from heat and light. To change the consistency of the repellent, you can add some aloe vera gel.
Here are some more suggestions for making a natural repellent.
Get any of the following essential oils of your choice: citronella, cloves, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedar, lavender, mint, distilled or boiled water, optionally vegetable glycerin.
These are the steps you should follow:
• Fill half the bottle with distilled or boiled water;
• Add half a tablespoon of glycerin;
• Then add 30-50 drops of essential oil with the preferred flavor;
How to treat mosquito bite marks so they heal faster?
There are natural ingredients in your kitchen that can relieve discomfort, especially in children, as they are most often affected.
- Honey
Honey has a moisturizing but at the same time an antibacterial effect. The application to the affected site can reduce the inflammation, itching, and swelling, while it will promote the healing process. You just need to apply some honey on your skin and then rinse after a few minutes.
- Aloe vera
Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties and can relieve the itching and redness. It also provides a slight cooling effect, especially if you keep the gel in the fridge for a few minutes, then smear the affected area.
- Tea bags
Tea bags help with a lot when you need to treat a mosquito bite. The tannins contained in the tea work to help eliminate most of the toxins and also reduce the discomfort. Boil two or more tea bags and put them in the fridge for a few minutes. Then put them on the spot like a cold compress.
Bug bites can be treated the exact same way. Using natural remedies to reduce the symptoms of bug bites is a cheap, yet effective option in case you need to act fast and cannot handle the discomfort.
However, if you need something you can carry in your pocket all the time, there are certain ‘portable’ topical ointment which will be very helpful. They immediately reduce the itching and swelling and are safe for people of any age:
How to get rid of bed bug bites scars?
If you are bitten by bed bugs, you won’t experience any pain. The first symptoms are expressed in red, itchy and swollen spots on the skin. They appear on the face, neck, arms, neck., which lead to itching (the most common reason why scarring appears).
The affected areas should be treated with oral antihistamines or steroid creams if you do not tolerate the itching.
Bed bugs do not carry infections. Their bitings are similar to flea bites.
There are different OTH preparations to fight the symptoms of bed bug bites. Such products aim to relieve the itching and reduce the swelling and redness. They provide an immediate soothing effect on the skin and are comparatively affordable:
Table could not be displayed.You can also resort to some of the following home recipe tips:
- Prepare a mixture of baking soda and water (equal parts). After washing the bug bites with soap and warm water, apply the soda mixture and leave it for about an hour. Then rinse it and dry the area – this procedure will relieve the symptoms for the next 4-5 hours.
- Aloe Vera gel will also provide an immediate, long-lasting relief. You can apply the gel liberally, several times a day until the symptoms are gone.
- Natural honey provides a strong antibacterial effect. Applying honey to the bed bug bites will reduce the discomfort and potential risks of scarring.
There are some basic rules that you need to keep in mind in order to avoid scarring, following bed bug bites.
- The treatment should begin as soon as you notice the damage on the skin, as older scars take a long time to heal and may leave permanent marks on the area affected
- Avoid scratching. This is the most common reason why scars appear at the site of the bed bug bites
- As soon as the irritation (redness, itching, and discomfort) disappear, you should start regularly exfoliate the area (once or twice a week) in order to promote the skin cell regeneration process
- All types of scars are extremely sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Sun exposure can lead to more damage to the area, so the regular application of SPF products is highly recommended during the treatment period
- Massaging the area improves the blood circulation, which will also promote the skin cell renewal process. An additional benefit is that you will be able to remove the dead skin cells, clogging the pores
In order to avoid further bites, it is good to take action against the bed bugs. Combating them requires stubbornness and a lot of effort. Note that poisoning the bugs is not harmless and you have to be very careful. It is highly recommended to refer to Pest Control.
How to treat cockroach bite marks?
You thought cockroaches don’t bite? Well, unfortunately, they do.
You know they are nasty and carry multiple diseases, but you probably have not heard that cockroaches can bite as well. You are usually worried about how to destroy them, what venom to spray the house with, and you were never afraid that any of these little creatures may bite you. According to some experts, this is impossible because these pests feed mainly on rotting meals. It is true that cockroaches usually hide when they experience a close human presence rather than attacking. Therefore, in general, there is no need to worry that any of these insects will confuse you with their dinner. According to other groups of scientists and their research, however, cockroaches are actually prone to bite people. But they do it rather involuntarily, driven by a completely different type of motivation – fear.
Why do cockroaches bite people?
When you eat in the bed, you can leave crumbs and pieces of food. If you forget to wash your hands and mouth after eating when you go to bed, it is very likely that they will also have traces of food. And while you are sleeping, cockroaches, attracted by the smell – come to check what’s for dinner.
In fact, they do not come to bite you, but to take the particles of what you have eaten. As you can guess, this bite is painless and you can notice it only when the place swells slightly and starts itching. Is it dangerous? Given that cockroaches feed on rotting foods and all types of residue while crawling through canals, surely their bite is not safe.
If you notice a swollen, itchy area on an exposed skin area, make sure you disinfect the area as soon as possible. The symptoms, following the bite, can be successfully treated with anti-irritation ointments and strong moisturizing agents.
How to protect yourself?
Taking preventative measures so your home is cockroach-free is the best you can make. Do not eat in bed. Clean up food residue and wash your face and hands after each meal. If the pests are already visiting you, call an exterminator company that will spray your home with anti-cockroach-safe-for-people preparations.
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What if I had the scars on for a long time?
Hi Litzy,
Unfortunately, the effect of home remedies for the treatment of scars may take a long time until you start noticing improvements. What is more, older scars require even more patience and persistence.
If you would like to obtain positive results, your most appropriate option is a silicone-based topical treatment (see clinical study), which is proven effective for both newly formed and older scars.
The product with the best reputation so far is NewGel+, you can see before and after pictures showing the effect of this silicone treatment.
Hope this information helps!
Best of luck!
Can I use newgel+ in my insect bite scars?
Hi Anne,
Yes, scars following insect bites can be successfully treated with NewGel Plus. For the time being, this is the most effective formula with clinically proven benefits, available on the market.
You can read our in-depth analysis (you can see before and after pictures, clinical trials and studies, ingredients information and patients reviews) before proceeding with a purchase.
Hope I was of some help!
Best of luck!