Bug bites that cause swelling and pain: Essential Oils for Bug Bites: 7 Oils for Relief

23.07.202317.07.2023 by alexxlab

Essential Oils for Bug Bites: 7 Oils for Relief

Using essential oils for bug bites

Essential oils are highly concentrated distilled extracts from certain plants. They are popularly used today for health, cleaning, massage, and other purposes. One reason they may be used is to help relieve discomfort from bug bites.

People who want a more natural approach to pain relief may turn to essential oils. Research shows that some could be a great alternative treatment. Essentials oils are used in aromatherapy where the oil is diffused into the air or added to a carrier oil and applied to the skin.

There are many essential oils that can help treat bug bites. These include:

1. Basil (

Ocimum spp.)

Basil is a gentle anti-inflammatory oil that may help with irritation. Antimicrobial properties in the plant prevent infection. This makes it great for all sorts of bug bites, especially bee stings.

A 2013 study documented remarkable anti-inflammatory qualities in basil. Though the study only tested mice, the essential oil was found to help relieve arthritic inflammation symptoms. Anti-inflammatory properties are found in many varieties, including sweet basil, Thai basil, and holy basil.

2. Camphor (

Cinnamomum camphora)

This plant is a relative of cinnamon. It’s been used since ancient times to treat pain, irritation, and inflammation. It can also help reduce pain caused by bug bites. It does this by creating a reaction on the skin like a tingling warmth.

3. Chamomile (

Matricaria recutita/chamomilla, Chamaemelum nobile)

Chamomile is added to many skin products and lotions for its soothing emollient effects. With bug bites, the oil helps with redness, itching, and irritation. This flower remedy may speed up healing and recovery.

A 2011 study compared chamomile to a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for skin irritation. It helped lesions heal much faster, while reducing pain, inflammation, and itching.

4. Lavender (

Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender is a popular essential oil and a favorite for treating bug bites. This oil (unlike most other essential oils) can be applied directly to bites. It has soothing properties much like chamomile, and it can also be pain-relieving.

It can be especially helpful for spider bites, fire ant bites, and bee stings. Lavender was found to have notable anti-inflammatory effects on a cellular level, according to a 2012 study. Try it for relieving bug bites of all kinds.

5. Mint (

Mentha spp.)

Mint essential oils (such as peppermint and spearmint) can be a great option if they are diluted first. They give cooling pain relief when they contact the skin. Mint can also help keep insects away, preventing future bites.

Mints are also great for treating itching and the most painful of bites, such as those from fire ants. A 2013 review analyzed peppermint’s anti-inflammatory benefits alongside yet another species of mint: chocolate mint.

6. Rosemary (

Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary oil is another choice for bug bite pain relief, and it can also help prevent infection. Be sure to dilute rosemary oil with a carrier oil before use.

A 2011 study performed on rats found that rosemary had potent anti-inflammatory qualities. They were so potent, in fact, that the essential oil alleviated inflammation in the colon due to colitis. However, studies on humans are needed to explore this more.

7. Tea tree (

Melaleuca alternifolia)

Tea tree essential oil is famous for its anti-pain, anti-swelling, and anti-itching qualities. It is also antimicrobial, preventing bacterial infections. This makes it a great ally against bug bite discomfort.

The essential oil can be enlisted for fighting all sorts of insect bites. Mosquitoes, ticks, fire ants, spiders, bees, and even bed bugs or fleas are fair game.

Tea tree’s ability to stop itching may be its best trait. A 2012 trial showed that tea tree essential oil prevented itching in the eyes better than certain medications.

How you use an oil on a bug bite depends on what you prefer. Dilute first and put directly on the bite, or if covering with a bandage can go onto the bandage.

Common solutions include water (for a bug spray) or an oil or lotion (for an ointment). Here are some common, easy methods for applying oils to bites.

Direct application

Avoid direct application of essential oils. Mix them in a carrier oil — usually 5 drops per ounce of oil — and then apply to the skin.

Dilute spray

The vast majority of essential oils should be diluted before application. Direct application could cause burning and stinging on skin. In effect, this could make bug bite symptoms even worse.

To make a dilute spray, fill a spray bottle with water. Mix 2 to 3 drops of essential oil in 2 to 3 drops of liquid carrier oil per ounce of water. Shake before use. Spray onto bug bites to experience relief.

Ointment

You can create your own ointment with added essential oils. There are a couple ways to do this. One way is to make your own crude ointment. Add a few drops of essential oil to a carrier oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or even a beeswax salve. Add about 2 to 3 drops per ounce, and mix in well. You can also do this with your favorite store-bought lotion, moisturizer, salve, or balm to the same effect.

Bath

If you have several bites all over your body, try an essential oil bath. Add about 15 drops of your preferred oil (or a combination of oils) to the same amount of a carrier oil. Shake, then add to your bath. You can follow this up with some direct topical application to your most painful bites.

Essential oils can give some people great relief from bug bite discomfort. For others, relief may be limited.

If essential oils are not working for your bug bites, you may need to talk to your pharmacist or doctor about other options. While these provide a great natural remedy to replace chemical or pharmaceutical approaches, they cannot be considered a cure. They also don’t work for everybody.

Some essential oils can and do cause certain sensitivities in people. Make sure to do a very small skin test before applying any essential oil generously.

Keep in mind that different essential oils may each cause different reactions, good or bad. If one makes you react, there may be another oil that works better for you.

If you start experiencing an intense allergic reaction, discontinue use of that oil immediately. Contact your doctor if you begin to experience worrying symptoms. This including skin hives, difficulty breathing, and more. If you have asthma, essential oils can trigger an asthma attack.

Also, make sure that you are not just applying essential oil to a potentially very dangerous venomous bite. Learn to recognize the markings of bites from venomous spiders like the brown recluse or black widow. These may initially appear as itchy, troublesome bites, but they can be very painful or even lethal.

If you suspect that you may have been bitten by a venomous spider, seek medical care immediately. Do not apply essential oils until your doctor has confirmed the bite isn’t from a venomous spider.

Fire Ants: Symptoms and Treatments

Fire Ants: Symptoms and Treatments

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Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Elea Carey — Updated on September 18, 2018

Overview of fire ants

Red imported fire ants aren’t supposed to be in the United States, but these dangerous pests have made themselves at home here. If you are stung by fire ants, you’ll probably know it. They swarm onto your skin and their stings feel like fire.

Fire ants range in color from red-brown to black, and grow up to 1/4 inch in length. They build nests or mounds about 1 foot high, usually in grassy areas like lawns and pastures. Unlike most anthills, fire ant nests don’t have just one entrance. The ants crawl all over the hill.

Fire ants are very aggressive when their nest is disturbed. If provoked, they swarm on the perceived intruder, anchor themselves by biting to hold the skin stable, and then sting repeatedly, injecting a toxin alkaloid venom called solenopsin. We refer to this action as “stinging.”

Fire ant nests are like small cities, sometimes containing as many as 200,000 ants, according to Texas A&M University. Inside these busy colonies, female workers maintain the nest’s structure and feed their young. Male drones breed with the queen or queens. When young queens mature in communities with more than one queen, they fly off with males to create new nests.

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Red imported fire ants came to the United States by accident in the 1930s. They have thrived in the Southern states and moved north because they had no local predators. There are fire ants native to the United States, but they are not as dangerous or hard to get rid of as red fire imported ants.

Fire ants can withstand just about any challenge. Researchers at the University of Arkansas found that it would take two weeks of temperatures below 10°F (-12°C) to kill an entire colony. While fire ants kill and eat other insects like regular ants, they have also been known to live on crops and animals. Fire ants can even form nests on water and float them to dry locations.

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If fire ants sting you, chances are you’ll know. They attack in swarms, racing up vertical surfaces (such as your leg) when their nests are disturbed. Each fire ant can sting several times.

To identify fire ant stings, look for groups of swollen red spots that develop a blister on the top. Stings hurt, itch, and last up to a week. Some people have dangerous allergic reactions to stings and will need to seek immediate medical help.

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Treat mild sting reactions by washing the affected area with soap and water and covering it with a bandage. Applying ice can reduce the pain. Topical treatments include over-the-counter steroid creams and antihistamines to reduce pain and itch.

Texas A&M University recommends a home remedy solution of half bleach, half water. Other home remedies include diluted ammonium solution, aloe vera, or astringents like witch hazel. These remedies may offer some relief, but there is no hard evidence to support their use.

The sting and bite marks should go away in about a week. Scratching can cause the affected area to become infected, which can make sting and bite marks last longer.

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Anyone can develop an allergy to fire ant stings, although people who’ve been stung before are at higher risk. An allergic reaction can be fatal. Signs of a dangerous allergic reaction include:

sudden difficulty breathing
difficulty swallowing
nausea
dizziness

Symptoms develop quickly after exposure. It’s critical to get emergency medical treatment if you experience signs of an allergic reaction to a fire ant sting.

If you have a severe allergy, there are involved long-term treatments, including whole body extract immunotherapy. During this process, an allergist-immunologist injects ant extracts and venom into your skin. Over time, your sensitivity to the extracts and venom should decrease.

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The best way to avoid fire ant stings is to stay away from fire ants. If you see a nest, resist the temptation to disturb it. Wear shoes and socks when working and playing outside. If you are attacked by fire ants, move away from the nest and brush the ants off with a cloth or while wearing gloves so they can’t sting your hands.

Fire ant colonies are hard to destroy. There are some poisonous baits that when applied regularly may get rid of fire ants. The most common is a pesticide called piretherine. The best time to use bait against fire ants is during the fall, when ants are less active. Professional pest control companies treat fire ants where they are common. Dousing a fire ant hill with boiling water can also be effective for killing the ants, but it is also likely to cause the survivors to attack.

Fire ants are a growing problem in the southern United States. Avoid them whenever you can, and take basic protective measures when going outside, such as wearing shoes and socks. Be on the lookout for a severe allergic reaction in anyone who has been stung, and get emergency medical help if needed.

Last medically reviewed on October 9, 2017

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Drees M. (2002). Medical problems and treatment considerations for the red imported fire ant.
fireant.tamu.edu/files/2011/12/FAPFS023_2002rev_Medical.pdf
History of the red imported fire ant. (n.d.).
fireant.tamu.edu/learn/history-of-the-red-imported-fire-ant/
Insect sting allergy. (n.d.).
acaai.org/allergies/types/insect-sting-allergies
Loftin K., et al. (n.d.). Twenty questions about fire ants.
uaex.edu/other_areas/publications/PDF/FSA-7052.pdf

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Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Elea Carey — Updated on September 18, 2018

Local reaction to insect sting

You have been stung or bitten by an insect. Insect venom or bodily fluids cause a skin reaction at the site of the bite. The bite often causes redness, itching, and swelling. This reaction may disappear within a few hours. But it may take several days.

Common stinging insects whose stings cause reactions include wasps, bees, folded wasps, fire ants, and hornets. Common bites come from spiders, mosquitoes, fleas, or ticks. Other types of insects may be more common in different parts of the country or the world.

Insect venom causes “local” toxic reactions in any person. A local reaction means that the symptoms only affect the part of the body where you were bitten. The reaction has not spread to most of your body. Allergic reactions occur only in those who are sensitive to the poison. The severity of your reaction to an insect bite depends on the dose of the venom and how sensitive you are to it. When a rash or itchy skin appears, most people think of an allergic reaction. But bites tend to cause local symptoms that are not allergic. These symptoms may include:0003

Rash, redness, welts or blisters around the bite site
Itching, burning, stinging or pain
Swelling around the bite site, which may spread and cause discomfort

After 1-3 days, the site of the insect bite may become infected. So watch out for the following symptoms. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish a local reaction to an insect bite from an early infection. Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics for you.

Home care

Medicines

Your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve swelling, itching, and pain. Follow your doctor’s instructions when taking these medicines.

Diphenhydramine is an oral antihistamine available in stores. You may take this medicine to relieve itching and swelling. The medicine may make you drowsy. So be careful when using it during the daytime, or when you go to school, work or drive. Do not take diphenhydramine if you have glaucoma or urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate. Other antihistamines may cause less sleepiness. They are best taken during the day. Ask a pharmacist for advice.
If you have large areas of localized swelling, you may be given oral corticosteroids such as prednisone. They will help reduce swelling and discomfort.
Do not apply diphenhydramine cream to the skin. In some people, this can cause a localized skin rash due to an allergy to the cream.
Calamine lotion or oatmeal baths sometimes help with itching.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used for pain unless another pain medication is prescribed. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, talk to your doctor before taking these medicines. Also check with your doctor if you have had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
If you have had a serious reaction, your doctor may prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector. Epinephrine is a rescue medication that will stop an allergic reaction from getting worse. Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand when and how to use this medicine.

General care

If itching is annoying, do not take hot showers or baths. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight whenever possible. Warming up the skin will increase the itching.
Apply an ice pack to reduce redness, swelling and itching. You can make an ice pack by putting ice cubes in a top-seal bag. Wrap the bag in a thin towel. Do not apply ice directly to the skin as this may damage the skin. Apply an ice pack for 5-10 minutes.
Avoid scratching affected areas to prevent skin damage or infection.
If oral antibiotics or corticosteroids have been prescribed, be sure to take them as directed until the end of treatment.

Advice for insect bites

Be aware that honey bees nest in trees. Wasps and fold-winged wasps build nests on the ground, trees, or roof eaves.
Do not wear perfume, cologne, sandals or bright clothes when outdoors. Don’t go barefoot. Do not spank flying insects. Be careful when eating outside. Close food and drinks.
If you are stung by a bee, the sting may remain in your skin. Wasps, fold-winged wasps and hornets do not leave stingers behind. Move away from the nest immediately. The sting of a honey bee releases a substance that will attract other bees to you. As soon as you move away from the nest, remove the stinger as quickly as possible. One suggested method is to pick up the sting with a thin, blunt edge. It could be the edge of a credit card or the dull side of a thin table knife. Do not pinch the stinger with your fingers or tweezers. This releases more poison into the skin.
Ice may be applied after the bite and diphenhydramine or another antihistamine may be taken. If you experience any of the danger symptoms listed below, get help right away.
If you feel dizzy, faint, or have trouble breathing or swallowing, ask your doctor if you need epinephrine autoinjectors.

Follow-up

If your symptoms persist, contact your healthcare provider after 2 days or as directed. You may be referred to an allergist for further evaluation and treatment.

Call 911

Use an epinephrine auto-injector if you have one and call 911 immediately in the following cases:

Problems with swallowing and difficulty or wheezing
New or worsening swelling in the mouth, throat, face or tongue
Hoarse voice, tightness in throat or speech problems
Confusion
Extreme sleepiness or trouble waking up
Fainting, dizziness or loss of consciousness
Rapid pulse
low blood pressure,
Feeling of approaching death
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea
Vomiting blood or large amounts of blood in the stool
Convulsions

When to seek medical help

Call a doctor immediately or seek medical attention in the following cases:

Spreading itching, redness or swelling
New or worse swelling of the face, eyelids or lips
weakness or dizziness,

Also call your doctor immediately if you have signs of infection:

Increasing pain, redness or swelling
Temperature 38°C (100. 4°F) or higher, or as directed by a physician
Discharge of fluid or pus from the area of the bite

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articles from specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Vergazova Asya Nikolaevna

Rheumatologist, Endocrinologist

Clinical Hospital “AVICENNA” GC “Mother and Child”

Mosquitoes, midges

Mosquitoes and midges are not poisonous, but when they bite, an anticoagulant gets under the human skin (a substance that prevents blood from clotting). Therefore, the bite site is very itchy.

At the site of the bite mosquito appears redness and a small blister that itches, the bite itself is not painful. But the bite of the midge is generally not immediately felt. Itching, burning appear the next day, and they are much stronger than with a mosquito bite, plus the midge bite site is very red and swollen.

What to do: To relieve itching, apply something cold (ice). You can also make a compress with a solution of soda (half a teaspoon per glass of water). The bite can be lubricated with an antihistamine cream (gel, ointment) or a special Balm after bites .

Important: care must be taken that the child does not comb the bites, otherwise the wound may become infected. The bite of the midge heals for a long time.

Horsefly

Horsefly is a large fly that loves damp places and sunshine. The bite of this insect is very painful.

A large blister immediately appears at the site of the bite of , which is very itchy.

What to do: Wash the bite with soap and water or treat with an antiseptic. To relieve itching and swelling, you need to apply cold, the same soda compress, antihistamine cream (gel, ointment) will help.

Important: horseflies are completely harmless in the shade and attack only on sunny lawns, closer to water bodies. If the bite is combed, then it will heal for a long time.

Bees, wasps, bumblebees

Bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets (huge wasps) – these insects do not just bite, they sting and with the help of a sting introduce a strong protein poison into the human body. When bitten, bees leave a sting in the wound, so they bite once, but the rest of the stingers can attack again.

Burning pain, redness, swelling and itching of the skin appear at the site of the bite , the area around the wound becomes hot, if a bee has bitten, then a sting is visible. Sometimes, due to poison, intoxication or severe allergies can occur: the child has a headache, he is weak and lethargic, he is sick or even vomits, he has impaired coordination, his body temperature rises, rarely, but there is also loss of consciousness. The same reaction happens if several insects have stung at once.

What to do: remove the sting if there is one (it is better to do this with tweezers). Wash the wound with soap or treat with hydrogen peroxide. Apply cold. You can lubricate the sore spot with antihistamine cream (ointment, gel) . If there is swelling and severe redness on the skin, give the child an antihistamine by mouth. After a bite, you need to watch the baby for about half an hour. In case of complications, a doctor should be called.

Important: if there are several bites, if they are in the mouth, on the face, neck, then it is better to go to the hospital or call a doctor: swelling spreads very strongly in these places.

Tick

Tick digs into the skin and secretes a large amount of saliva into the wound, along with it pathogens of various infections can enter the human body, the most common: encephalitis and borreliosis (Lyme disease). By itself, the tick bite is not felt in any way

A black dot of different sizes is visible at the site of the bite – this is the tick itself. There is no swelling or itching.

What to do : remove the tick. It is better to do this in an emergency room or hospital, because if there is no skill, then it is easy to tear off the body of the tick, and its head and proboscis will remain in the skin. But if the doctors are far away, then you can try to unscrew the insect with tweezers, like a screw (you can’t pull, just twist it). It is useless to drip oil on a tick and wait for it to fall off on its own. It is advisable to take the removed tick for analysis to find out if it is a carrier of the infection.

Repellents

These substances protect against bites, but it must be understood that poisons that are dangerous for insects are also dangerous for humans. It is necessary to use repellent only if there are really a lot of insects or their bite causes a strong reaction in the child.
It is necessary to apply only a baby product with a low concentration of the active substance (up to 10%). The repellent must not contain diethyltoluamide ( DEET ). It is toxic, so in children under 6 years old it is not even used for clothing.
Do not spray on the face – only cream, ointment or gel. Do not treat areas with scratches, wounds, inflammation, lips and eyelids with repellent. It makes no sense to treat skin areas hidden by clothing.
After the walk, change clothes, take a shower and wash off the remains of the substance from the child.
If there is an allergy, then it is better not to use the repellent at all.

How to prevent a bite

Preventing an insect bite is easier than treating it later:

Cover sweet fruits and desserts, otherwise they will attract a lot of insects. Before you give your child juice from a cup or a piece of watermelon, you need to see if a wasp or a bee is hiding there. And after eating, it is worth wiping the baby’s lips with a wet napkin.
Bright and colorful dresses strongly attract insects. They also love floral scents. So in nature it is better to dress discreetly and not eat sweet food.
It is better for a child not to walk barefoot on grass or sand – there may be a bee or a wasp sitting there.
When walking in a forest or meadow (a place that is very fond of ticks), you need to wear clothes with closed sleeves, trousers with cuffs at the bottom (or tuck them into shoes). Put on a cap or panama on your head. Every hour it is worth carefully examining the clothes and body of the child.

Insects like to bite especially children, because their skin is thin, and blood circulation is very active.

A child can get a wasp or bee sting by inadvertently stepping on an insect with a bare foot, or if the child eats some sweet fruit that the insect has suddenly landed on.

All bloodsuckers look for prey, primarily by body temperature. To “hot” people they fly up faster. Insects are also attracted by the special smell of sweat.

Bug bites that cause swelling and pain: Essential Oils for Bug Bites: 7 Oils for Relief

Essential Oils for Bug Bites: 7 Oils for Relief

1. Basil (

2. Camphor (

3. Chamomile (

4. Lavender (

5. Mint (

6. Rosemary (

7. Tea tree (

Direct application

Dilute spray

Ointment

Bath

Fire Ants: Symptoms and Treatments

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Local reaction to insect sting

Home care

Medicines

General care

Advice for insect bites

Follow-up

Call 911

When to seek medical help

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