8 Ways to Stop Itching From Ant Bites

• Part 1: How to Stop Itching from Ant Bites
• Part 3: How to Stop Itching from Ant Bites – Updated article with extra information on any bites treatment

We have all been there….you are walking through your lawn and accidentally step into an ant hill. No matter what you do it seems virtually impossible to get all the ants off leg and stop the burning and the itching. While fire ants sting and bite, other ants, such as carpenter ants, just bite. Thankfully there are numerous remedies to quell your itching skin and put your mind at ease.

1.Topical Anti-Itch Cream

Whether you use calamine lotion, Benadryl or other over the counter creams, anti-itch creams contain hydrocortisone to help soothe your skin and stop the incessant itching. Store brands are just as effective as man of the leading brand names.

2.Ammonia

Ammonia stops the itching and is an active ingredient in many over the counter creams. Ammonia is a base and neutralizes the acid that is released into your skin by ant bites. It helps to alleviate the pain and eliminate the itch.

3.Ice

Ice will help stop the itching by numbing the skin and also decreases swelling. Whether you apply an ice pack or put an ice cube directly on the bites, ice is a free remedy for ant bite itching.

4.Oatmeal Bath

Colloidal oatmeal is pulverized oatmeal that can be mixed with warm water to make an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal baths have been used been used for years to cure itching and skin irritations. The oatmeal binds to the skin and helps to moisturize and protect it. It will make your skin softer and will soothe the itching that accompanies ant bites.

5.Stop scratching!

While this may seem obvious it is amazing how much scratching can irritate the skin and prolong itching from any kind of bite or irritation. While it can provide short term relief from a bite, it will do nothing to stop the itching. Scratching sends signals to the brain that you have relieved the irritant, but in the process of scratching you often make the bite worse by tearing apart your skin and adding to the irritation.

6.Lemon Juice

Just as lemon juice works to helps to relieve dry skin, the acid in the lemon juice actually works similar to a base and neutralizes the acid in the ant bite. Lemon juice will also help naturally bleach your skin and helps to reduce skin pigmentation.

7.Bleach and Water

This is one remedy that you have to be careful distributing on your skin. Too much bleach can obviously burn and make your skin irritation even worse. By mixing a half a cup of bleach and water together and using a swab to apply it directly to ant bites you can rid you of the sting and itch associated especially with fire ant bites.

8.Baking Powder

Mixing baking powder and water can be an effective solution to itchy any bites. Baking soda also neutralized the acid in ant bites and will soothe your skin. Make a paste with the baking soda and let it dry on your skin before you wash it off.

Which of these 8 strategies works best depends on you. Find a solution that works and stick with it. While ant bites may not be a thing of the past, the itching that accompanies them can be solved with many over the counter solutions and home remedies.

For more articles on how to stop itching from ant bites click here

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.