The best home remedies for mosquito bites

Although the first day of summer is literally just days away (two, but who's counting?), there's no denying the fact that we've been suffering experiencing the sweltering effects of the season for what feels like weeks now. Temps are rising, humidity is thicker than ever, and mosquitoes are running rampant. And while a decent window unit can certainly help alleviate sweat and stickiness, as for the abundance of incessant insects, well, that's another story. For those times when you can't ward off pests and inevitably get bit, we've asked dermatologists to share their best home remedies for stopping itch — once and for all.

See them below:

More than just an annoying itch, bug bites are actually an allergic reaction, which develops as a result of the bug interacting with the skin, says Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "Inflammation leads to redness, swelling, and itching," he says (i.e. those huge, blotch red spots that seem to only get bigger as you itch).

Of course, the easiest way to do this would be to topically apply a hydrocortisone cream, like over-the-counter Cortaid, to the aggravated area, which will reduce redness, itching, and decrease inflammation, says Zeichner. But did you know you probably also have a slew of similar treatments at the ready in your kitchen?

Check out the gallery above to learn more!

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