How Can You Get Rid Of Mosquito Bite Marks?

Do you get into fight or flight mode as soon as you hear the mosquitos buzzing around you? Well, you cannot be blamed! Not only do these pesky bug-bites leave you with itchy bumps, their bites can leave scars on your skin as well.

But there is no reason to worry! You can opt from a number of home remedies or over the counter (OTC) options to get rid of marks resulting from mosquito bites.

Scroll down to know why you get the bite marks and what you can do to get rid of them.

Highlights:

• Can Mosquito Bites Leave Permanent Marks?
• What Happens If A Mosquito Bite Does Not Go Away?
• Are You Allergic To Mosquito Bites?
• How To Treat Mosquito Bite Marks?
• Tips For Prevention Of Mosquito Bite Marks
• When To Seek Medical Advice?

Can Mosquito Bites Leave Permanent Marks?

When a mosquito bites you to feed on your blood, it injects certain anticoagulants into your blood to prevent it from clotting. These substances from the mosquito bite can trigger a mild inflammatory response, resulting in itchy, red bumps on your skin. [1] These swellings usually disappear in a day or two.

However, if you develop an infection or allergy, the swelling and itchiness may increase which leads to darkening of the bite area and scarring. Also excessive itching on the bite area can interrupt with the healing process and damage the underlying new skin, resulting in a permanent scar.

What Happens If A Mosquito Bite Does Not Go Away?

If you have a persistent bite reaction, like a bump that is growing in size and becoming increasingly painful or fluid filled blisters, it can indicate a more serious allergic reaction or vector borne diseases such as chikungunya. Different species of mosquitoes spread diseases like malaria, dengue, zika fever, viral encephalitis, etc. So in case you are experiencing fever, chills, muscle ache, nausea or vomiting, you should immediately consult a healthcare professional.

Are You Allergic To Mosquito Bites?

You might be having an allergic reaction to mosquito bites if you have the following symptoms:

• Small hives or papular urticaria localised at the site of bite
• Bruises or fluid filled blisters causing darkening of the area bitten
• Persistent swelling that refuses to go away even after 3 to 4 days
• Increase in redness, pain and the bite area becomes warm
• Recurrent rashes that continues long after the bite

In rare cases, you may develop a systemic allergic reaction to mosquito bites which is also known as Skeeter syndrome. In case of systemic allergies, you may develop rashes in areas away from the bite, severe pain or fever. A more severe allergic reaction may cause an anaphylactic shock which can be life threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

How To Treat Mosquito Bite Marks?

Like any other scar on the skin, mosquito bite marks might take a while to fade out or disappear. But taking good care of the affected area and treating it right from the beginning will help minimise the scar. You can try the following options to fade out scars resulting from mosquito bites.

A. Home Remedies

1. Aloe Vera Gel

It is rich in vitamin E and enzymes which not only moisturizes your skin but also reduces inflammation in the affected area, thus minimizing pigmentation. [2] Apply a little aloe vera gel on the bite twice or thrice daily till the mark fades out.

2. Lemon Juice

Applying a few drops of lemon juice on the bite scars twice daily for a couple of weeks can make them fade out like wonder. The acid in the lemon juice gently peels off the scarred skin and stimulates new cells to grow. This works best with fresh scars. Avoid going out in the sun with the juice on your skin as it may cause photosensitivity.

3. Turmeric And Sandalwood Paste

The classic combination of turmeric and sandalwood paste not only helps lighten any spots or scars on your skin, but also speeds up healing, leaving a soothing effect. For best results mix kasturi turmeric powder with a few drops of sandalwood essential oil and apply it on the scarred area. Leave for 15 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly.

4. Cucumber Paste

Cucumbers are rich in water and phytochemicals that can help reduce dark spots caused by mosquito bites. You can use crushed cucumber directly on the bite marks or mix it with an equal amount of yoghurt. Leave the paste for 10 minutes, then wash it off with water.

5. Cocoa Butter

With its high content of fatty acids, cocoa butter is an excellent moisturising agent which also improves elasticity of your skin. Applying generous amounts of cocoa butter twice daily on your scarred area may make them disappear like magic. [3]

6. Essential Oils

Certain essential oils can also assist in fading out marks caused by mosquito bites. You can try a mix of lavender oil and helichrysum oil, or tea tree oil to reduce the scars on your skin.

B. OTC Options

1. Skin Lightening Creams

You can use a skin-lightening product such as a hydroquinone containing cream to help reduce the dark spots left by a bite. Hydroquinone reduces pigmentation which makes the dark spot fade over time. However, it is advisable to consult your dermatologist and perform a patch test before using a hydroquinone cream for the first time.

2. Calamine

Calamine has kaolin clay which assists in wound healing and reduction of scars. [4] Calamine lotion reduces itching, inflammation and helps lighten dark spots with consistent use.

3. Chemical Peels

These gentle exfoliators facilitate the removal of old, dead cells from the topmost layer of your skin, which in turn boosts the appearance of new skin cells on the surface [5]. This process of cellular turnover is quite effective in removing minor spots and scars from your face. Depending on your skin type, you can choose from a wide variety of peels with glycolic acid, salicylic acid or lactic acid, available in the market.

Tips For Prevention Of Mosquito Bite Marks

1. Preventing mosquito bite is the most obvious thing to do if you do not want to get those ugly bite marks. Avoid going to mosquito infested places especially after sundown, use a mosquito repellent cream or spray to avoid getting bitten.

2. Apply ice to reduce inflammation and itching. Massage the bitten area nicely to ensure good blood circulation. This in turn boosts collagen production and reduces the chances of scarring.

3. Resist the itch! It may be easier said than done. But scratching the bite will damage your skin making it more prone to infection and hence scarring. Use an anti-itching product like a hydrocortisone cream or silicone patches instead to reduce discomfort.

4. Clean the area well and apply moisturizers daily to assist the healing process.

When To Seek Medical Advice?

If you have deep scars or your scars do not seem to improve over a long period of time, you might want to consult a dermatologist. A dermatologist can suggest you with professional procedures such as microdermabrasion or laser treatments which might be more effective in scar removal. Professional treatments will be a bit more expensive than other options, but the outcomes are usually much more satisfactory.

Wrapping Up

Not everyone who gets a mosquito bite gets a scar. If you are allergic to the bite or the area gets infected, you may develop dark spots or scars. You can choose from a number of home remedies or OTC options to treat the bite marks. However, it is extremely important to look for symptoms of severe allergy or mosquito borne diseases post a mosquito bite. You should consult a doctor immediately in case you suspect any such possibilities.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin