Banana peels to soothe bug bites? Check out these home remedies that will stop the itch.
Updated: Oct 12, 2021
By ALEXIS ROCHESTER
Summer in Texas means bug bites are a part of everyday life.
Mosquito, ant, wasp and chigger bites will find their way on your skin and even your kids.
The good news is that you probably have a few of these items sitting around your house that can quickly soothe those itchy bites…all based on science!
Tea Tree Oil
We have so much great information on Chemistry Cachet about tea tree oil because it is such a multitasking tool in the home.
Tea tree oil can be toxic to animals (as many oils are), so this tip is just for the humans.
A few years ago, we shared an in-depth post on tea tree oil science and using it on the skin.
The key to tea tree oil usage is the fact it is a great anti-microbial. It is also a great astringent.
Just like we talk about using it for acne, it works to calm, soothe and relieve itching of bug bites.
This is a tip I use all the time. I recently used it for fire ant bites on my toes. Just take a Qtip and dab it on the bites.
Banana Peels
You might be thinking what?!
I have had a few people tell me this including a sweet lady who has been doing this for about 50 years; using a banana peel to put on your bug bites.
All you do is cut the banana peel to fit on the bite, put the peel directly on it, then allow it to sit.
You can check out all the amazing benefits of banana peels in our post from a few years ago.
The high vitamin E content, sugars and antioxidants can neutralize and soothe bug bites.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of our all-time favorite home remedies for many things.
This post from a few years ago goes into detail on the topical benefits of coconut oil. It is also great for bug bites. The lauric acid helps soothe bites and reduce inflammation.
This oil is also an anti-bacterial, so it will help the bite heal.
Calamine Lotion
I am adding this in for my mom. My mom swears by this stuff, and growing up, we always had this on hand.
If we had chiggers or mosquito bites, my mom would lather us up with calamine.
There is a good reason for using it though, it is highly effective for soothing itching and swelling for bites. Calamine is safe, natural and cheap.
Calamine lotion has some fantastic uses and interesting history you can read about here.
Aspirin
Aspirin is another favorite among scientists. You can read a great post about the science and history of aspirin here.
To use it, crush up the aspirin, mix with a small amount of water to form a paste. Dab this onto a bug bite. Aspirin is a very effective ant-inflammatory.
This stops bites from itching in seconds.
Alexis Rochester is an investigative chemist, blogger and founder of Chemistry Cachet. She shares science-based skin care, cleaning, gardening and health tips. She was diagnosed with RA at age 10, so she has a passion for pain management tips and research, along with sharing her journey through this disease. When she’s not writing for Chemistry Cachet, she is taking Pilates or Barre classes, and also received her Barre teaching certification this year! She grew up in Stephenville and recently moved back with her daughter, husband and bulldog. You can find her posting pictures and fun stories daily on Instagram. Also look for Chemistry Cachet on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and LinkedIn.
