Don’t let mosquito bites bug you anymore.
Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist in Toronto, is sharing a simple suggestion for those fed up with mosquito bites. She proposes putting a pimple patch over the suck spot to help it heal faster.
“This can help prevent scratching, which often leads to infection and scarring,” Yadav advised in a TikTok last month that has netted 7.3 million views. “Always clean the bite before and after applying a patch. Stay itch-free!”
Hydrocolloid patches are the go-to for Dr. Andrea Suarez, a board-certified dermatologist in Houston.
Hydrocolloids — used as thickening or gelling agents in food — provide a protective covering to a skin wound. They absorb excess moisture such as oil and pus and reduce inflammation and redness, which are hallmarks of skeeter stings.
“The hydrocolloid helps to absorb that inflammatory stuff that makes it very itchy and swell up, and it also serves as a barrier, preventing you from scratching — it almost takes the itch away immediately,” Suarez explained in an Instagram video last summer.
“You can leave [the patch] on overnight, wake up the next morning, and the mosquito bite is practically gone,” she added.
Well+Good reports that hydrocolloid patches shouldn’t be left on for more than eight hours.
After removing it, treat the bump with a topical cortisone cream, which can help relieve remaining redness, itching and swelling.
Unfortunately for New Yorkers, the bug behemoth Orkin recently ranked the Big Apple No. 2 on its list of mosquito-prone cities. The line-up is based on new residential mosquito treatments from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.
Only Los Angeles sucks more.
Rachel Carter is a health and wellness expert dedicated to helping readers lead healthier lives. With a background in nutrition, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
