Treating Bug Bites
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
This guide focuses on common bug bites that can be treated at home. More serious or venomous bites should be evaluated by a medical provider.
Bug bite symptoms are a nuisance, BUT there’s a reason for them! Our focus should not be stopping them. It should be SUPPORTING them.
Understanding the Symptoms
Itchy
Itching is triggered by your immune system releasing histamine in response to the bite. This helps alert the body that something foreign is present and increases blood flow to support healing.
Painful
Pain is part of the body’s inflammatory response, alerting you to the tissue irritation/damage. It encourages protection of the area while the body begins repair.
Red bump / welt
The red bump or welt is due to blood vessels widening and fluid moving into the area. This helps bring immune cells to the site to address the bite and start healing.
Swelling
Swelling happens due to the fluid and immune cells accumulating at the bite site. This is a normal protective response that helps isolate and manage the irritation.
The Problem with "Conventional" Treatments
Anti-histamines
Antihistamines block the effects of histamine, a chemical your body releases during an immune response. After a bug bite, histamine binds to receptors in the skin and nerves, triggering symptoms like itching and redness.
By blocking those receptors, antihistamines can reduce discomfort (especially itching). However, they don’t remove the bite itself or the initial trigger. They primarily reduce the body’s response to it.
Because histamine is part of the immune process, some prefer to use supportive measures before fully suppressing that response, depending on severity and comfort level.
Steroids
Steroid creams help reduce itching and swelling by calming the local immune response in the skin. This can provide quick relief, especially for more intense reactions.
However, because they work by suppressing inflammation, they can also dampen part of the body’s natural response. For mild bites, some choose gentler, supportive options first.
Bug Bite Overreactions
Some people react more strongly to bug bites than others. Factors like individual scent, skin microbiome, and even blood type have been explored.
In some cases, a more intense reaction may be related to how the body processes histamine. If histamine isn’t broken down efficiently, symptoms can feel more severe.
Other factors that may influence reactions include:
Gut health
Skin barrier health
Overall inflammation load
Nervous system regulation (including stress and sleep)
Nutrient status (especially zinc, magnesium, copper)
Overall detoxification pathways (including liver function)
Treating Bug Bites: Step 1 "Draw Out" the Irritation
The “bug bite thing” is a suction tool that helps reduce pressure in the area and remove surface-level irritants. Simply place the tool over the bite, slowly pull the handles until you feel a suction, hold for 10-20 sec, push handles down to release.
Black drawing salve is a topical traditionally used to “draw out” impurities from the skin. This formula includes ingredients like activated charcoal and bentonite clay (which can bind to impurities on the skin), along with oils like castor and olive oil to support skin repair, plus lavender essential oil to help calm irritated skin.
Step 2: Soothe the Irritation
Cool compress: helps calm excess inflammation and itching without interfering with the body’s ability to heal when used in moderation. There is also a time and a place for warmth (PMID: 22253544). Do what feels right, and in moderation.
Hypochlorus acid: HOCl is a compound your white blood cells naturally produce as part of the immune response. When used topically, it can help reduce microbial load, calm irritation, and support the skin’s natural healing process.
Aloe vera: contains anti-inflammatory compounds that calm irritated skin and reduce redness and swelling.
Baking soda paste: primarily helps with itch, but can also mildly calm surface irritation. Mix with water to make a paste. Can also make a bentonite clay paste.
Diluted ACV: may help with itch and skin balance, *but less reliable for inflammation compared to others IMO.
Manuka honey: a powerhouse of anti-inflammatory + antimicrobial properties. Reduces bacterial growth while supporting the skin’s natural healing process. Helps calm redness and irritation, while its natural sugars create a slightly acidic, moist environment that supports faster skin repair.
Calendula: is well known for its anti-inflammatory and skin-repairing properties that can help soothe irritation/redness and support the skin after a bug bite.
Oatmeal (colloidal/paste/bath): Contains compounds (avenanthramides) that help calm inflammation and reduce itch signaling in the skin.
Itch Cream/Sticks
Rowe Casa cream (20% off)
Rowe Casa stick (20% off)
Auminay Naturals (use code ALEXK15 for 15 % off)
Essential Oils
Lavender
Tea Tree
Chamomile
Eucalyptus
*Always dilute essential oils before use, especially for children.
Red light therapy: Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) stimulates mitochondria to increase cellular energy (ATP), improve circulation to bring oxygen to the effected area, and helps regulate the inflammatory and nerve responses that drive itch.
For best use red light (630-660nm) or near infrared (810-880nm) can be applied for about ~5-10 minutes per area every 6 hours. The earlier you can start this treatment the better. *I almost always use near infrared.
Homeopathy
Dosing is typically based more on how often the remedy is repeated rather than the number of pellets taken. A common approach is to use a small dose (1-2 pellets) and repeat every 10–15 minutes as needed until symptoms begin to improve.
If there’s no noticeable improvement after a few doses, the remedy may not be the best match and another option can be considered.
A Note on Ticks
Symptoms to be mindful of:
Bulls eye rash
Flu like symptoms
Asymmetrical arthritic or facial palsy
Changes in mood, appetite, coordination
Final Thoughts
Don’t overthink it. And you don’t need all the things. If you don’t have something to “draw” out the irritation, that. might be a good thing to grab in preparation. But for soothing the irritation, most likely you already have at least one of the things listed in your home.
Make a quick list of what you already have on hand so you know exactly what to reach for when you need it. Or stock up on 1-2 things that resonate with you.
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