Mosquito Bite Tips + Treating Mosquito Bites with Clay Paste (Video Tutorial)
Since the very first time my sweet little boy’s leg swelled up from mosquito bites two years ago, I have become almost an expert on treating severe mosquito bites.
We tried over-the-counter creams and ointments but it never helped as much as I wish it did.
Then a dear friend of mine shared a Facebook post my way about putting lavender essential oil on mosquito bites to help relieve the pain. Because I was desperate for anything that would help, I bought myself a bottle of lavender essential oil and tried it.
And thankfully, it worked and my life was forever changed.
That being said, I have learned a few things along the way to help the process not be so miserable for Andrew.
I’m happy to say that we went from swollen limbs, blistering, and oozing to barely swelling and hardly ever any blistering and definitely no oozing. It might be because he is growing out of his “skeeter syndrome” (hopefully) or it might be because I’ve gained the wisdom and experience of treating them effectively using natural remedies or it could be a combination of both.
Either way, I found it is important for me to pass along this information just in case your little one suffers from painful mosquito bites. I know how scary and helpless it is to watch your baby in pain so I hope this helps you when treating mosquito bites.
Tip #1: Prevention is key
I know it goes without saying, but making sure you apply bug spray or cream to your kiddos before you go out is the number one way you can prevent horrible mosquito bites. I am by no means perfect with this. It’s easy to forget to apply bug spray when you know you’ll only be outside for a minute and you don’t want to go through the hassle of applying stinky bug spray on your kid… but inevitably, they always get bit. Damn.
I have forced myself to remember to at least put bug spray around his ankles because those tend to be the worst for us. He usually has a hard time wearing shoes the next day which can put a damper on our plans or if he has to go to school.
Because Andrew is so sensitive to mosquito bites, I honestly don’t bother with homemade versions of bug spray. To me, I’m not willing to risk unnecessary mosquito bites while trying out the homemade kind. I could try it out on myself but as a busy mama, I have to admit that I opt for the convenience. This bug spray is the one I use and it works extremely well.
If you do want to try your hand at making your own bug repellant spray, Plant Therapy has a Kid Safe synergy called Ban the Bugs. You add 40 drops of Ban the Bugs to 2oz of fractionated coconut oil, shake, and spray.
Tip #2: Treat the bug bite IMMEDIATELY for best results
If I can catch the bug bite within 5 minutes of Andrew being bit, the bug bite almost never swells to the size of a half dollar. When I first notice he gets bit, we head straight into the house and I apply lavender essential oil neat (meaning with no carrier oil). You can do this with a q-tip or your fingers.
If you prefer to not apply the oil neat, I suggest getting a roll-on bottle, filling it with fractionated coconut oil and adding 20 drops of lavender essential oil. This way you always have it ready to go.
I continue to apply lavender once or twice a day until it goes away or whenever he complains about the bite hurting. If it is really bothering him, I apply a clay paste (see tip #4 below) once or twice a day as well.
If I don’t catch the bug bite until later (I still put the lavender on him), I have a harder time suppressing the swelling but it rarely blisters like it used to.
Tip #3: Have multiple bottles of lavender essential oil and place them in different areas
There is nothing worse (trust me) than being at the zoo or at the park and having your kid get bit by a mosquito and realizing you have no lavender essential oil with you.
Now I personally have 2-3 lavender essential oil bottles; one for the house, one for the car, and one for the purse. You may even consider giving a bottle to your in-laws if your kiddo spends time with their grandparents so they are well prepared. You can find my favorite brand of lavender essential oil here.
Tip #4: If lavender oil is not helping, treat with a clay paste
It wasn’t until recently that I started using a clay paste to put on Andrew’s bites if they were still bothering him. Sometimes you wonder if natural remedies really work but the reason I am 100% certain this clay paste works for Andrew is because if his bites are hurting, he asks for the “brown stuff.”
Now he’s at the point where he helps me mix the paste together and it’s so rewarding (as a mama) to see that he realizes the things that help or hurt his body.
Why clay paste?
The clay paste I use is really simple to whip up and only comprises of 4 ingredients: bentonite clay, lavender essential oil, frankincense essential oil, and fractionated coconut oil or aloe vera gel (depending on what I have on hand).
Bentonite clay is the base of this recipe because clay naturally draws toxins out. At a molecular level, clay is negatively charged; toxins are positively charged (source). When clay is applied to bug bites, it binds to the positively charged toxins and helps remove them from the bite and body. Bentonite clay can also help reduce the itching that may accompany bug bites.
I use lavender and frankincense essential oil because of the combined calming, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory properties they have.
The last ingredient I use is fractionated coconut oil or aloe vera gel. This is what helps create the “paste” and binds everything together.
I like fractionated coconut oil because of the convenience of it being in liquid form already. Since fractionated coconut oil is refined “it penetrates the skin readily, thus acting as a carrier for transdermal therapeutic ingredients” (source). This means it allows the essential oils to be soaked into the skin quicker which helps in relieving the bug bite ASAP.
Aloe vera makes a fantastic alternative because it’s well-known as a skin soother. It also easily absorbs into the skin, carrying with it the healing properties of anything else it’s combined with. You can use fresh aloe gel from your plant or you can buy this organic aloe vera gel (it has been hand pressed and filtered so the consistency is a smooth liquid, easy for pouring).
How to Make a Clay Paste to Treat Mosquito Bites
You can watch the video to see how thick the paste should be, or you can read below for the ingredients and instructions.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbl bentonite clay (this is the clay I use but I’ve also used this one with success)
- 2 drops lavender essential oil (I love this brand)
- 2 drops frankincense essential oil (This kind of frankincense)
- fractionated coconut oil or aloe vera gel (use gel from your plant or use this hand pressed, filtered, and pourable organic aloe vera gel)
Directions:
In a small glass bowl, add bentonite clay and essential oils. Using a spoon, slowly pour a little bit fractionated coconut oil or aloe vera; stir. You want the consistency to be a spreadable paste; not too liquified or not too thick. Continue to add desired liquid until you reach this consistency.
If you end up adding too much liquid, add in bentonite clay to come back to the consistency you want.
To apply: Using clean and dry hands, scoop a bit of clay with your finger and apply a nice even coat on bug bite. Allow to dry and then wipe off gently with a warm wash cloth. Apply as needed.
You can keep the extra paste in the refrigerator until you need to use it again. Allow to come to room temperature before applying.
This post is sponsored by Plant Therapy. However, the opinions and photos are of my own. Authenticity is important so I would never promote any brand or product that I wholeheartedly don’t believe in.
Your clay for mosquito bites sounds great. I react to them also. Ever since I was a little girl. I also react to tick bites! We now have a farm. So it is an issue. Would your clay help with a tick bite. The reaction is very similar.
I would imagine that the clay paste would be beneficial for the tick bite, too. Since the clay draws toxins, it would draw the toxins from the tick bite and the essential oils would help soothe and reduce itchiness. Good luck!
Thank you for this post! My son also reacts to bug bites like this. He also has Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorder, so the itching and pain are very difficult for him. I am looking forward to trying this paste on him. I just wish the bugs didn’t like him so much!
Oh man, I can only imagine how difficult that is. Good luck!
I love using clay on bites, works like a charm! Great idea to include the essential oils too.
I did not know this! We spray our yard with a concentrated garlic oil every year that keeps the mosquitoes away well but when we go to the park or something they are everywhere when the humidity is up! I love this idea! Little ones always seem to swell more with those!
I’m going to have to try that mosquito spray!
This sounds like a good remedy for us in our yard. What is the recipe for the spray? I am extremely sensitive to mosquitoes. Swell and itch for days after. We live on 5 acres by a water source.
[email protected]
Website soon back up.
Thank you in advance
Julie
How do you make your concentrated garlic spray and how do you spray it …
Thanks!
This is great info for the summer, I’m going to keep lavender oil handy!
Great tips. We do much of the same here but I always forget about clay and how well it works. It really is awesome.
Interesting…I would’ve never thought of this! Great tip, especially since the mosquitoes will be in full swing here pretty soon. 🙂
This is exactly what we need. Here in Thailand rainy season has just started and my 2yo daughter’s leg is covered in bits. I’m just wondering if the lavender oil is save to use on her? We’re outside almost the whole day so I’m still looking for a good, child safe bug spray. Thanks for the link, I’ll give that one a try!
Lavender is totally safe for your two year old. Good luck with it!
I am so happy (though not for our kids) to find someone else who gets this reaction. My daughter is now 8 and gets the blister and weird red lumpy spot that doesn’t go away for weeks. She has had a number of infections….they thought she had MRSA, they thought she had Erythema Nodosum, they thought lots of things. She even had a spot biopsied before they decided it was “an exuberant reaction to a bug bite”. The reactions seem to be getting less bad…they don’t swell up like a golfball anymore usually and we had a super horrible for her cream that we use but I am just getting into oils and had this stuff and tried it. Not sure if it’s working yet, she still has it on but fingers are crossed!
Hi, there. This is great stuff!! I was wondering though… does it have to be bentonite clay - can another type of clay be used like french green clay or red clay. Please let me know, as I have been getting numerous mosquito bites lately, and would like to make a clay paste as soon as possible! \
Thank you!
I think french green clay would work very nicely with this! Good luck. 🙂
I read somewhere that Lavendar alone was considered the Swiss Army Knife of EOs—must be true! The Bentonite clay mixture is great—thanks for that tip! Our daughter’s family moved to Florida last year. I worried about fire ants there, and the mosquitos. My source for oils has a repellent synergy called Skeeter Beater. They also have After the Bite pre-mixed in St Johns Wort infused oil for bug stings & bites. I didn’t have any repellant the other day when weeding & mosquitos were biting so I ran inside, quickly mixed what EOs I had into some Aloe Vera Gel—Lemon, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus & Peppermint—worked like a charm. Yay for EOs!
Thank you so much for this post! My son has a horrible reaction to mosquito bites too, and I tried lavender on the ones he just got. They are not nearly as bad as they normally get.
I have a a question about the clay-I see you suggest that you make a batch and keep it on hand. Can it be left at room temperature and if so, for how long until I should make a new batch?
Two more questions based on your experience:
Regarding lavender oil-it is better to dab it on to the bite right from the bottle with a q-tip or mix it with coconut oil and apply using a roller ball?
Have you heard of putting a dab of peppermint or eucalyptus oil on each wrist and ankle to keep mosquitos away?
My teen daughter is highly susptible to mosquitos and the bites are horrible!
Hi Jill. Yes, it can be left at room temperature. I would say up to 6 months, if left in a cool environment.
As far as the lavender oil, I’ve always just used it neat but if you feel more comfortable with it being diluted, that works just as well.
I’ve never heard about the peppermint or eucalyptus! I’ll have to look more into that.
Thank you so much for your tip! I’m a grown woman and all my life have dealt with horrible mosiquito bites. When caught right away I’ve used Vick’s vapor rub and it helped with the itch but when I’ve had to wait to much later the bites have gotten ugly and infected. I will definelty try this!!!! Right now I have about thirty bites and was about to head to the doctor but I think I will try this first!!!
Thank you for the recipe. I am excited to try it for my youngest son. He has the same awful reaction your LO has. I do have one question though. Have you heard that you should never use metal with bentonite clay? From what I understand, the clay absorbs the metal and becomes less effective. I am wondering if you have tried making it both ways and noticed if using metal made it less effective?
Thanks again for the recipe! 🙂
This is the only home remedy that has ever worked for me!!! I have tried a bunch of home remedies and prescription creams with no success. I’m 27, and I’ve always had a severe reaction to mosquito bites. When I get more than 1-2 bites at a time, it is almost impossible for me to walk or sleep. My reaction seems to be more consistent with a poisonous spider or snake bite rather than an insect bite. Thank you so much for posting this remedy!
Thank you for this recipe! My Daughter reacts horribly to gnat and mosquito bites, itchy and swollen for 2 weeks sometimes. I ave started to use Lavender EO already but it doesn’t help as much as I would like it too. I just ordered some clay and we will try the paste. I will add TTO instead of Frankincense EO and see if that works.
I was unable to look at the bug spray you use in your link. Could you send the name of that? Thanks! I’m excited about learning about those oils. Mosquitoes attack me and my girl and we will try this today!
I was also wondering about the bug spray, the link is no longer there. Could you please let me know which one you use and where to get it my son and grandson also get huge hot welts, that take forever to go away. Were you able to find out about Renee’s garlic oil spray for the lawn? I would love to use this…
I lived for decades on wetlands. Mosquito conventions took place every year. They hate menthol and citrus. They are attracted to carbon dioxide from your breath. Whenever I worked in the garden, I let a menthol/citrus cough drop dissolve in mouth. Works well to keep them away from your face….while the drop is in your mouth, anyway.
I wonder if you could use Earthpaste, or any clay based toothpaste. I’ve heard the home remedy of using regular toothpaste, so I wonder if those of us using Earthpaste could skip the step of making it ourselves. Just an idea!
Hi! Thank you for the post, it confirmed some things that have worked well for us in the past and gave me new ideas. I was wondering if you could name the bug repellent you use, your amazon link is broken. Our current one used to help a lot, but our yard has so many, I think we might need to treat the yard with something. But I thought I’d try switching repellants first.
Can you please post or email me the name of the bug spray. My little guy really needs something and all the ones we have tried have not done the job.
Thank you so much for the tip of the lavender oil. my granddaughter gets severe mosquito bites like your son. I read your article and I put the lavender oil on her bites and they almost immediately started going down it even helped with the bruising. We do our best to use lemon grass oil spray on her before she goes outside, that seems to really do the trick to ward off the mosquitoes.
What bug spray do you buy? The Amazon link is broken. Thanks!
Hello, I appreciate this post as my little ones eye is almost swollen shut from mosquito bites and this is the second time so I am suspecting skeeter syndrome. I tried to use your links for the oils but they don’t work anymore:( I wanted you to receive credit/Commision for sending me there as I am going to place a rather large plant therapy order. I am going ahead with the order I will leave a note on my order with your website in case they can credit you afterwards. Thanks for doing this work!