18 Useful Home Remedies For Ant Bites

Most ant bites don’t lead to serious reactions. Mild reactions such as itchy skin are specific to these types of bites.

Most of the symptoms following ant bites can be relieved by using home remedies. Solutions such as applying baking soda to the bitten area might offer temporary relief which reduces itchiness.

It’s important to deal with itchiness and skin irritation so that you don’t feel the need to scratch, following ant bites.

Signs of Ant Bites

Not all ant bites are similar. Some ants are more dangerous than others.

One ant bite also leads to different reactions than multiple ant bites. Even the less threatening ants that bite can lead to complicated reactions if they bite multiple times.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of ant bites.

Red skin – specific pink or red skin coloration in the area of the bite or the immediate area of the skin.

Itchy skin – typically manifested in rashes in the area of the bite (less common in other areas).

Swollen skin – a type of reaction to almost any type of ant bite

Pain – a symptom specific to more adverse reactions to ant bites

Fire ant bite

Allergic Reactions

Those with allergies are prone to severe reactions which are never dealt with by using home remedies, but by a doctor. The signs of allergic reactions which prompt a hospital visit include.

Swelling (on any body part) – swollen lips, face, or fingers are a sign of an allergic reaction.

Stomach pain – abdominal pain is one of the common symptoms of an allergic reaction in ant bites.

Breathing difficulties – you should visit a hospital immediately after detecting breathing difficulties following exposure to ants or ant bites.

Nausea – a feeling of losing stability, common in allergic reactions to ant bites.

Vomiting – a severe reaction to ant bites.

Anaphylaxis – a severe allergic reaction to ant bites.

Home Remedies For Ant Bites

Mild symptoms such as red skin, itchy skin, or swollen skin might all benefit from one or multiple home remedies.

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has proven soothing abilities against burns and it may be one of the solutions to consider for burning sensations following ant bites.

Known as a natural antiseptic, Aloe Vera soothes if applied on clean skin.

Organic Aloe Vera may also soothe another type of skin condition following ant bites. Itchy skin is often combated with this home remedy.

It’s the anti-fungal and antiseptic properties of Aloe Vera that recommend it against multiple types of ant bites.

This type of remedy is only applicable to the skin in the case of mild itchiness and burning symptoms.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is used in multiple home remedies, including skin conditions.

Organic apple cider vinegar is always preferred to treat mild reactions following ant bites.

Dabbed clean clothes in a mix of apple cider vinegar and clean water may be one of the homemade disinfectants for skin rashes following scratching.

This type of tapping cloth method may also be used against burning or itching symptoms, also common following ant bites.

3. Garlic

Garlic has also been used in different types of liquid or solid homemade skin remedies.

It may not be applied directly on the bitten area of the skin as it can irritate it further.

Instead, garlic needs to be mashed and mixed with a carrier oil such as olive oil or with a non-fragrant moisturizer.

The final blend is applied with the fingers by tapping small amounts directly over the bitten area.

A natural disinfectant, garlic may be of a better use when applied on irritated skin following scratching on the areas bitten by ants.

4. Bleach

Some types of ant bites are venomous. The venom might be absorbed into the skin quickly, within minutes.

Diluted bleach may sometimes be applied on the skin immediately after the bite to break down the venom and lessen skin reactions.

Equal parts of bleach and clean water are mixed with water. A tiny dab of a cotton ball is tapped on the bitten area.

This solution may work only if applied immediately after the bite or bites.

5. Honey

Honey and honey-based products are used on the skin and in the beauty industry. Medical-grade honey or pure honey may be one of the homemade solutions to try on the skin following ant bites as well.

Anti-inflammatory action is often tied to honey applied on the skin.

Most importantly, the soothing action of thick honey on the skin reduces itching sensations.

You may not feel the need to scratch the skin as much whenever you apply honey to the bitten area.

It’s important to only apply clean honey and not honey with food traces, typically found in open jars around the house.

6. Salt

Salt may be one of the ingredients found at home to be used against swollen skin.

As baking soda, it’s a homemade remedy to be considered whenever you have minor or mild symptoms.

Ant bites may sometimes lead to swollen skin in the area of the bites. This is where salt can be applied.

You can dilute 1 tablespoon of salt in a bowl of cold or lukewarm water and then apply the liquid mixture with a cotton ball right on the bitten or swollen area of the skin.

You can apply the mixture again within minutes, once it has dried.

7. Cucumber

Irritated skin or red skin is one of the mild symptoms of ant bites.

This type of symptom doesn’t come with swollen skin or with extreme itching symptoms. It’s just a mild skin irritation or discomfort.

Such mild symptoms are often treated with home remedies such as applying slices of cucumber directly on the irritated section of the skin.

Another method of soothing the skin involves cucumber juice. You can blend cucumber with water and apply a cold compress over the irritated area to relieve itching skin reactions/

8. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is another type of produce found at home you can use directly on the skin to soothe itching sensations.

It works similarly to baking soda and water but it’s already mixed and ready to apply.

Toothpaste made with baking soda is among the recommended products for mild itching sensations.

One of the benefits of toothpaste applied to the skin is that it hardens and doesn’t get absorbed into the skin. This means you’ll have less of a drive to scratch the skin and make the bites worse.

9. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is never applied directly on the skin. However, mixed with water, it can help reduce itchy skin or irritated skin.

Lemon juice can be mixed with cold water.

Squeezing a quarter lemon in a water bowl is how you prepare the homemade remedy. You can then dip a clean cotton ball in the mixture and gently tap the skin where it itches the most.

Swollen skin might not itch at all. You can apply the same lemon juice-water mixture directly on the skin to alleviate the symptoms.

10. Baking Soda

Mild skin itches can be alleviated with baking soda.

You mix up to a teaspoon of baking soda with 4 tablespoons of water and then apply the mixture on the skin.

Baking soda tends to dry the skin but up to 2-3 applications are possible to completely alleviate mild itchy sensations.

While baking soda acts to rapidly reduce itchiness, the alleviation might not last as long as with other homemade remedies.

11. Essential Oils

Numerous essential oils can be applied to the skin, mostly to alleviate itching symptoms.

You can consider lavender oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint oil as a homemade remedy for ant skin-bite reactions.

Lavender essential oils can be applied directly on irritated skin.

However, most essential oils can be mixed with coconut oil as a carrier which also helps reduce essential oil evaporation time helping it stay on the skin longer.

12. Lard

Lard is one of the oldest home remedies used to soothe the skin. It can be used against skin inflammation, and itchiness, and to protect the skin from drying.

Lard acts similarly to coconut oil applied on the skin. It reduces the need to scratch, which may otherwise lead to irritated red skin.

You can apply simple homemade lard in liberal amounts on the area of the bites.

13. Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal baths are one of the least expensive methods to relieve itchiness from ant bites.

Not all types of oatmeal are suitable for these types of baths. Colloidal oatmeal is used in baths to hydrate the skin and soothe the skin.

You can add up to 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal to a full tub of warm water. You should not have baths with hot water whenever your skin has suffered ant bites.

After the bath, you can apply a quality moisturizer to the skin which should be free of fragrances to not irritate the skin further.

You should also only pat dry your skin with the towel, as with all baths and showers after being bitten by ants.

14. Onion

Onion has anti-inflammatory action. It soothes the skin while acting like a natural disinfectant.

You can apply onion directly on the skin and the ant bites.

Onion slices tend to be rotated for their highest potency. Alternatively, you can mix the chopped onion with water and dip cotton balls in the mixture which you then tap on the skin.

Products and techniques not to be used to relieve ant bite symptoms

While these solutions are recommended as home remedies, there are other types of homemade solutions, techniques, or products found around the house you shouldn’t use following ant bites.

15. Alcohol

Alcohol (of any form) should not be applied to the area of the skin without medical supervision. Furthermore, rubbing alcohol in the area of the bite might irritate the skin instead of soothing it.

Other alcohol-based solutions not to apply on the skin include aftershave and mouthwash. While these may seem to alleviate itching sensations on the spot, they do more harm by further enhancing the reactions skin has to ant bites.

16. Fragrant moisturizers

Moisturizers have all types of chemicals or synthetic compounds that contain fragrances that act similarly to alcohol on the bitten area.

These solutions are known to cause severe reactions as the skin gets further irritated by moisturizers, creams, and other cosmetics known to have an aromatic profile.

17. Rubbing techniques

Even efficient homemade remedies can be applied incorrectly on the skin. This leads to further swollen skin or extra itching.

Tapping is one of the techniques you need to master to soothe the skin. You should never rub a cotton ball or a clean cloth with baking soda, vinegar, or any other homemade remedy on the skin.

You should only slightly tap the affected area of the skin.

18. Hot water cleansing

Hot water can irritate the skin further. Taking hot showers or getting into a hot tub isn’t recommended following ant bites.

Lukewarm water is the only type of water recommended to alleviate itching symptoms following ant bites.

You should also stay away from mixing any ingredients (such as apple cider vinegar or baking soda) with hot water as it can lead to further skin inflammation.

Summary

Homemade solutions such as applying Aloe Vera, apple cider vinegar, or garlic work on ant bites that cause mild skin reactions.

These remedies are recommended against mild itching, slightly swollen skin, or red skin.

They can be applied directly on the bitten area or next to the bitten area if the itchiness starts to radiate.

A cotton ball dipped in these homemade remedies can then be tapped on the affected area of the skin.

It’s also important not to use irritants, alongside using the right homemade remedies.

Alcohol-based solutions rubbed onto the bitten area can lead to considerable skin irritation problems.

Moisturizers with fragrances and hot water are among the elements that can cause more harm. All other severe ant bite symptoms need medical attention.

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