Choosing an ointment from insect bites to relieve itching, swelling and allergies

An effective ointment for insect bites is designed to alleviate the effects of attacks by biting or stinging arthropods. However, it is impossible to consider each such remedy as a panacea and a 100% guarantee of getting rid of all unpleasant symptoms: the ointment will only reduce the reaction of the skin and tissues under it to foreign biological substances that enter the body when bitten.

For example, some creams have anti-inflammatory, disinfecting and soothing effects, while some other ointments and creams are more focused on preventing the development of an allergic reaction: they do not allow swelling to increase, they also help relieve itching from an insect bite and minimize the appearance of a rash.

Thus, when deciding how to smear insect bites, you should not count on the fact that any one remedy will be able to completely save you from all the unpleasant consequences - such drugs simply do not exist.

On a note

You should be especially careful when choosing a remedy if you decide to anoint an insect bite in a child, since many ointments are contraindicated for infants or children with very sensitive skin. In most cases, itching after bites is not dangerous at all, but some ointments that they try to calm it down may well lead to serious side effects.

A well-chosen ointment in most cases will do a good job of reducing the discomfort after being bitten by parasitic insects such as bedbugs, fleas, mosquitoes, horseflies and midges.

But with the bites of stinging or poisonous insects (bees, wasps, hornets, predatory and water bugs, as well as spiders, centipedes, leeches), even a high-quality ointment, cream or balm for insect bites often has to be used in conjunction with other types of medicines and preparations for dealing with the symptoms of intoxication. Ointments here, unfortunately, are often only able to mildly stop the effects of bites.

As for tick bites, it makes sense to use, first of all, those ointments that have a pronounced antiseptic effect - all other "advantages" of the drugs in this case are secondary (if brilliant green or alcohol is available, it is better to use them). However, even in this case, ointments, alas, are usually not able to protect the victim from borreliosis or encephalitis.

In any case, in order to achieve the best result, an ointment, cream or gel for insect bites, first you need to be able to choose the right one, which we will talk about in more detail later ...

 

How to choose an ointment?

Preparations used after insect bites are produced in various forms of release, differ in their composition, consistency and packaging.

Among these funds, the following three main groups can be distinguished:

• gels - as a rule, these are water-based products containing various pharmaceutical substances and (or) natural medicinal components;
• creams are usually preparations based on natural or synthetic fats or oils, also containing certain medicinal additives;
• balms are therapeutic agents, which are usually based on plant extracts and natural resinous substances.

On a note

A high-quality insect bite balm primarily promotes the speedy regeneration of tissues at the site of the bite, and therefore is used mainly after attacks by stinging insects.

It should be noted that there are other types of remedies used after insect bites: aerosol preparations, pencils, patches, etc.

Creams are considered the most effective form of ointment for insect bites, since it is they, due to their fatty component, that ensure the rapid transport of medicinal components through the skin.

However, products released in other forms are not far behind in this regard, especially if there is a well-balanced formulation. So, for example, after insect bites, the following drugs work quite well:

• Gel Fenistil;
• Levomekol;
• Advantan;
• Akriderm;
• Menovazin;
• Hydrocortisone ointment.

Bites of different insects sometimes require a specific approach to treatment. In turn, each of the means also has its own special specifics and is most effective in a particular case.

So, for example, if you were bitten by mosquitoes or bed bugs, then the primary task of the ointment is to remove the swelling of the tissues and contribute to the rapid disappearance of itching.

Fenistil, Akriderm, Soventol, Mosquitall gel-balm, Gardex gel do an excellent job with this. When a secondary rash (allergic) appears after the bites of parasitic insects, it makes sense to smear the rash sites with Fenistil or Advantan.

At the same time, after the bites of stinging insects, ointments of a slightly different direction should be used - primarily those that prevent the development of an allergic reaction and help reduce pain.

On a note

An ointment with the well-known name "Rescuer", often used for insect bites, is the least suitable for this purpose. The task of this drug is to disinfect skin lesions and promote the rapid healing of wounds, scratches, ulcers and bruises. With the bites of stinging insects, this ointment only allows you to quickly restore tissue affected by inflammation, but it is not able to minimize all other symptoms.

If the insect bite is very painful, the damaged area can be smeared with Menovazin, which will create a feeling of coolness and significantly reduce pain. If inflammation or swelling occurs, Levomekol or Advantan should be used.

And further: List of blood-sucking insects that can bite you in bed or on the couch (the article has more than 20 comments)

Levomekol is especially good if you need to smear insect bites in a child who has already managed to scratch them before the appearance of pustules. In the same case, Panthenol is also used.

Finally, if an insect bite has caused a powerful allergic reaction with a rapidly growing swelling and rash, the skin areas covered by them should be lubricated with hydrocortisone ointment.However, this remedy has a sufficient number of contraindications, so it should be used with great care, and it is best to consult a doctor first.

Perhaps the most versatile remedy used against the bites of a wide variety of insects is Fenistil gel. You should definitely have it in the first aid kit for going out into the countryside and by all means take it with you on trips abroad. You can read more about this drug below.

 

What is important to do before applying the ointment

Ointment, balm or cream after insect bites should be applied after first aid has been provided to the victim. In the case of bites of blood-sucking parasites, such assistance is usually not required, but it is necessary immediately after an attack by stinging arthropods, as well as spiders, centipedes, and some others.

In most cases, first aid after insect bites is in the following order:

• if a bee has bitten, then first of all, its sting is removed from the wound with tweezers (after the bites of hornets or wasps, it does not remain, so you don’t even have to look for it);
• then, as soon as possible, poison is sucked out of the wound (if it enters the human oral cavity, it does no harm);
• a cold compress is applied to the bite site (stones or damp earth cannot be used for this purpose - they can become a source of infection).

In the case of bee stings, part of the poison is neutralized with soap, in wasps and hornets - with any organic acid (for example, ordinary vinegar, a slice of lemon, apple or orange). Only after this, the bite site can be anointed with a specialized agent.

 

Gel Fenistil and its properties

The versatility of the drug Fenistil from insect bites lies primarily in its ability to perfectly soothe itching. Unfortunately, with bee or wasp stings, its use will not allow you to avoid the appearance of edema, however, with a moderately pronounced reaction of the body to poison, this gel copes with the relief of an allergic reaction, since it generally refers to antiallergic drugs.

The optimal scope of Fenistil is the bites of mosquitoes, bedbugs, midges and fleas. In these cases, the gel helps to relieve itching from bites and quickly minimize other unpleasant symptoms (slight tissue swelling, redness, soreness).

Another important feature of the Fenistil gel is the possibility of its use in children older than 1 month. The only thing to remember is that this drug should not be applied to large areas of skin or places that have scratches and bleeding abrasions.

The price of a 30-gram tube of Fenistil gel is approximately 350 rubles.

Reviews

“A very good ointment for insect bites is Fenistil. We constantly take it with us to the country house or barbecue, even if mosquitoes bite someone, it is enough for them to spread the skin once, and the bites stop itching after a few minutes. Several times they had to smear bee stings, it also works well. The bite site swells, but passes faster, the pain is not felt for long.

Irina, Tver

 

The famous Levomekol

Levomekol cannot be called a classic remedy designed specifically for treating insect bites - it is used to disinfect wounds and ulcers, antimicrobial and antiviral therapy. Good drug and in the treatment of burns.

And further: We caught bedbugs and tested the effect of GEKTOR powder on them - a pretty killer thing turned out to be ...

In the case of insect bites, Levomekol is used, as a rule, as an anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, it makes sense to apply it after an unsuccessful "acquaintance" with such arthropods as wasps, hornets, bees, tropical ants, scorpions and spiders. It is their attacks that usually end with an impressive tumor, edema, hemorrhage, and sometimes even tissue necrosis.

If in these cases you anoint the wound with Levomekol, then it will provide accelerated tissue repair at the site of the bite and relieve inflammation.

The cost of the ointment is also pleasing - only about 100 rubles per tube of 40 grams.

 

Advantan for insect bites

For insect bites, Advantan ointment is usually used as an antiallergic agent. If you immediately anoint the affected area with it, then sometimes it is quite possible to do without the appearance of severe edema and urticaria, even after the bites of insects such as paper wasps and bedbugs. When attacked by larger arthropods, the drug can also help - it helps to localize inflammation and prevent the development of an allergic reaction.

It is useful to choose one of the forms of the preparation for yourself in advance: a fat-based ointment, an emulsion or a water-based gel. Such a variety of release forms allows you to focus on the type of product that is most suitable for each specific skin type.

The effect of all three forms of this drug is approximately the same, but on oily skin, the insect bite site is best to anoint with an emulsion, for dry skin choose an ointment, and for normal skin - Advantan gel with a balanced ratio of water and fat.

However, despite all the positive aspects of this remedy, it also has one undeniable minus - hormonal effects. That is why it is not recommended to treat large areas of skin with Advantan - in order to avoid the appearance of more serious problems.

The price of Advantan is approximately 400 rubles for 20 grams of emulsion or 15 grams of cream.

 

Akriderm

Akriderm is a remedy for symptomatic treatment. It is used, as a rule, for various skin lesions and severe dermatitis.

With insect bites, Akriderm is used as a drug to relieve itching and get rid of a rash at the site of the tumor, so it works best when treating bedbug and mosquito bites.

An important advantage of this tool is the "delicacy" of its action - Akriderm can be safely used even for children.

The price of the drug fluctuates around 450 rubles for a tube of 30 grams.

 

Treatment of insect bites with Menovazin

The drug "Menovazin" is intended primarily to have an analgesic effect, since the main "working" substance in it is menthol. With this tool, you can confidently smear the bites of bees, wasps, large wild bugs, because even after the onset of inflammation, it will provide a feeling of coolness at the site of the bite, reduce itching and pain.

Menovazin is inexpensive - about 30 rubles per 40 ml.

 

Panthenol and its properties

Panthenol-based products are produced by many pharmaceutical companies in several dosage forms.Moreover, often the buyer pays for the advertised name, and not for the much cheaper active ingredient.

The Panthenol cream itself costs from 100 rubles per 50 ml, but various combined preparations based on the same active substance are offered by pharmacies for completely different money - from 350-500 rubles for the same volume.

For insect bites, Panthenol is most rationally used in the form of a cream or ointment: in this case, it provides skin restoration in places of inflammation, itching and rapid healing of wounds.

 

Hydrocortisone ointment

Hydrocortisone ointment is a hormonal agent, so when using it, you need to carefully read the instructions and be sure to take into account the existing contraindications.

With insect bites, the ointment blocks the occurrence of an allergic reaction and the release of histamine in the body. This tool can be used to prevent the development of anaphylactic shock with the bites of stinging insects, spiders and scorpions.

The price of hydrocortisone ointment is approximately 50 rubles per 5 grams.

 

Other ointments for treating bites

All of the above remedies for insect bites are sold exclusively in pharmacies and therefore may not be available in some cases. Fortunately, they can be easily replaced with drugs that are close in action, in the assortment available in supermarkets and household chemical stores.

So, drugs of trade marks Mosquitall, Gardex, Off, Taiga are quite widespread on sale, among which there are also products for children.For example, Gardex children's insect bite cream acts very delicately and quickly relieves itching in case of mosquito bites, and Taiga brand products, in addition to getting rid of the symptoms of a bite, also allow you to protect yourself from insect attacks.

In the vast majority of cases, for the treatment of insect bites, fat-based products should be chosen, which have an additional anti-allergic effect. Stopping allergies in the "global" sense is much more important for the body than, for example, relieving itching or getting rid of pain. Ointments designed to deal with discomfort should be used either in cases where there is no allergy itself, or in addition to an antiallergic agent.

And finally, there are numerous products on the market designed to repel insects and prevent them from biting at all. They are effective in case of protection against attacks by mosquitoes, fleas or bedbugs, but, unfortunately, they are not able to scare away an angry hornet or a bee. When choosing such a remedy, you should look for the names “DEET” or “permethrin” in its composition. If the proposed repellent ointment contains essential oils as the main active ingredient, then there will be practically no expected effect from it.

In conclusion, we recall: it is better to reliably protect yourself from insect bites in advance than to treat their consequences. Take care of yourself.

 

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