I spoke to two board-certified dermatologists and a double board-certified allergist and immunologist about what ingredients to look for in a treatment and other factors to consider. They recommended keeping the following in mind:
The best way to treat a bug bite depends on both the symptoms and the active ingredients within a given formula, according to our experts. For instance, over-the-counter steroid creams can be helpful for limiting itchiness, while ingredients like calamine and topical antihistamines may also minimize discomfort. Below, I compiled expert-recommended treatments and highly rated options that help calm and comfort the bite.
This steroid-based option is great for relieving the itching, pain and redness of small bites and stings from mosquitoes and bees, says Smith. It has aloe vera to calm skin, plus, you can use it anywhere on the body, according to the brand. “The dose of steroid is low, so it’s relatively safe for all skin areas,” he says.
Active ingredients: Hydrocortisone | Best for: Itching, redness and pain
For temporary relief, consider this cream, which includes 4% lidocaine (a topical numbing agent). This “can help numb the area and reduce itching and any pain — it won’t make the bite go away any faster though,” says Fenton. Not only is it hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, but it’s also free of steroids — so those with sensitive skin should be okay to use it.
Active ingredients: Lidocaine | Best for: Itching and pain
Recognizable for its pink hue, calamine has long been a go-to for alleviating the itchiness of bug bites. Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says that any drugstore formula, including this one, should do the trick to prevent scratching; it also includes a topical analgesic to ease pain. “Keep in mind that temporary localized use of calamine can be helpful and have anti-itching effects, but chronic use can be irritating and drying to the skin,” she says. In other words, use in moderation.
Active ingredients: Calamine, pramocaine | Best for: Itching and pain
This tool is Amazon’s top selling bug bite treatment; it uses suction to remove the irritant from skin. “I haven’t been able to find any real scientific study, but the reviews and videos do indicate that it can work when used as quickly as possible after a bite,” says King. Fenton also agrees that speed is key. “Physiologically speaking, it would likely need to be used very quickly after a bite to be effective at all,” says Fenton. It’s reusable and lightweight, which may explain why it has an average 4.0-star rating from over 84,000 reviews on Amazon.
Active ingredients: None | Best for: Itching and pain
Instead of using chemical ingredients, these patches use their grid system technology to mechanically lift the skin and drain the saliva from bug bites to reduce any itching and discomfort, according to the brand. Not only does it stop itching, but it also reduces the chance for your child to continue scratching the area since the patch provides a physical barrier, according to Natpat. These patches have a 4.2-star average rating from over 2,300 reviews on Amazon.
Active ingredients: None | Best for: Itching
Two of our experts recommend this pen, which you can dot onto a bite. An ammonia solution like this can be helpful for relieving itching, burning and pain, according to King. Because of that, this eraser is good for any itchy insect bite like chiggers and mosquitos, according to Fenton. That said, its success can vary from person to person, so depending on the severity of your bug bite, you may want to consider other After Bite options, including Outdoor and Xtra.
Active ingredients: Baking soda | Best for: Itching and pain
This 8-count treatment helps relieve irritation, itchiness, redness and more caused by bug bites, poison ivy, rashes and even eczema. Its fragrance-free formula is suitable for all skin types and leaves skin soothed, cleansed and moisturized, according to the brand. For the best results, soak your body in a warm bath for 15-30 minutes, and once time is up, gently pat the skin rather than rubbing it, so that you keep a thin layer of the product on, according to Aveeno. These bath soaks have a 4.7-star average rating from over 20,300 reviews on Amazon.
Active ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal | Best for: Redness and itching
While a prescription-strength steroid may offer the maximum relief, Sarna makes good steroid-free, over-the-counter alternatives, according to King. This option reduces the pain and itchiness that stems from insect bites, sunburn and poison ivy and focuses on soothing the skin and providing a cooling feeling, according to the brand.
Active ingredients: Pramoxine hydrochloride and menthol | Best for: Itching and pain
For a more outside-the-box approach, this bug bite treatment delivers concentrated heat to the bite, according to King. “Studies demonstrate a reduction in swelling, pain and itching [with this method],” she says. In lieu of active ingredients, this pen uses a 124-degree Fahrenheit pulse to trigger the body’s healing response, allowing it to quickly alleviate irritation and itchiness, according to the brand.
Active ingredients: None | Best for: Swelling, itching and pain
It’s not always possible to identify the difference between a big bite (or a series of bug bites) and a skin rash that occurs for entirely separate reasons. That said, certain patterns can be highly suggestive of bites and are otherwise difficult to explain, says King.
The good news is that while it can sometimes be tricky to distinguish between a rash or a bug bite, many of the ingredients used in bug bite treatments, such as corticosteroids, are often used to treat skin rashes. If you’re not sure what you’re working with, consult your doctor to be safe.
“Any signs of infection — increasing pus, tenderness, inflammation, warmth, redness — should be addressed by a doctor,” says King. The same goes for certain patterns, like a rash in the shape of a bull’s eye that appears around a tick bite. “That can present as the first symptom of Lyme disease,” she says.
When you’re shopping for bug bite treatments, it helps to consider an antihistamine, and symptoms in question. Here’s what the experts recommend considering when you’re treating a bug bite.
Consider the active ingredient: Popular ingredients you’ll find on the shelf include steroids, which can target the inflammation triggered by the body’s immune response to the bug bite, as well as anti-itch ingredients like calamine and ammonia.
Pay specific attention to antihistamines: An allergic reaction to a bug bite can range from mild redness and swelling to anaphylactic reaction, which is a medical emergency. Some reactions may call for an oral antihistamine, which is a drug that blocks the activity of histamine (the main molecule that is released during an allergic reaction), according to Smith.
Avoid certain ingredients: While oral antihistamines can be helpful, Smith isn’t a fan of topical formulas, the primary one being Benadryl cream. When topically applied, Benadryl can be irritating and can even, ironically, trigger an allergic reaction — which may only make your bug bites worse, according to Smith. Also depending on where the bite is located, use numbing ingredients, such as lidocaine, with caution. “They can also induce an allergic reaction, especially if used in sun-exposed areas,” says Smith.
Factor in your symptoms: Even if you’re not sure what exactly bit you, you can use your symptoms to guide you to the right treatment. For instance, if you have itchiness, “calamine works by giving a cooling and calming effect when it evaporates,” says Smith. For that reason, it’s ideal for mosquito bites, but may not be helpful in the case of a bee sting, he says.
Know when to see your doctor: “Monitor [your bites] for any other sort of rashes or systemic symptoms such as fevers, chills, headache, joint pain or other flu-like symptoms, as these could be symptoms of Lyme disease or another tick-borne illness,” says Fenton. In the United States, even mosquito bites can contribute to illnesses so look out for rashes and similar symptoms, he says.
Insect sprays formulated with DEET, or N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, are your best protection against bites, according to our experts. Along with wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, apply “insect spray on all exposed areas and some areas of clothing,” says Fenton. “There are also chemicals such as permethrin that you can use to treat your clothing. These will all help prevent the bug bites.”
Another option is to use products with picaridin instead of DEET, which Smith prefers “as it is plant-derived, odorless and not sticky or greasy. It is also less irritating to the skin than DEET." Other natural products, like oil of lemon eucalyptus, have been shown to be effective, according to Smith. What’s not particularly effective: citronella, however nice the candles may look.
Before you treat your bug bite, “clean the area with soap and water and refrain from scratching, because this can introduce bacteria and lead to an infection,” says King. Then, apply your lotion or cream of choice, and “consider an oral antihistamine,” she says. (It’s safe to combine these two, and there are no additional precautions to worry about besides those you’d take for either treatment alone — for instance, be careful driving if you’re taking an oral antihistamine.)
Also worth keeping in mind: If you use a topical corticosteroid cream, even at an over-the-counter concentration, you shouldn’t use it for more than two weeks, maximum, according to King. Otherwise, you’ll risk thinning the skin with long-term use.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a freelance beauty writer and editor who has been covering beauty and health for more than a decade, including topics like sun protection and psoriasis. For this article, I spoke to two dermatologists and an allergist and immunologist to narrow down the best ways to treat bug bites, and highlighted their product recommendations.
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