Insect bites are undoubtedly one of the worst things about summer. They itch like crazy, but if you scratch them you’ll end up with ugly little scars. (A fact I know all too well)

If you don’t have any way to ease the itching, you’re in for a few miserable days. There are plenty of commercial products designed for this purpose, but if you don’t happen to have any at hand there are dozens of natural cures that work just as effectively, if not more, than the artificial treatments.

I’ve tried many natural cures for bug bites with varying levels of success, but the recipe below seems to be the most effective and convenient. I’ve found that the best way to treat bites is by pouring on a liquid and covering the bites with a paste. Depending on how long the paste is left on, reapplication can vary from twice a day to curing the bites in one try.  I believe vinegar and toothpaste are the best options, but I’ve included a few alternatives if you don’t have those on hand.

What you’ll need:

-White vinegar

-Toothpaste

-Cotton balls

Prep: none

Application: 1 minute, (liquid) 2 minutes (paste)

Treatment: varies

Removal: 1 minute

Directions:

1. Using cotton balls, apply vinegar to bites. You can also gently pour the liquid onto skin, but be sure that you don’t have any open cuts.

2. Let dry.

3. Slather toothpaste onto skin. If you’re about to leave the house or you don’t like your skin being sticky you can skip this part; however, it makes the treatment much more effective.

4. Leave the paste on as long as possible.

5. When you’re ready, remove the paste with warm water.

Alternatives:

-If you don’t have vinegar at home, mouthwash can be substituted.

-If you’re camping, I’ve found that rubbing mud or clay onto bites is an incredibly soothing treatment on its own.

[fblike style="standard" showfaces="false" width="300" verb="like" font="arial"]