How to Dry Up Insect Bites

Drying up insect bites can be a long process, especially if a bite is fairly large or becomes severely inflamed. Most insect bites, however, such as those that come from mosquitos, spiders or fleas, can be treated with common household products and will generally dry up and disappear within a few days 1. Because an insect bite is typically not a pus-filled nodule or blister-like lesion, "drying up" or curing the bite refers to the process of treating the inflammation of the bite, drawing out the toxins from the bite and alleviating symptoms such as itching or stinging. Once the inflammation has subsided, the bite will generally heal and disappear.

Dab a dime-sized amount of hyrdrocortisone cream on the bites. This medication will help reduce the redness and inflammation of the bites while alleviating itching. Reapply the cream two to four times per day to help dry up the bites.

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Use calamine lotion on the bites. You can dab a small amount onto bites and cover the bites with an adhesive bandage or leave the medication alone until your skin absorbs it. Calamine lotion acts as an astringent, which helps dry the skin by removing pus, toxins or fluid that may be present in the bite.

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of water. Apply a thin paste of the mixture to the bites. The baking soda helps to soothe irritated skin and dry up fluid inside the bite. Use this method twice a day, either alone or in conjunction with other methods.

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Use aloe vera gel to help dry up insect bites 2. Aloe helps tighten and firm the skin while also alleviating irritation by providing a cooling effect. Dab a small amount of store-bought aloe vera gel on bites or break off the stem of an aloe plant and rub the raw end directly on the bites.

Use a hair dyer to dry up bug bites. The heat from a blow dryer can help draw moisture and toxins out of the skin while alleviating itchiness. Put the blow dryer on a low setting and hold it over bites about 6 to 12 inches from the skin for 15-second intervals. Be careful not to hold the dryer too close to the skin or you could burn yourself.