Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that survive as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by consuming blood, or hematophagy, from their hosts.
They are irritating and tiny, and in most cases, it is your pet that is attacked by them. They are common around houses and homes that have pets, and chances are if you are a pet owner, you may have fleas at home too and suffer from flea bites on humans as well.
Flea Bites Symptoms:
- Some of the flea bites symptoms would involve a lot of itching and scratching.
- There is also pain associated with the bites.
- The bites are small and reddish bumpy like and would be found in small clusters or groups, all in a line.
- You would see these bites mostly around the legs or the ankles.
- In some cases, the bites are also seen on the waist of an individual, the armpits or in the knees and the elbow folds too.
- If you scratch too much, chances are that the skin would be damaged, and can lead to bacterial infection too.
Flea bites Home remedies:
Please continue reading as we share with you ten of the best flea bites home remedies below.
1. A cold compress would work
You can go ahead and apply a cold compress when you get bitten by fleas. This will help bring down the pains and stop the itching. This is a remedy that would work well on humans and their pets too.
How it works:
What happens with a cold compress is that the temperature is way down, which numbs the nerve endings and helps bring a soothing effect to the skin. It also helps bring down the swelling on the affected area too.
How to use:
- Start by cleaning the area with warm water in which a little soap is mixed.
- Wipe dry and then wrap a few ice cubes in a thin clean cloth.
- Now place this ice pack on the area which is affected and let it stand for a minute or two; not more than that.
- Remove the ice pack and wait for some time before reapplying the same again, and repeating the process.
- Repeat for ten to fifteen minutes, and thrice a day.
NOTE: Never ever apply ice cubes directly to the skin, or else the skin may suffer from ice burns.
2. Use baking soda to get relief
How it works:
Since baking soda is a natural acid neutralizer, it helps bring instant relief from the immense itching after a bite. Baking soda also can help bring down inflammation and swelling as well, and would also bring down the risk of infection too.
How to use:
- What you need to do is to mix a teaspoon of water with an equal amount of baking soda to form a frothy paste.
- Apply the paste instantly on the area affected and wait for fifteen minutes.
- Gently rinse off the paste with cold water thereafter.
- This is a remedy that should be used once or twice in a day.
Alternatively:
- You can add a cup of baking soda to a bucket of cold water.
- Soak the body in this mixture for ten minutes, and then shower normally.
- Pat dry and relax.
- This should be done once in a day for instant relief.
NOTE: Always remember, if there are open wounds, nicks and cuts on the skin, one should not use this formula.
3. A little apple cider vinegar can help
If you have unfiltered and raw apple cider vinegar at home, it can double up as an excellent home remedy against flea bites effects.
How it works:
This is a remedy that can be used on pets as well. Apple cider vinegar can help bring down inflammation and also provides a soothing effect to the area which has been bitten by the fleas. The acetic acid content in it helps prevent any form of bacterial infection from setting in.
How to use:
- What you need to do here is to dip a piece of cotton in the apple cider vinegar, and gently dab the area which is affected.
- Wait for around five to ten minutes, and then remove the cotton piece.
- This is a remedy which should be done thrice to five times a day so that the irritation and pain are brought down.
NOTE: You must not use apple cider vinegar on the skin which is cut or broken or with open wounds.
4. Use a little aloe vera
How it works:
Aloe vera is succulent and soothing, which is why we would use it to treat bites and flea bites scars. There are active compounds in aloe vera which has a lot of antiseptic properties in it and aloe vera is known to bring down inflammation too.
How to do:
- What you need to do here is to simply apply the gel of aloe vera on the skin which is affected.
- Wait for fifteen minutes or until the gel dries up.
- Then go ahead and gently wash the area with lukewarm water.
- This is a remedy which should be done thrice to five times a day.
5. Indian Lilac can help against flea bites
How it works:
There are oils in the neem leaves which are anti-irritant and have antiseptic properties. The leaves also have powers to fight inflammation too, which is why many use neem or the Indian lilac leaves to treat flea bites on humans and pets.
How to use:
- Gather fresh neem leaves and simmer them in a bowl of fresh hot water for around half an hour.
- Now strain the liquid and let it come to room temperature.
- Take a cotton piece and dip it into the solution.
- Place the cotton piece on the affected area for ten to fifteen minutes.
- This should be done a couple of times during the day, until the swelling and the itchiness is gone.
The best thing to do is to control the infestation altogether.
How to use:
- Mix twelve to fifteen drops of neem oil to an ounce of water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the liquid on the areas of the house where fleas are in abundance.
- You can even spray this on the pet’s fur and let it dry as well.
6. Try using witch hazel
How it works:
Witch hazel is a strong astringent and an anti-scarring agent too, and it helps one treat the flea bites as well. The herb is known to be anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory too. It also helps bring down the swelling and the redness associated with flea bites symptoms, since it has plenty of tannins within.
How to use:
- What you need to do is to soak a cotton piece in a few drops of witch hazel oil, and gently place the cotton on the affected area for ten to fifteen minutes.
- Remove the piece and relax.
- Repeat after an hour if need be.
7. Epsom salt is very handy for treating flea bites
How it works:
For many skin complaints, disorders and diseases, and for a very long time, Epsom salt has been used. This would include using Epsom salt for flea bites too. You can use this remedy for humans and pets as well, which brings down the irritation and the inflammation that flea bites can cause on the skin.
How to use:
- What you need to do is to prepare a nice bath for yourself, in which you shall dissolve a cup of Epsom salt.
- The water must be lukewarm.
- Soak yourself in this soothing bath for fifteen minutes, and then shower off normally.
- This bath should be enjoyed thrice a week.
8. We shall suggest the use of oatmeal
How it works:
Oatmeal is known to vacuum out the toxins and bacteria from the skin, and also is a soothing agent for the skin as well. Oatmeal can be anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory too. This is one of the many flea bites home remedies, which can be used for pets and humans alike.
How to use:
- If the bite is a localized one, you would then need to mix an equal amount of honey, curd and oatmeal.
- Make a paste of the three and apply it gently on the affected part of the skin.
- Allow the paste to dry up and sit on the skin for around twenty minutes.
- Wash it off gently with cold water.
- This should be done once a day.
9. Use lemon to help against flea bites
How it works:
Another very natural and very effective flea bites treatment would be the use of lemons. This is a remedy against flea bites effects, flea bites scars, and more for humans as well as your pets too. Lemons are known to even control the infestation of fleas in the house and on your pets as well. Lemons are natural astringents which help dry the rashes out which are caused by fleas and their bites.
How to use:
- What you need is a glass of concentrated lemon juice, into which a piece of cotton shall be dipped.
- Dab the piece of cotton onto the areas that are bitten or affected.
- Let the area dry out completely and then go ahead and rinse it with cold water.
- This should be done a few times during the day as per your convenience.
10. You can go ahead and use Green Tea
How it works:
When you are bitten by fleas, your skin starts to swell and there is pain and itching associated with it as well. You then can use one of the many tips to remove flea bites, such as green tea. Green tea is soothing and anti-irritant. It also helps bring down the swelling and promotes healing as well. And green tea is known to have anti-inflammatory properties too.
How to use:
- What you need to do is to make a cup of the green tea brew, and strain it.
- Let the cup cool and then use the green tea liquid to wash the area which is affected.
- Repeat the process five times a day as needed.
- If you have green tea bags at home, you can place cold bags on the affected area and wait for ten minutes.
- This cold compress would help bring down the inflammation and swelling, itching too.
NOTE: If you do not have green tea at home, you can use chamomile tea, comfrey or black tea as well.
Additional Tips:
- Prevention is always better than cure, which is why you should always keep your homes as clean as possible.
- Calendula cream can be used on the area which is affected so that itching can be brought down and the rash would not worsen.
- You can even use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to bring down itching on the skin as well.
Do you have any question? Comment below:
[su_spoiler title=”Sources” style=”fancy” icon=”chevron-circle”]Wikipedia
IMG: WebMD
Fashionlady.in[/su_spoiler]
