What's with the Itch?

    It's spring time! Cherry blossoms in DC, tulips in Washington, snow in Utah...still. And lest we forget, mosquito bites. The mosquito season, and it's bite, also means the occasional fervent itch, your friends telling you not to scratch, and mom, at least my mom, telling me her tea will make it all better.
    So this is how it works. You get bit, the mosquito feeds, and in exchange for blood it drops a protein that keeps the blood from coagulating as it drinks, leaving you with a nasty allergic reaction. Your body responds by releasing histamines, causing itching, swelling and general discomfort. Is there something you can do to alleviate the body's allergic response?

    You can wait it out. According to Dr. Nanette Silverberg one such option is to do just that. If you don't have a high tolerance for the itch of a mosquito bite, it can be developed over a period of exposure, and itching usually stops between 24 - 48 hours.
    If over the counter is your cup of tea, it's likely your doctor would recommend either benadryl or hydrocortisone cream from the bite. Benadryl, an antihistamine, is suggested to cause relaxation and sleep, while hydrocortisone is more of an anti-inflammatory.
    Whatever your choice in combating the effects of a mosquito bite; over the counter or home remedy driven like oatmeal, toothpaste or garlic, the best bet is probably slapping on some repellent. Especially when more than a bad itch can accompany a mosquito bite, read here.