You wake up with a raised, itchy lump on your ankle and one question: how to stop mosquito bites itching before you scratch it raw. The honest answer is that this is a medical self-care question, so the best guide is the NHS rather than a brand. Below is what the NHS page on insect bites and stings actually says, in plain English, with a note from the CDC on why the itch happens at all and a clear list of the signs that mean you should stop managing it at home and ask for help.
Why mosquito bites itch in the first place
The CDC says that when a mosquito bites a person, "common reactions to the bite are itching and swelling" (CDC, About Mosquitoes, page dated 14 May 2024). The NHS describes the same picture. Mosquito bites, it says, are usually small, raised and itchy, and it explains that you may have a mild allergic reaction, where the skin becomes itchy and raised around the bite (NHS, Insect bites and stings, page last reviewed 1 June 2023).
So the itch is not a sign that you did something wrong, and it is not a sign of infection. It is a normal reaction. The NHS also sets expectations: insect bites or stings are not usually serious and get better in a few days. That is worth holding on to at 2am, when a single bite feels like the only thing in the world.
Why some people react more than others is a separate question, and one we cover in why mosquitoes bite some people more.
Step one: wash the area
The NHS starts with a simple instruction. If nothing is left in your skin, wash it with soap and water, which it says helps lower the chance of infection. It adds that the bite should get better in a few days and that there are things you can do to ease the symptoms. The rest of this guide follows that order.
How to stop mosquito bites itching: the NHS list
Here is the NHS "do" list for easing a bite or sting, as the page gives it. Not every item is about itching, so we have marked which ones are.
- Cool it down. If the bite is swollen, put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a clean cloth soaked in cold water, on it for at least 20 minutes. Wrapping matters, so the ice never touches bare skin.
- Keep the area raised if you can. An ankle bite is easier to manage with your foot up on a cushion than dangling off the sofa.
- Painkillers if it hurts. The NHS suggests paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful. This is for pain, not itch.
- Antihistamines for itching. The NHS says to use antihistamines to relieve any itching, with one exception: do not use antihistamine cream if you had caterpillar hairs on your skin.
- Hydrocortisone cream. The NHS says to use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling.
Antihistamines and hydrocortisone are medicines, so the practical route is a pharmacist, who can tell you which product suits you and your age. More on that below.
What the NHS says not to do
The "don't" list is short, and it is where most of us go wrong.
The first rule is the hardest one: do not scratch the bite or sting, as it could get infected. Scratching feels like relief for a few seconds and then makes the itch worse, so if you can, press or pat the skin instead. That tip comes from a different NHS page, on itchy skin in general, which suggests patting or tapping your skin instead of scratching it, holding something cool on it, like a damp towel, and keeping your nails clean, short and smooth (NHS, Itchy skin, page last reviewed 19 July 2023). The same page lists cool or lukewarm baths or showers, and wearing loose cotton or silk clothing, as things that may help.
The second rule surprises people. The NHS says not to use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda on a bite or sting. Plenty of internet advice says otherwise, so it is worth knowing that the NHS page does not support them.
When a pharmacist can help
You do not always need a GP. The NHS says you can often manage an insect bite or sting without seeing one. It does, however, say to see a pharmacist if you or your child aged 1 year or older has an insect bite or sting and:
- skin around it feels hot when you touch it or looks red (redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
- it's painful
- the area looks swollen
- there's pus or fluid coming out of the bite or sting
The NHS says a pharmacist can recommend treatments, such as antihistamines and steroid creams, and give the same antibiotics as a GP if the bite or sting is infected. They can also give advice or direct you to other medical help if you need it. For itchy skin more generally, the NHS says to tell the pharmacist where your skin is itchy and whether you have any other symptoms.
When to see a GP, call NHS 111 or call 999
This is the part to read twice. The NHS separates the advice into three levels, and we have kept its wording.
See a GP if a child under 1 year old has an insect bite or sting, or if you think you or your child have been bitten by a tick and have flu-like symptoms, or a round or oval rash that may look like a bullseye.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you or your child has been bitten or stung by an insect and:
- your symptoms get worse or are not getting any better
- you were stung in your mouth or throat, or near your eyes
- you have tummy pain and are being sick
- you feel dizzy or lightheaded
- you have a high temperature and swollen glands
- you were stung more than once
- you've had a serious allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting before
The NHS adds that you can call 111 or get help from 111 online, and to call 111 to get advice about a child under 5 years old.
Call 999 if your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen, you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe, your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow, or you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy. The NHS says these can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. The full 999 list is on the NHS page.
Is it definitely a mosquito bite?
Not every itchy lump is a mosquito bite. The NHS pictures horsefly bites as large, painful and likely to bleed, midge bites as small and raised in groups, mite bites as very itchy lumps that sometimes blister, and flea bites as usually found in groups below the knees. If you are not sure what bit you, our UK biting insects field guide goes through the common culprits, and the NHS itchy skin page lists other causes of itching, such as eczema and allergies. It also tells you not to try to diagnose yourself and to see a GP if you are worried.
Where Misaj fits
This article is about what to do after a bite, and Misaj has no product for that. Misaj, a Paris based skincare brand, makes Glow Protect, a daily skincare cream. It is not a bite remedy, and nothing here suggests it eases, calms or clears a bite.
If you want to cut down on bites in the first place, the brand's own product page, as of 19 October 2026, describes Glow Protect as combining "hydration, skin barrier support and botanical mosquito protection in a single cream designed to be worn daily," with "a natural aromatic blend that helps deter mosquitoes." Details and the full ingredient list are on the Glow Protect product page. For choosing and applying repellents of any kind, our guides to insect repellent on your face and mosquito repellent for sensitive skin set out what the official guidance says.
The takeaway
Wash the bite with soap and water, cool it, keep it raised if you can, and resist scratching. For itching, the NHS points to antihistamines and hydrocortisone cream, and says a pharmacist can help you choose. Skip bicarbonate of soda and other home remedies. Most bites settle in a few days. If the skin turns hot and red, the bite gets painful, swollen or starts to leak, see a pharmacist. If symptoms get worse or are not getting any better, or you were stung in your mouth, throat or near your eyes, ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111. If your lips, mouth or throat swell or breathing becomes difficult, call 999.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest way to stop a mosquito bite itching?
The NHS lists antihistamines to relieve itching and hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling, and says a pharmacist can recommend which to use. A cold, damp cloth or a wrapped ice pack held on a swollen bite for at least 20 minutes is the NHS's other tip.
Should I scratch a mosquito bite?
No. The NHS says not to scratch the bite or sting, as it could get infected. Its itchy skin advice suggests patting or tapping the skin instead, and keeping your nails clean, short and smooth.
Does bicarbonate of soda stop bites itching?
The NHS says not to use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda on a bite or sting. It points to the cooling, antihistamine and hydrocortisone steps above instead.
How long does a mosquito bite itch last?
The NHS says insect bites or stings are not usually serious and get better in a few days. If symptoms get worse or are not getting any better, the NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.
When should I see a pharmacist about a bite?
The NHS says to see a pharmacist if you or your child aged 1 year or older has a bite and the skin around it feels hot or looks red, it's painful, the area looks swollen, or there's pus or fluid coming out. A child under 1 year old with a bite should see a GP.
Can Glow Protect help with an itchy bite?
No. Glow Protect is a daily skincare cream, not a bite remedy, and we make no claim that it eases or clears bites. See the Where Misaj fits section above for what the product page says.
Sources (fetched 2026-10-19)
- NHS, Insect bites and stings, page last reviewed 1 June 2023 (next review due 1 June 2026 per the page; no newer version found at fetch). Symptoms, "easing your symptoms" do and don't lists, pharmacist, GP, NHS 111 and 999 advice. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/
- NHS, Itchy skin, page last reviewed 19 July 2023 (next review due 19 July 2026 per the page). Patting instead of scratching, cool towel, nails, clothing, pharmacist advice, not self-diagnosing. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/itchy-skin/
- CDC, About Mosquitoes, page dated 14 May 2024 (fetched through a page reader because curl returns HTTP 403). One sentence quoted: itching and swelling as common reactions. https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/index.html
- misajskin.com, Glow Protect product page (brand wording quoted verbatim, checked 19 October 2026). https://misajskin.com/products/glow-protect