How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bite Scars

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesAppearanceTreatmentPreventionWhen to Seek Medical CareFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Appearance

Treatment

Prevention

When to Seek Medical Care

Frequently Asked Questions

Mosquito bitesare itchy and irritating and trigger a minor reaction in most people that usually fades within days. However, for those who are sensitive or allergic to substances found in mosquito saliva, it can cause a more severe reaction and even scarring.

This article will explore what to do when your mosquito bite sticks around longer than usual and how to fade out dark spots and scars.

PKpix / Getty Images

What Causes a Mosquito Bite Scar?

Mosquito saliva contains many substances, including blood-thinninganticoagulantsand histamines, to help it draw your blood after a bite; these substances, however, can also trigger reactions from your immune system.

Hypersensitive reactions are sometimes called “skeeter syndrome” and occur when a local reaction turns systemic (spreads throughout the body), causing it to last longer than usual and create a more severe welt.

Abnormal or prolonged wound healing can be complicated and may result in scarring.Hypersensitive reactions can also lead to issues associated with infection with theEpstein-Barr virus (EBV).

What Does a Mosquito Bite Scar Look Like?

Like other wounds, a scar can appear puffy and red or slightly darker than the surrounding skin. The type of scar you develop depends on your reaction to the bite and any other conditions you have that might affect healing.

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How to Get Rid of Mosquito Scars

Keep themosquito bite woundclean and moist as it heals to prevent a scar from forming or to help it fade faster. Below are some tips that can help.

Use Aloe Vera

Aloe veracan speed up wound healing and decrease the size of existing scars. Studies have shown that this natural plant-based substance can help reduce inflammation and better organize new skin cells on scar tissue.

Exfoliate the Skin

Exfoliationwith chemicals or physical treatments likemicrodermabrasioncan help reduce the appearance of certain types of scars. These techniques speed up the natural process of exfoliation, which removes dead cells so that new, healthy layers of skin form in their place.

Use Over-the-Counter Medication

Many over-the-counter (OTC) products are designed to decrease the appearance of scars. Many of these products use moisturizing elements to help support the growth of new skin. You can ask your dermatologist for a recommendation or try a few differentscar creamson your own.

Anti-Itch Cream

Anti-itch creamscan be particularly helpful in preventing scars from mosquito bites because they help resistscratchingthat could create a larger wound. Antihistamines are a popular choice when it comes to mosquito bites.

Calamine Lotion

Massage the Area

17 Evidence-Based Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites

Home Remedies

Home remedies to reduce scar formation and appearance can be as simple as keeping your wounds clean and moist. Changing bandages or dressings often, cleaning the wound bed, and adding a cover or ointment to help keep it moist are all ways to help reduce scars. Applying sunscreen regularly to scars can also help prevent them from taking on a red or dark appearance.

Reducing Dark Skin SpotsGood skin care and regular sunscreen application can help reduce the appearance of dark spots. Other helpful skin care products include:Hyaluronic acids(a type of carbohydrate found in the skin that helps keep tissues hydrated)Alpha hydroxy acids(products derived from fruit and milk sugars that help exfoliate the skin)Vitamin serumsTopical steroidscan also help fade dark spots, but these medications can produce undesired effects. Talk to your dermatologist or healthcare provider to find the right product.

Reducing Dark Skin Spots

Good skin care and regular sunscreen application can help reduce the appearance of dark spots. Other helpful skin care products include:Hyaluronic acids(a type of carbohydrate found in the skin that helps keep tissues hydrated)Alpha hydroxy acids(products derived from fruit and milk sugars that help exfoliate the skin)Vitamin serumsTopical steroidscan also help fade dark spots, but these medications can produce undesired effects. Talk to your dermatologist or healthcare provider to find the right product.

Good skin care and regular sunscreen application can help reduce the appearance of dark spots. Other helpful skin care products include:

Topical steroidscan also help fade dark spots, but these medications can produce undesired effects. Talk to your dermatologist or healthcare provider to find the right product.

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When to See a Dermatologist

If you develop a severe reaction to bites from insects like mosquitoes, you may want to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Symptoms of a mosquito bite allergy might include hives, unusually excessive itching, bruises near the bite, difficulty breathing, fever, andanaphylaxis(a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that involves multiple body systems).

Hypersensitivity can develop for several reasons, including allergies to the components in mosquito saliva or an existing infection with Epstein-Barr.

Mosquitoes can also transmit blood-borne diseases, including theWest Nile virus. If you develop symptoms like fever, headaches, body aches, or joint pain, make an appointment to see a healthcare provider.

How to Know if You Have a Mosquito AllergyIf you develop a severe reaction to a mosquito bite, it can be difficult to tell whether it’s a sensitivity or anallergy. However, your healthcare provider can provide a diagnosis throughallergy testing.If you experience hives, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms of anaphylaxis, you should seek immediate medical attention.

How to Know if You Have a Mosquito Allergy

If you develop a severe reaction to a mosquito bite, it can be difficult to tell whether it’s a sensitivity or anallergy. However, your healthcare provider can provide a diagnosis throughallergy testing.If you experience hives, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms of anaphylaxis, you should seek immediate medical attention.

If you develop a severe reaction to a mosquito bite, it can be difficult to tell whether it’s a sensitivity or anallergy. However, your healthcare provider can provide a diagnosis throughallergy testing.

If you experience hives, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms of anaphylaxis, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Mosquito Bite Allergy: Understanding Skeeter Syndrome

Summary

Mosquito bites are usually short-lived welts that go away in days or weeks. Some people can develop hypersensitive reactions or have allergies to mosquitoes, resulting in more severe wounds and scarring.

A Word From Verywell

A common mosquito bite wound that turns into a longer-lasting scar can be frustrating. However, various products and techniques can help reduce dark spots and scars. Speak with your healthcare provider if you suspect an allergy or experience worsening symptoms.

Frequently Asked QuestionsMost marks from mosquito bites will clear up within several days to a few weeks. Hypersensitive reactions or bites that take longer to heal could create more prominent scars that might take longer to fade.Learn MoreUnderstanding Mosquito Bite AllergyMosquitoes can bite without you noticing, so there is no sure way to tell if your wound is from a mosquito or another insect.Learn MoreInfected Bug Bite: What You Should KnowYes, mosquito bites leave a hole where bacteria or other germs can enter, and any opening in your skin can get infected. Mosquitoes also carry many diseases. It’s important to keep your skin clean—especially after an insect bite or other wounds.Learn MoreHow to Treat Mosquito Bites and Recognize InfectionsMosquitoes inject saliva into your body when they bite, which has histamines and other substances that trigger an inflammatory reaction in your body. The result? Swelling and itching.Learn MoreInsect Bites: How to Tell What Bit or Stung You

Most marks from mosquito bites will clear up within several days to a few weeks. Hypersensitive reactions or bites that take longer to heal could create more prominent scars that might take longer to fade.Learn MoreUnderstanding Mosquito Bite Allergy

Most marks from mosquito bites will clear up within several days to a few weeks. Hypersensitive reactions or bites that take longer to heal could create more prominent scars that might take longer to fade.

Learn MoreUnderstanding Mosquito Bite Allergy

Mosquitoes can bite without you noticing, so there is no sure way to tell if your wound is from a mosquito or another insect.Learn MoreInfected Bug Bite: What You Should Know

Mosquitoes can bite without you noticing, so there is no sure way to tell if your wound is from a mosquito or another insect.

Learn MoreInfected Bug Bite: What You Should Know

Yes, mosquito bites leave a hole where bacteria or other germs can enter, and any opening in your skin can get infected. Mosquitoes also carry many diseases. It’s important to keep your skin clean—especially after an insect bite or other wounds.Learn MoreHow to Treat Mosquito Bites and Recognize Infections

Yes, mosquito bites leave a hole where bacteria or other germs can enter, and any opening in your skin can get infected. Mosquitoes also carry many diseases. It’s important to keep your skin clean—especially after an insect bite or other wounds.

Learn MoreHow to Treat Mosquito Bites and Recognize Infections

Mosquitoes inject saliva into your body when they bite, which has histamines and other substances that trigger an inflammatory reaction in your body. The result? Swelling and itching.Learn MoreInsect Bites: How to Tell What Bit or Stung You

Mosquitoes inject saliva into your body when they bite, which has histamines and other substances that trigger an inflammatory reaction in your body. The result? Swelling and itching.

Learn MoreInsect Bites: How to Tell What Bit or Stung You

17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Take a bite out of mosquito stings.Fostini AC, Golpanian RS, Rosen JD, et al.Beat the bite: pathophysiology and management of itch in mosquito bites.Itch.2019;4(1):e19. doi:10.1097/itx.0000000000000019.Powers J, McDowell RH.Insect bites. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Skin symptoms: itching, hives, etc.Andrews L, Ellis CR, Elston DM.What’s eating you? Mosquitoes (culicidae).Cutis. 2022;109(3):126-128. doi:10.12788/cutis.0472Huang C, Liu L, You Z, et al.Clinical and pathological diagnosis of scars.Total Scar Manag.2019. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9791-3_7Yamada M, Ishikawa Y, Imadome KI.Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites: a versatile epstein-barr virus disease with allergy, inflammation, and malignancy.J-Stage. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2021.07.002.Bushell M.Types of scars and treatments.Australian Pharmacist,CPD, 2021:60-66.Oryan A, Mohammadalipour A, Moshiri A, et al.Topical application of aloe vera accelerated wound healing, modeling, and remodeling: an experimental study.Ann Plast Surg.2016;77(1):37-46. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000000239.Gozali MV, Zhou B.Effective treatments of atrophic acne scars.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(5):33-40.AXA Health.Best creams for scars after surgery.Solanki H, Verma VS, Sharma M, et al.Natural humectants in formulation of calamine lotion: its evaluation and comparison.Research J. Topical and Cosmetic Sci.2016.7(2). doi: 10.5958/2321-5844.2016.00007.8Moffit Cancer Center.Managing your scar.American Academy of Dermatology.Proper wound care: how to minimize a scar.American Academy of Dermatology.How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing mosquito bites.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.West Nile virus.

17 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Take a bite out of mosquito stings.Fostini AC, Golpanian RS, Rosen JD, et al.Beat the bite: pathophysiology and management of itch in mosquito bites.Itch.2019;4(1):e19. doi:10.1097/itx.0000000000000019.Powers J, McDowell RH.Insect bites. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Skin symptoms: itching, hives, etc.Andrews L, Ellis CR, Elston DM.What’s eating you? Mosquitoes (culicidae).Cutis. 2022;109(3):126-128. doi:10.12788/cutis.0472Huang C, Liu L, You Z, et al.Clinical and pathological diagnosis of scars.Total Scar Manag.2019. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9791-3_7Yamada M, Ishikawa Y, Imadome KI.Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites: a versatile epstein-barr virus disease with allergy, inflammation, and malignancy.J-Stage. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2021.07.002.Bushell M.Types of scars and treatments.Australian Pharmacist,CPD, 2021:60-66.Oryan A, Mohammadalipour A, Moshiri A, et al.Topical application of aloe vera accelerated wound healing, modeling, and remodeling: an experimental study.Ann Plast Surg.2016;77(1):37-46. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000000239.Gozali MV, Zhou B.Effective treatments of atrophic acne scars.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(5):33-40.AXA Health.Best creams for scars after surgery.Solanki H, Verma VS, Sharma M, et al.Natural humectants in formulation of calamine lotion: its evaluation and comparison.Research J. Topical and Cosmetic Sci.2016.7(2). doi: 10.5958/2321-5844.2016.00007.8Moffit Cancer Center.Managing your scar.American Academy of Dermatology.Proper wound care: how to minimize a scar.American Academy of Dermatology.How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing mosquito bites.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.West Nile virus.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Take a bite out of mosquito stings.Fostini AC, Golpanian RS, Rosen JD, et al.Beat the bite: pathophysiology and management of itch in mosquito bites.Itch.2019;4(1):e19. doi:10.1097/itx.0000000000000019.Powers J, McDowell RH.Insect bites. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Skin symptoms: itching, hives, etc.Andrews L, Ellis CR, Elston DM.What’s eating you? Mosquitoes (culicidae).Cutis. 2022;109(3):126-128. doi:10.12788/cutis.0472Huang C, Liu L, You Z, et al.Clinical and pathological diagnosis of scars.Total Scar Manag.2019. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9791-3_7Yamada M, Ishikawa Y, Imadome KI.Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites: a versatile epstein-barr virus disease with allergy, inflammation, and malignancy.J-Stage. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2021.07.002.Bushell M.Types of scars and treatments.Australian Pharmacist,CPD, 2021:60-66.Oryan A, Mohammadalipour A, Moshiri A, et al.Topical application of aloe vera accelerated wound healing, modeling, and remodeling: an experimental study.Ann Plast Surg.2016;77(1):37-46. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000000239.Gozali MV, Zhou B.Effective treatments of atrophic acne scars.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(5):33-40.AXA Health.Best creams for scars after surgery.Solanki H, Verma VS, Sharma M, et al.Natural humectants in formulation of calamine lotion: its evaluation and comparison.Research J. Topical and Cosmetic Sci.2016.7(2). doi: 10.5958/2321-5844.2016.00007.8Moffit Cancer Center.Managing your scar.American Academy of Dermatology.Proper wound care: how to minimize a scar.American Academy of Dermatology.How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing mosquito bites.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.West Nile virus.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Take a bite out of mosquito stings.

Fostini AC, Golpanian RS, Rosen JD, et al.Beat the bite: pathophysiology and management of itch in mosquito bites.Itch.2019;4(1):e19. doi:10.1097/itx.0000000000000019.

Powers J, McDowell RH.Insect bites. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Skin symptoms: itching, hives, etc.

Andrews L, Ellis CR, Elston DM.What’s eating you? Mosquitoes (culicidae).Cutis. 2022;109(3):126-128. doi:10.12788/cutis.0472

Huang C, Liu L, You Z, et al.Clinical and pathological diagnosis of scars.Total Scar Manag.2019. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9791-3_7

Yamada M, Ishikawa Y, Imadome KI.Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites: a versatile epstein-barr virus disease with allergy, inflammation, and malignancy.J-Stage. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2021.07.002.

Bushell M.Types of scars and treatments.Australian Pharmacist,CPD, 2021:60-66.

Oryan A, Mohammadalipour A, Moshiri A, et al.Topical application of aloe vera accelerated wound healing, modeling, and remodeling: an experimental study.Ann Plast Surg.2016;77(1):37-46. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000000239.

Gozali MV, Zhou B.Effective treatments of atrophic acne scars.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(5):33-40.

AXA Health.Best creams for scars after surgery.

Solanki H, Verma VS, Sharma M, et al.Natural humectants in formulation of calamine lotion: its evaluation and comparison.Research J. Topical and Cosmetic Sci.2016.7(2). doi: 10.5958/2321-5844.2016.00007.8

Moffit Cancer Center.Managing your scar.

American Academy of Dermatology.Proper wound care: how to minimize a scar.

American Academy of Dermatology.How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing mosquito bites.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.West Nile virus.

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