Home Remedies For Fire Ant Bites

What are DIY fire ant bite treatments? 

Given below are a few DIY measures to use when trying to combat ant bites solely using home ingredients. Remember to use them to the best you can, but don’t fail to go see a doctor if none of the below measures work even after continuous usage.

Ice

Ant bites are coupled with redness and swelling, and the best way to combat redness and swelling is to cover them up with an ice pack. Ice gives out a cooling sensation to your skin that makes you lose all the swelling and inflammation in your skin, and restore its original texture in no time. It is good to address blisters too.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice works wonders in causing your irritation and swelling from an ant bite to go away instantly. All you need to do is squeeze half a lemon and collect its juice in a spoon. Mix this juice with water and apply to the affected area and leave it one for a while. The itching, redness, swelling, and inflammation are bound to go away in no time.

Honey

Honey is, perhaps, one of the best home remedies to counter the effects of an ant sting. All you need to do is apply a little bit of honey, just so that it covers the entire skin affected by the sting, and leave it for a few minutes or an hour. Honey is rich in anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. These properties are extremely beneficial when it comes to addressing the infections or allergic reactions caused by ant bites before they actually set out to showcase their effects.

Vinegar

Vinegar works similarly to honey in many aspects. It is full of anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. It is nothing but a good idea to apply vinegar to the site of the burn immediately after an ant bite, but make sure you mix it well with water first in the ratio of 1:1. In the absence of honey, vinegar with water will do just fine and will give the same results.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is full of ingredients that tend to dry out the causes of inflammation underneath your skin. This is why they are widely used to address frequent breakouts on your facial skin too. Apply a thick paste of baking soda mixed with water to your skin, and leave it there to dry. It will suck out all the redness and inflammation, leaving your skin fresh and new.

Toothpaste

Apart from providing cooling, relief, and immediate addressing to redness and swelling, toothpaste will also retain the original texture and color of your skin in no time. Leave it on your skin for a couple of minutes immediately after the bite, and see the amazing results for yourself. Also, take care to not overdo it since some toothpaste is harsh enough to harm your skin.

Aloe Vera

As a natural cooling agent, Aloe Vera is bound to impart immediate cooling and relief from ant stings that burn as nothing else does. Especially when bitten by a fire ant, Aloe Vera is the best option to resort to. You can use the crude, natural form of Aloe Vera or even the commercialized gel product will do. Keep Aloe Vera accessible inside your home and you will never again have to worry again.

Salt

A thick paste of salt and water applied to the affected area is enough to cause the sting to go away. It will reduce the swelling and redness caused by the bite, and will cause your skin to return to its original state in lesser time than you expected. Salt is easily available at home, and hence it is one of the most actively used ingredients for home remedies.

Cucumber

There is a reason why cucumber is used to impart a soothing and cooling sensation to your eyes during a relaxation spree. Cucumber can be used for the same purpose to cool and chill your burning sting. Place a cucumber slice on the affected are and watch your burns cool down rapidly. Use multiple slices for better cooling and soothing effects.

Herbal Tea

Herbal tea is one of the best home ingredients to naturally and simply ease the pain and suffering caused by an ant sting. As the name suggests, this tea is full of antioxidants due to its herbal nature. It will do just the right thing for your skin to ease its blistering pain and swelling, and will immediately give you best results soon after it is applied.

How can you prevent getting ant bites?

Prevention is always better than cure. This is why it is best to try and protect yourself from ant bites rather than nursing your wounds later on. Given below are a few practical measures that will keep you from any danger that you may encounter.

Use Insect Repellants

Creams, body lotions, sprays, or anything that is safe to keep you away from ant attacks must be with you at all times. Especially when you are out into the woods or forest while camping or hiking, it is best to carry such ant-repellent substances with you so that you can totally avoid ant stings even before they come close to you.

Wear Full Body Covering

This is, again, important if you know that you are going to be out in the open. Wear full-body covering like caps and gloves, so that even if a swarm of ants or bees were to attack you, they would have limited exposure to your skin, keeping you out of harm’s way. Having said that, make sure your clothing is not too hot or tight lest you want to see yourself suffering a stroke.

Use Natural Skin Products

For a person with allergic reactions, using skin products or creams that are not natural is a strict no-no. Even if you were to use repellents, use organic and skin-friendly substances so that you do not encounter an allergic reaction in the process of avoiding one. Even your sprays and repellents must not contain ingredients that you are allergic to.

Stay Away From Ant Colonies

This may be the most obvious but the most underrated measure of the lot. Try and steer your way clear of any ant colonies you might find. Wear proper shoes so that even if you were to hit an anthill by mistake, you don’t end up getting ants all over your foot. Especially while going out into nature, keep away as much as you can from ant colonies and other insect dwelling areas.

Cautiously Approach Items on the Ground

You may only want to pick up a stick harmlessly lying on the ground. But what you may fail to realize is that the stick may be bustling with an ant colony all over. Stay extra cautious while approaching anything and picking it off the ground, especially in an area full of ants and other insects.

Use home remedies for ant removal

There are plenty of items and substances lying around in your kitchen that are superb to keep ants and their stings at bay. Use them generously while going out on a trip into a natural habitat where there is plenty of chance of you encountering an ant settlement. Some of these substances are as follows: 

• Freshly ground mint leaves
• Vinegar
• Black pepper
• Cinnamon sticks
• Garlic cloves 

How do you get rid of ants in your house?

The best way to avoid getting bitten by a fire ant is to avoid ants altogether. If you see ants have made their way into your home or on your property then you need to contact your local pest control company to get rid of the infestation for you. If you are located in the Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, or Olathe areas then Miller Pest & Termite can help you out!