THIS time of year, everyone wants to know how to make mosquito bites stop itching. With plenty of backyard barbecues, family picnics, and lakeside hangouts ahead, it’s only a matter of time before relentlessly itchy red spots start to pop up.

If the overwhelming urge to scratch at a cluster of mosquito bites is disrupting your summer plans, there are a slew of different treatments and home remedies you could try to help relieve your itch.

When a mosquito latches on to suck your blood, it leaves behind a little saliva that contains proteins your body registers as unwanted intruders. Reactions to mosquito bites are caused by your immune system’s response to these proteins, according to Kelly Maples, chair of the Dermatology Committee for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.

In order to protect you, your body releases compounds known as histamines. As they mount their defense, they also trigger itchiness, inflammation and swelling.

“It’s normal to have a mild reaction to mosquito bites with redness about 20 minutes after the bite, followed by an itchy, firm bump that forms over the next day or two,” says Dr. Maples. Mosquito bites can be particularly itchy for children, people who haven’t been bitten by a certain species of mosquito before, or those living with immune system disorders.

As annoying as they can be, it’s best to avoid rubbing or scratching at them, which only makes the itch worse, says Payel Gupta, a board-certified allergist and immunologist.

While it might feel good at first, scratching at bites damages your skin which triggers the release of more histamines and the itchiness that comes with them.

What are some doctor-approved mosquito bite treatments?

1. Ice the itch away.

“Cold exposure can help numb the area and calm down any inflammation so you don’t feel the irritation from bites as much,” says Dr. Gupta. Use an ice pack, washcloth soaked in ice water, or even a cool bath to relieve your itch, per the University of Michigan Health Library.

2. Lather on anti-itch creams.

Another option is to apply an over-the-counter calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream according to the label instructions. Look for ointments that contain lidocaine or benzocaine for an additional numbing effect, says Anna Guanche, a board-certified dermatologist.

3. Take antihistamines.

For speedy relief from lots of must-scratch bites, try a non-drowsy, over-the-counter antihistamine like Zyrtec (cetirizine), Allegra (fexofenadine), or Claritin (loratadine). “Antihistamines block histamine receptors to reduce the intensity of the itching and the welting and swelling associated with bites,” explains Dr. Guanche.

4. Apply rubbing alcohol.

Dab some rubbing alcohol on bites if you’re looking for quick, temporary relief, suggests Dr. Guanche. Because it rapidly evaporates, rubbing alcohol could have a short-term cooling effect which may help relieve itchiness.

5. Try lemon balm cream.

For a time-honored herbal remedy, try applying a cream that contains lemon balm essential oils to bites. “Compounds in lemon balm essential oils can help ease inflammation, speed up healing, and reduce the risk of infection,” says Dr. Guanche.(SD-Agencies)