Cortisone Or Calamine Lotion? Health Digest Survey Reveals The Preferred Mosquito Bite Remedy
As the leading cause of bug bites across the globe, mosquitos can be found across every continent — minus Antarctica, according to research published in StatPearls. While prevalence rates for mosquito bites each year are thought to be underreported, data shows that these insects are responsible for more than 700 million cases of disease annually. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that most mosquitos are nothing more than pests. Found indoors and outdoors, across both day and night, mosquitos can be hard to avoid, especially during the summer months.
According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, female mosquitoes bite into the skin of their host in order to extract blood for food. They then disperse saliva into the skin, prompting an immune system response that can cause itching, blistering, as well as the emergence of a swollen white or reddish bump, or dark spots that resemble bruises. Between home remedies and over-the-counter creams, many of us reach for different sources of relief from an itchy mosquito bite. Yet when it comes down to Cortizone versus calamine lotion, we asked 583 readers of Health Digest to share their personal preference between these two products.
Cortizone came out on top but just by a hair
Participants were asked to choose one of five answer options. With the fewest number of votes, 75 participants reported that they opt for home remedies, such as baking soda, for mosquito bite relief. Overall, this answer accounted for just shy of 13% of total responses. In second-to-last place was the use of the itch-relief product After Bite. With 84 votes, this response made up 14.41% of the answers. 120 people reported using Benadryl, which ranked as the third most popular go-to mosquito bite relief remedy. Finally, although it was a close call between Cortizone and calamine lotion, in the end, Cortizone came out on top with 154 votes compared to 150 votes for calamine lotion.
As a mild corticosteroid, Cortizone is designed to relieve the itching, redness, and swelling that can accompany a number of skin conditions, including bug bites (per WebMD). While aftercare for a mosquito bite is important, the CDC recommends taking preventative measures to safeguard against mosquito bites in the first place. Wearing protective clothing while outdoors, such as long-sleeve shirts and pants, utilizing EPA-approved insect repellent products, and installing door and window screens can all help keep mosquitos at bay.