Q. After reading about hydrogen peroxide and Listerine, I wanted to add my method for treating mosquito bites. This was used on me when I was a child. With a cotton ball, dab Cepacol mouthwash on the bites. This stops the itching immediately.
A. We have heard from other readers that applying amber Listerine or hydrogen peroxide immediately can stop the itch of a mosquito bite. Cepacol mouthwash contains some of the same inactive ingredients as Listerine, in particular the alcohol base, eucalyptus oil and methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen). Perhaps one of these is responsible for the itch relief.
We have also received testimonials praising vanilla extract, plaintain (Plantago major), hot water and even soy sauce to relieve the itch of mosquito bites. More people seem to use Listerine as a repellent, as this reader suggests:
“A spray of amber LIsterine mixed half & half with water makes a pleasant mosquito repellant both on the skin and at picnic sites or wherever the critters congregate.”
