Ingredients to Soothe Mosquito Bites in Children

Thank you for your question. As the previous reply mentioned, mosquito bites cause a mild allergic reaction, and medical antihistamines like hydrocortisone are typically used to reduce the swelling and itchiness effectively.

While cosmetic ingredients do not have the same antihistamine effect as medicinal drugs, there are ingredients you can add to your balm or other skincare formulations that can help soothe the skin, reduce redness, and calm the irritation caused by mosquito bites. These ingredients work by providing anti-inflammatory and anti-irritation benefits.

Here are some ingredients that can help:

• FastRelief™ 1609 (4-t-Butylcyclohexanol): This ingredient helps reduce the sensation of heat, irritation, swelling, and redness. It is oil-soluble, making it suitable for incorporating into a balm formulation. Use at a rate of 1-3% and mix into the oil phase without heat.
• Pure-TECA™ Centella Asiatica Extract (TECA 95%, CICA): Known for its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-irritation properties. This is a powder that is not soluble in oil or water but can be dispersed into a cream or dissolved in glycols with heat. For a balm, it would need to be finely dispersed.
• Pep-Calm™ (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8): Effective in reducing skin redness and irritation. This is a water-soluble ingredient, typically used at 1.0-2.5% in the water phase.
• Portulaca Extract (Purified Colorless Liquid): Shown to be effective in reducing skin irritation. This is a water-soluble liquid, typically used at 0.1-0.5% in the water phase.
• Pep®-CalmMax (Acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester): A peptide blend designed for skin calming, reducing inflammation and discomfort. This is a water-soluble liquid, typically used at 0.1-5% in the water phase.

For your balm, FastRelief™ 1609 is the most directly compatible oil-soluble ingredient. If you are making an emulsion balm (containing both oil and water phases), you could also incorporate the water-soluble options like Pep-Calm™, Portulaca Extract, or Pep®-CalmMax for additional soothing benefits. Pure-TECA™ would require careful dispersion in a balm base.

Remember that these cosmetic ingredients help soothe the symptoms but are not a substitute for medical treatment if the reaction is severe or persistent. Always test products on a small area first, especially when using them on children.