Bug bites can be maddening in the summer. How to stop the itching...

Some bug bites can itch for a few minutes, while others can last for days... 

Andrew Rubman, Medical Director of the Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, says there are a few methods that can really offer some bug bite relief:

• First and foremost, when you get a bite, try not to scratch the heck out of it. Scratching the bite can make it hurt more later, and it can break the skin, which raises the risk for infection.

• Wash the bite with soap and warm water and dry it off, then apply a dime-sized amount of an over-the-counter antihistamine cream.

• 15 minutes later, wash the bite again with lye soap. The alkaline properties neutralize and break down the bug’s stinging saliva. Let the lye lather dry on there for a few minutes, and then rinse it off and repeat.

If you have already scratched the heck out of your bite, skip the lye soap. That can irritate damaged skin. If the skin is broken, apply Neosporin and cover with a Band-Aid to prevent further scratching or infection.