A red ant sting typically causes burning sensation, itchiness and leads to blisters. If you have ant hills in your surroundings, like your garden or while on a trek, as a preventive measure, dust your exposed body parts with talcum powder to keep ants away. And if you get bit by red ant(s), first you must remove the ants from your skin or clothes because they cling to the skin and bite you several times. Then gently wash the stung part with cold water and soap to clear the skin of any toxin. Disinfect the bite with an antiseptic lotion or alcohol because ants may carry diseases or infection that may cause allergy later. To reduce pain, leave a cool cloth or apply ice cube for 10 minutes on and off. If left too long, the ice cube especially may increase the burning sensation. Do not scratch or rupture the blister; it may give you an infection. You can reduce the swelling by elevating the part of the body that has been stung. If it's your leg, lie down with your leg raised for a few minutes, if it's the arm; raise your arm over your head.
Even though ant bite cures on its own in a day or two, you can try some first aid for instant relief. Apply a fresh slice of onion, aloe gel, tea tree oil or white vinegar immediately after washing the sting with water and soap. You can also apply a mixture of two to three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and three to five drops of lavender oil. Ant's venom is a mixture of protein base and oily alkaloid. If you manage to crash the protein, the effect of the bite will lessen immediately. For that you need to take measure within 15 minutes of the bite - the sooner the better. Bleach solutions can break down the protein and alkaloid easily. Rub a thick paste of baking soda and water or any bleach solution on the sting for two to three minutes and wash it off gently with water. A paste of salt or crushed aspirin also helps. Dabbing hydrogen peroxide or Listerine on the sting also gives immediate relief. You can also soak cotton wool swab in ammonia and hydrogen peroxide and apply alternately for five minutes. Continue the process for 20 minutes.
answered by G M