Mothers often know best, so it's no wonder they can dish out tips for a surprising treatment to cure mosquito bites, like the humble Vicks VapoRub (£4). The menthol, camphor, and thymol can stop the itching by creating a cooling sensation. The anti-inflammatory, redness-reducing properties of nutmeg oil can flatten the bites. The cedarleaf oil acts as a repellent.