What To Put On Bed Bug Bites To Heal Them

How To Deal With Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites differ from one person to another. Some dont notice them but others, usually those who are allergic to insect bites, will experience extreme itching with a rash. Being able to treat these bites the right way depends on correctly identifying whether or not bed bugs are really the culprit

More About Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown and oval-shaped bugs that like to live in your mattress and furniture and bite you while youre sleeping. Theyre attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide. Dont worry, they prefer to feed on you over your pets. And unlike fleas and ticks, bed bugs dont carry any diseases, but you can still experience swelling or hives from their bites, just like flea bites. Bed bugs are often found in heavily populated areas like hotels, hospitals, and apartment complexes.

Bed bugs main form of transportation is simply crawling. But, they can crawl into your luggage, clothing, and even migrate through holes in the walls, water pipes, and gutters. Most of the time, you wont ever feel a bed bug biting you, because their saliva numbs your skin before they strike. However, some people report they had restless sleep after sleeping on an infested mattress. If you have bed bug bites, try not to scratch them, as theyll usually heal up within a week or so. If you scratch or irritate them, the bites can remain on your skin up to several months later.

To prevent bed bugs, make sure that youre checking your mattress and furniture regularly for a rust color or tiny red brown dots , or wrap your mattress in a protective casing. Make sure to inspect your luggage and clothing while traveling, and keep them in airtight packaging while on planes, trains, and buses. Vacuum regularly and wash your bedding on hot, as well. Bed bugs cant survive in high temperatures.

Where Bed Bugs Hide

Bedbugs may enter your home undetected through luggage, clothing, used beds and couches, and other items. Their flattened bodies make it possible for them to fit into tiny spaces, about the width of a credit card. Bedbugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but tend to live in groups in hiding places. Their initial hiding places are typically in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night.

Over time, however, they may scatter through the bedroom, moving into any crevice or protected location. They may also spread to nearby rooms or apartments.

Because bedbugs live solely on blood, having them in your home is not a sign of dirtiness. You are as likely to find them in immaculate homes and hotel rooms as in filthy ones.

You May Like: Metaphysical Healing Institute Of Palm Beach

Major Differences Between Bed Bug Vs Flea Bites

Fleas actually prefer animal blood to human blood, but theyll drink either. Bed bugs almost exclusively drink human blood. But thats just one difference between flea bites vs. bed bug bites on humans. Check out the chart below to understand other contrasts between the two types of bites.

Symptoms Of Bed Bug Bites

• Usually cause itchy, red bumps in a group or line
• Often they look like a hive or mosquito bite
• Bite may have a red dot in the center. This is where the bed bug bit through the skin.
• Occasionally, a small blister can occur in the center
• Bites are usually on exposed skin
• Bites are usually first noted in the morning

Also Check: Healing Waters Mobile Home & Rv Park

Home Remedies And Lifestyle

The only way to stop getting bedbug bites is to eradicate them, but it will be difficult and time-consuming. You can try to address the problem yourself, but It is best to enlist a professional pest control service that can use nonchemical and chemical measures.

If you are renting, notify your landlord as other units should be inspected and the landlord may be required to assist in the eradication.

Bedbug Bites Vs Mosquito Bites

Bedbug bites and mosquito bites can both be red, swollen, and itchy. If you have a line of bites that appear in a small area of your body, theyre more likely to be bedbug bites. Bites that appear in no apparent pattern are more likely to be mosquito bites.

Both bedbug bites and mosquito bites tend to get better on their own, within 1 or 2 weeks. To relieve itching and other symptoms, it may help to apply a cold compress, calamine lotion, or other topical treatments. Taking an oral antihistamine can help as well.

Its also possible to confuse bedbug bites with spider bites, ant bites, or other insect bites. Find out more about the differences between these types of bites.

Also Check: Fastest Way To Heal Open Wound

Lotion For Bed Bug Bites

You can get calamine lotion or a corticosteroid cream to use, but using these products can lead to side effects if used incorrectly and some people have a sensitivity to the ingredients in the calamine lotion. The home remedies above are safe to use and do the same thing. Keep this in mind when deciding what to put on your bed bug bites.

The corticosteroid cream may be necessary if you have a severe reaction, however. If you have an allergic reaction you will be given antihistamines tablets or an antihistamine cream, in very severe cases, epinephrine might be given to you too.

How Long Does It Take To Develop Bedbug Bite Symptoms

The most noticeable symptom of a bedbug bite is that it leaves behind a red, itchy, swollen rash on the area. But this rash usually takes 23 days to develop, and sometimes as long as 2 weeks.

In the meantime, the bedbugs will continue to multiply and spread, allowing the infestation to grow. So, it is important to keep an eye out for other less noticeable symptoms of bedbugs during your regular house cleaning.

Don’t Miss: How To Heal Cut In Mouth Fast

Can You Feel A Bed Bug Bite

You wont feel the bed bug bite you. Bed bugs have an elongated straw-like beak that they pierce your skin with. Its very sharp, so you wont feel anything, even if the bed bugs bite you multiple times. Plus, the bed bugs saliva contains an anesthetic which will prevent you from feeling their bites. So although its inconvenient, the feeding bed bug will not wake you up during the night.

Essential Oils To Get Rid Of Bed Bug Bites

There are many other essential oils for skincare that are excellent home remedies to reduce swelling and redness and prevent itching caused by bed bug bites.

Apart from tea tree oil and lavender oil, which can be applied directly as a spot treatment, essential oils should always be diluted before using on the skin. Coconut oil is a great carrier oil to use to reduce itching and prevent skin infections.

Coconut oil has many beneficial medicinal properties. The journal Pharmaceutical Biology reported that coconut oil reduces inflammation and eases pain.20 Read more about the 10 secret ways to use coconut oil on your skin.

When using essential oils with coconut oil on your skin, you should add 2-3 drops of essential oil in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.

Recommended Reading: Does Ibuprofen Help Heal Inflammation

Home Remedies To Relieve Bed Bug Bites

In this article:

Bedbugs are tiny oval-shaped insects without wings that feed on the blood of humans and animals and grow in size to approximately 3/16th of an inch long.

These parasites can be found in places where humans sleep or sit, which include homes, hotels, offices, retail stores, hospitals and clinics, movie theatres, and transportation.

They usually live in the dark, hard-to-reach crevices and seams of mattresses, pillows, blankets, couch upholstery, headboard, box springs, and other such furniture around the house.

The bugs can eventually spread to your clothes, luggage, and other personal belongings. They stay in hiding and only crawl out to suck the blood of anyone who falls asleep on their dwelling site.

Post feeding, these small, flat bugs that are originally brown turn a bit reddish and swollen. The blood makes them change their color and swell up.

About 90 species of bedbugs are known to man, but the most common ones are Cimex lectularius L. and the tropical bedbug Cimex hemipterus F.

Bed Bug Bites Itch: 15 Remedies Found In Your House

They hide in dark places, nest close to where humans sleep, and crawl out just before sunrise for their daily intake of blood. If you were expecting home remedies to remove vampires, youâd better redirect your search to a Bram Stoker fan club website instead. In this post, we only have the second worst thing.Bed bugs. They can bite, and theres one natural consequence of that. Bed bug bites itch. So lets scratch off this problem together.

Actually, not everyone reacts to a bed bug bite the consensus being bed bugs are masters of evasive maneuvering techniques, but itchy red welts, engorged bite marks, and even painful swelling signal the presence of bed bugs.

Some people may even develop an allergic reaction and, in the rarest of cases, an anaphylactic response. Fortunately though, bed bugs donât usually carry any contagious diseases. Still, an unnerving itching can lead to excessive scratching, which may in turn cause a skin infection.

So weâve compiled a list of homemade remedies to help your skin withstand the bed bug attack. Just follow these useful tips and we guarantee that in no time at all, the itchiness will remain a distant nightmare.

You May Like: How Long Does It Take For Cataract Surgery To Heal

Bed Bug Bites When To See A Doctor

Usually, home remedies quickly and effectively heal bed bug bites and all your symptoms should be gone within a week.

However, doctors from the Mayo Clinic25 advise that you should see a doctor if you have a severe allergic reaction to the bed bugs or if the rashes caused by the bites start to blister.

Read my other related articles:

Can I Treat Bed Bug Bites At My Home

Bed bug bites may be a nuisance and frustrating, but they typically heal quickly right in the comfort of your home. If at any time during the healing process the bites take a turn for the worse, always watch your symptoms carefully and consult a medical professional if needed. Its also crucial to get in touch with your local bed bug pest control team to quickly get rid of the bed bug problem so you can stay safe from more bites!

Recommended Reading: How To Heal Diastasis Recti

How Do I Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

Bed Bug BBQ in Cleveland, OH uses heat treatment to get rid of bed bugs. This bed bug extermination process gets rid of bed bugs in just one day, is safe for all types of homes and businesses, and wont fill your home with chemicals! Contact Bed Bug BBQ today for a FREE quote and inspection at 221-1227 or through our website! Check out our other bed bug informational resources on identification, prevention, and eradication.

How To Prevent Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs dont have wings. Instead of flying, they travel by hiding in items, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, blankets, and luggage. Because they can live for months without feeding, its easy to accidentally bring bed bugs into your home without realizing it.

Fortunately, there are some basic steps you can take to prevent bed bugs:

• Wash your bed sheets and other bedding using hot water
• Regularly vacuum your mattress and box spring
• Avoid storing items under your bed
• Wash and dry your clothes after returning from any trip
• Use luggage racks when traveling to keep your clothes off the floor
• Store your clothing in vacuum-sealed bags when traveling
• Carefully inspect second hand furniture, clothing, or linen before bringing it home

Read Also: Skin Substitutes For Wound Healing

Do Bedbugs Transmit Diseases

Bedbugs are more of a nuisance than a health hazard. In a recent study, researchers reviewed 53 recent studies on bedbugs and their health and medical effects. The results showed that although bedbugs have been blamed for the spread of up to 40 different human diseases, there is little evidence to suggest they are carriers of human disease.

Do Bed Bugs Bite Every Night

To answer this question, lets take a closer look at a bed bugs life cycle. Each bed bug will start out as an egg that will hatch within two weeks. The young bed bug has now entered the nymph stage. It immediately starts feeding. The nymph stage is composed of 5 stages, that all end with molting the bed bug sheds its shell. Each molting requires another feeding. The nymph stage usually lasts for 5 weeks and after the last shedding it becomes an adult bed bug. The adult bed bug tends to feed once a week if there is a host nearby. Depending on the surrounding conditions, an adult bed bug can survive up to 400 days without feeding.

So the same bed bug does not bite every night, it simply doesnt have to. But if you have a large population hiding in your room, this changes things. A female bed bug needs to feed to be able to lay eggs. It can produce between one to twelve eggs daily. As soon as the eggs hatch, the nymphs will need a place to dine. Meaning you can indeed get bitten every night if theres a bigger colony set up in your home.

You May Like: Vagus Nerve How To Heal

Do Bedbugs Bite Every Night

Bedbugs dont always feed every single night. In fact, they can go several weeks without eating. That might sound like a good thing, but it can make it more difficult to notice that there are bedbugs in your home. In fact, it may take a few weeks to realize that the bites are part of a larger pattern. And thats problematic because bedbugs can multiply very quickly. A female can lay eggs every 3 to 4 days.

In most cases, bedbug bites get better within 1 to 2 weeks. To relieve symptoms, you can:

• Apply an over-the-counter or prescription steroid cream to decrease inflammation and itching.
• Take an oral antihistamine to reduce itching and burning.
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever to relieve swelling and pain.
• Take a Benadryl prior to sleep to decrease itching or have a doctor prescribe a stronger antihistamine.

In addition to over-the-counter medications, there are several home remedies that may help relieve the symptoms of bedbug bites. Try applying one or more of the following:

• a cold cloth or an ice pack wrapped in a towel
• a thin paste of baking soda and water

Bed Bug Bites Vs Flea Bites

Flea bites also cause itchy red bumps to appear on the skin and can last as long as bed bug bites. However, fleas will bite at any time of the day, whereas bed bugs tend to only come out at night to feed on blood. Because bed bug bites can appear up to 2 weeks after the initial bite, they can be difficult to tell apart.

One way to tell the difference between a flea bite and bed bug bite is their location on your body. According to dermatologists on DermNetNZ, flea bites tend to be on the ankles or around your waist.6 However, bed bugs will bite any part of the body, and bite marks are common on the face, arms and upper legs, whereas flea bites are not.

According to doctors from WebMD, the best way to tell bed bug bites apart from flea bite is to look for physical signs of bed bug activity.7

Read Also: How To Heal Sprained Finger

Where Are Bed Bugs Found Inside My Home

Usually, bed bugs live within eight feet of where you sleep at night and are mostly active at night. During the day, bed bugs hide in the areas in and around your bed along the seams of your mattress, in your box spring, bedframe and headboard and between and along the seams of cushions of bedroom chairs or couches. They can also be found in the joints of drawers of bedroom furniture and in any cracks, crevices or folds of objects in your bedroom or near your bed. Bed bugs can also be found along corners of walls, inside the edges of loose wallpaper and around electrical outlets.

Get Rid Of Them For Good

To stop the bites from happening for good, you need to nip the problem in the bud and rid your home of bed bugs. Steps you can take to control your bed bug problem and prevent it from getting worse include:

• Filling cracks and crevices with caulking.
• Regularly cleaning your bedding and clothing.
• Using high heat when washing and drying your bedding.
• Consistently and thoroughly vacuuming your upholstered furniture.
• Using a hand steamer to kill bed bugs and their eggs on upholstered furniture or in luggage.
• Purchasing furniture that is made of plastic, plaster, metal or high-weave textiles, all of which dont typically contain seams, cracks or crevices.

If these preventative methods still dont rid you of your bed bug problem, its time to call in the professionals. The only sure-fire way to get rid of bed bugs for good is with a professional heat treatment, and at Bed Bug Exterminator Pro, we have the most advanced and safest bed bug heat treatment method in Canada. Our bed bug heat treatment doesnt use any insecticides or chemicals, making it completely safe for children and pets. The superior treatment method we use also gets rid of all bed bugs in just one visit, and you dont have to remove any clothes or furniture from your residence for it to work. Contact us today, and your bed bugs will be gone in no time!

You May Like: Food For Healing After Surgery