Bed bugs are nocturnal blood-sucking insects that are usually found inside cracks and crevices of beddings and mattresses. They can be located in other areas such as drawers, behind wallpapers, behind electronic switchboards and other cluttered areas.
If you notice rusty spots on your bed linen or under your pillow cover. Then your bed is most likely to be infested with bedbugs. These creatures are aloof and are not visible easily. Therefore, it is very crucial to have a careful inspection of the places that are hidden, dark and cold.
Signs Of Bed Bug Bites – What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
These creatures feed on blood. The bed bug bite marks look like small reddish bumps on the skin. These reddish bumps look like mosquito bites. However, the effect of the bed bug bite is much longer compared to a mosquito bite. Bed bug bites are itchy and may lead to skin irritation.
You will notice a bed bug bite pattern on the exposed parts of your body, like the arms, upper body, shoulders, and neck. Usually, bed bug bites are grouped near in a small area. You need to note that the irritation may not start immediately after the insect bites, and may begin after a few days. Moreover, not everyone’s skin reacts the same way to these bites.
Bed Bug Bite Symptoms
As mentioned above, bed bug bites may not be visible immediately. Moreover, different skins react differently to these bites. Usually, the symptoms would appear after a few days.
Apart from being itchy, your skin may also experience a burning sensation on the areas that the bug bites; this is how you identify bed bug bites. This irritation occurs a few days after the bug has bitten you. You would not feel anything while the bug bites on your skin, as they excrete a small amount of anesthesia into your body before biting (explained below). However, if you scratch the bitten area, it may lead to secondary skin infection and can cause bleeding. In certain skin types, there may be an allergic reaction to bed bug bites.
How Long Does Bed Bug Bite Last?
Usually, the effects of bed bugs bite last for one to two weeks. Though the bites cause itching and irritation, yet there has not been any account of long-term skin issues. However, for individuals who have over sensitive skin, the effect of the bite may take a longer time to heal and may require anti-bacterial ointments. One can also opt for home remedies for bed bug bites to get faster relief.
Do Bed Bug Bites Itch?
Different skins react differently to bed bug bites. However, itching is one of the typical after-effects of the bite. This is similar to any other insect bite. It is recommended not to scratch the area too much, as it may further worsen the skin condition and may increase the infection.
According to research, bed bugs excrete an anesthetic and an anti-coagulant substance while biting on the skin. Due to the anesthetic, you would not feel the itch while the bug bites on your skin. Moreover, the anti-coagulant substance does not let the blood to clot and enables the insects to feed freely. However, once the effect of the anesthetic substance wears off, you will experience the itch on the bitten area, which is due to the saliva of the bug that is left behind.
Bed Bug Bites Treatment
If you are thinking about how to prevent bed bug bites from itching or how to get rid of the inflammation, you will come across a wide array of ways online. You can choose from both home and medicinal bed bug bites remedies.
Home Remedies To Treat Bed Bug Bites
Below mentioned are a few easy ways to treat bed bug bites effectively using home products.
Soap And Warm Water
Washing the infected area with soap and warm water will reduce the infection and will also soothe the itchiness.
Toothpaste
Applying toothpaste over the infected area will reduce the itchiness and prevent the infection from spreading. The paste will also soothe the burning sensation.
Lemon
Rub a piece of lemon over the infected area. Lemon has anti-inflammatory features and acts as a natural astringent. It will help in reducing the itchiness, inflammation, and burning sensation.
Aloe Vera
This plant has proven to be very beneficial for different kinds of skin inflammation. The aloe vera gel comprises amino acid that reduces the burning sensation and will also act on the bed bug bite rash.
Baking Soda
You can apply a paste of baking soda and water over the infected parts. Leave the paste for an hour and let it dry off. Wash it with warm water. Baking soda has anti-allergic features that will help in soothing the burning and itching sensation. It also helps in reducing the swelling.
Medicines For Bed Bug Bites
If home remedies are not acting on your infection, you may opt for medicines for bed bug bites. Below mentioned are few recommended medications that have helped in curing beg bug bite infections.
- Over-The-Counter Anti-Itch Creams: Choose a cream that consists of hydrocortisone or cortisone. These creams help in healing the inflammation while soothing the itchiness. Use the cream as directed on the packet. Consult a dermatologist if you are not sure which cream for bed bug bite would suit your skin.
- Calamine Lotion: This also acts as an anti-inflammatory on the skin. It helps in soothing the burning sensation and also helps in reducing the scars.
- Anti-Allergic Medication: You may also opt for anti-allergic medicines like Oral Antihistamines. These will keep you away from allergic reactions due to the insect bite.
Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite
Though bed bug bites can get very frustrating, yet there are many ways to cure it effectively. Bed bug bite is not contagious, but if not healed properly, the infection may spread.
Different people have different skin types. Therefore, you need to be sure about what to put on the bite marks that would suit your skin type. Although, bed bug bites would not make you sick, yet the irritation may lead to a lack of sleep and secondary skin infection. Therefore, it is wise to act on the bug as soon as possible.
The best way to stay away from bed bug bites is to make sure these blood-sucking creatures do not infest your home. Keep your bedding, mattress, and nearby areas clean and always look out for bed bugs signs. If you notice any sign, act immediately, before they spread. Clean every clutter and dispose of the garbage properly. The best way to avoid bed bugs bite is not to let them into your home!
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