How to Treat Bedbug Bites

Bedbugs are troublesome insects that hide in cozy, warm places like beds, chairs, and clothing. They bite their host at night, leaving behind small marks. Though these bites are not dangerous, they should be treated promptly to prevent any unwanted symptoms and potential allergic reactions. To avoid future bites, it is essential to learn how to completely eliminate bedbugs.

Carefully inspect the bite. Bedbug bites often resemble those of other insects, including mosquitoes. They appear as raised red spots or blisters. Identifying bedbug bites can be challenging, even for a doctor, as they often resemble bites from other bugs. However, bedbug bites have distinct characteristics. While some bites appear individually, most appear in clusters of 3-5 (like 'breakfast, lunch, and dinner') or as a group of red marks (a condition known as bedbug dermatitis). The bites often form a 'hashtag' shape, but they can also appear in a straight line if the bedbug bites in the morning. These bites typically occur on exposed skin areas such as the neck, face, legs, and arms. Unlike mosquito bites, bedbug bites are rarely found behind the knees or in skin folds. The swelling or rash usually heals in one to two weeks. However, even if an individual bite or a cluster of bites heals, if you don't completely eliminate the source of the bedbugs, you may continue to be bitten. As long as bedbugs are present, they will attempt to reach you.

Pay attention to when the bites appear. For example, check if you notice the bites after waking up but not before going to bed. However, this can be hard to pinpoint, as the reaction time varies greatly from person to person. Symptoms from the bites can appear at any time, from a few hours to over a week after being bitten.

• Bedbug bites can have a long incubation period. Visible symptoms (red swelling and itching) may appear up to 10 days after the initial bite.

Inspect your home for signs of bedbugs. Start in the area where you sleep. Bedbugs tend to stay close to humans for access to warm blood. A clear sign is the presence of red spots on your bed sheets. These red stains could be from a crushed bedbug after feeding or from a bite mark on your body right after a feed.

• Examine the entire mattress, including the fabric and seams. Look for live bedbugs, shed skins (their exoskeletons), and droppings (which resemble small black specks or stains). Check the bed sheets, pillowcases, and pillows as well.
• It’s difficult to spot live bedbugs as they are small, brown, and oval-shaped. They are excellent at hiding. However, finding the bedbugs is the only way to confirm that they are the ones biting you.

Visit a doctor for an examination. You can consult a doctor for a diagnosis if you don’t find any bedbug signs on your bed and can’t trace the source of the bite or rash. However, it's likely the doctor won’t be able to precisely diagnose whether you've been bitten by bedbugs, as the symptoms closely resemble bites from other insects and skin conditions. Still, a doctor can reassure you that bedbugs pose very little danger to human health.

• The doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid ointment to temporarily reduce itching and inflammation. These ointments are stronger than over-the-counter treatments.

Call a pest control expert. This is the most certain way to confirm whether you've been bitten by bedbugs. Pest control services will inspect your home and can determine if there is an infestation.

• The pest control team knows what to look for and can take steps to eliminate bedbugs from your home and prevent future bites.
• Household insect sprays won’t effectively solve a bedbug infestation. To ensure complete eradication, seek help from a professional pest control service.

Wash the bite with soap and water. Gently clean the bitten area with mild soap and water, using just enough to dampen your hands. Lather the soap in your hands and rub it onto the affected skin. Continue until the entire bite area is covered. Leave it on and do not rinse. Let the soap dry on the bite. You should do this immediately to relieve itching.

• Washing the bite with soapy water can reduce itching and prevent skin infection.

Try home remedies to relieve itching. You can try several soothing methods for the itch caused by the bite. These are all products you may already have at home.

• Mix baking soda and water to form a paste. Slowly add small amounts of water to the baking soda and stir until you get a paste. Apply a thick layer of the paste on the bedbug bite. Leave it for an hour or more before rinsing off with warm water.
• Soak a cotton ball in lemon juice, St. John's Wort, or witch hazel, all of which are natural astringents. Dab the cotton ball onto the bite to dry it out and relieve the itch.
• Apply aloe vera gel to the bite. Use pure 100% aloe vera gel. Aloe has antibacterial and antifungal properties, helping to prevent infection from scratching.

Apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Creams containing hydrocortisone or cortisone, such as Cortaid, can reduce inflammation and itching. You can purchase 1% hydrocortisone cream from pharmacies or drugstores. A doctor can recommend which type and brand of cream is best for you.

• Follow the directions on the packaging to apply the cream correctly. The cream is smooth and doesn’t have side effects if used for a short time (about one week).
• You can also use stronger corticosteroid creams prescribed by a doctor.

Use calamine lotion. When applied to the bite, calamine lotion can alleviate itching symptoms. It will also help dry out the rash and protect the skin during the healing process.

Take antihistamine pills. Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can help manage allergic reactions (swelling and rashes) caused by the bite.

• Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging.
• Be aware that Benadryl can cause drowsiness, so avoid driving while taking the medication.
• You can also use over-the-counter antihistamine creams to apply to the affected skin.

Taking pain relievers. If the bite causes discomfort or pain, you can take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain reliever such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. Consult your doctor about these options if you're unsure of the medication's effects and whether they are suitable for you.

• Ibuprofen (Advil) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation, pain, and fever.
• Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) acts as an analgesic, alleviating pain by blocking pain signals in the brain. It also works as an antipyretic, lowering fever. However, aspirin should not be given to children.
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safer for children and works similarly to aspirin. However, it is not an NSAID and won't help reduce inflammation.

Consulting a doctor. If the bite doesn’t heal in the usual time frame (one to two weeks), you should see a doctor. It's important to seek medical advice if you experience the following symptoms:

• Multiple bites
• Blisters
• Signs of skin infection (pain or drainage)
• Allergic reactions (redness, swelling, or rashes)
• Bite infections can occur from excessive scratching, as bacteria beneath the nails can infect the skin. Infected bites may become red, swollen, painful, and may discharge pus. Typically, you won’t have a fever unless a significant skin area is infected. If any of these signs occur, medical attention is necessary for bacterial infection. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics, or for mild infections, you can use over-the-counter antiseptics.
• If you have a severe allergic reaction, a doctor may administer antihistamines, corticosteroids, or epinephrine (adrenaline).

• Note that medical treatment is generally unnecessary for bed bug bites. From a medical perspective, bed bugs pose minimal risk to humans. Furthermore, there is no evidence suggesting that any treatment method can speed up the natural healing process of the bite (which typically takes one to two weeks), as no studies have been conducted on this topic.
• If you encounter bed bugs during a vacation, especially in tropical climates, be sure to wash your clothes in hot water before returning home. This will help prevent bringing bed bugs back with you.

• You can treat the bite, even though it will heal naturally within one or two weeks. However, if you do not address the bed bug infestation, you may continue to be bitten.