Buzz
You may find yourself enjoying a pleasant afternoon walk in the park or garden, but unfortunately, you might become the victim of a bee sting – a common yet painful accident! Prompt treatment of the sting can help alleviate discomfort. The first step is to remove the bee's stinger, watch for allergic reactions, and then try home remedies or over-the-counter medications to ease the pain and swelling.
Steps
Administer First Aid Steps
Remove the stinger as quickly as possible. Immediately after being stung, remove the bee’s stinger from your skin. This is the most important thing you can do! Some people suggest scraping it off with a credit card is more effective than pinching it out, but this method may slow the removal process. Some experts even disagree with this and suggest that removing the stinger quickly is the best approach.
- You will see the stinger at the site of the sting. The stinger is about the size of a ballpoint pen tip and may be accompanied by some fragments of the bee’s body. Sometimes, the bee may still be attached to the stinger with part of its body.
- Use your fingernail to scrape the stinger out, if possible. You can also use a credit card to scrape it off. Do not squeeze the stinger; doing so may release more venom into your body.
Wash the sting area with soap and cold water. Cold water helps soothe the skin, while soap can wash away any dirt or leftover venom. Make sure to lather the soap thoroughly and rinse the area well.
Watch out for allergic reactions. Even if you’ve been stung before without issue, it’s important to monitor for signs of an allergic reaction. Allergies can develop or worsen over time. Severe reactions (anaphylaxis) can be life-threatening. Look out for the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or low blood pressure
- Skin reactions like hives, redness, itching, or paleness
- Rapid, weak pulse
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Take an antihistamine like Benadryl immediately after being stung, even if you don't have an allergic reaction.
Call emergency services if you have a severe reaction. If any of the symptoms above appear, call emergency services immediately. While waiting for help (or on your way to the hospital), take Benadryl or another antihistamine before the reaction worsens. Use an Epipen if available.
- If a severe allergic reaction starts to develop while waiting, you can double the dose of antihistamine. Be sure to inform the emergency team about the medication you took and the dosage.
- After receiving treatment, visit a doctor to get a prescription for an EpiPen – an epinephrine injection that you can carry in case of future allergic reactions. Always keep your EpiPen on hand and let someone in your group know that you have one and may need it.
- If you experience severe reactions to bee stings or other insect bites, consult an allergy specialist. They can administer shots to prevent severe reactions in the future.
Try home remedies
Apply cold compress to the sting area. Hold the sting under cold running water, or apply ice or an ice pack to the affected area. Wrap the ice in a cloth before applying it, rather than placing it directly on the skin. Apply for about 20 minutes.
- Reapply the ice if the sting continues to hurt.
- While using home remedies, keep an eye on the size of the sting. Bee stings often spread, so you can mark the size with a pen. If the redness continues to spread, seek medical attention.
Elevate the affected arm or leg. If the sting is on your arm or leg, raise the affected limb. Prop your leg up on a stack of pillows to keep it elevated above the level of your heart. For your arm, place it on something higher than your heart. This can help reduce pain and swelling.
Make a baking soda paste. Mix baking soda with water, then apply the paste to the sting and allow it to dry. This remedy can help draw out venom if applied quickly, as well as reduce pain and swelling. Start with one tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl, then add just enough water to form a paste.
- You can also try making a paste with baking soda, vinegar, and meat tenderizer to apply to the sting. Add a little vinegar to one tablespoon of baking soda to form a paste, then sprinkle in a pinch of meat tenderizer.
Apply honey to the sting. Use your finger or a cotton ball to dab a bit of honey on the sting. Honey has been used for centuries due to its antibacterial properties. For the best results, use the purest honey available, ideally 100% raw honey with no preservatives.
Use toothpaste on the sting. Dab a little toothpaste on the painful area. You may feel a tingling sensation, which helps reduce the itching from the sting. You can apply toothpaste whenever needed.
- Natural toothpaste may work better than regular toothpaste, but you can try both types to see which works best for you.
Apply apple cider vinegar. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and press it onto the sting. Initially, you may feel a burning sensation, but this will soon subside and help relieve the pain.
Use medication
Take over-the-counter pain relievers. You can relieve pain by taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Consult your doctor or pharmacist to determine which medication is best for you, especially if you have liver or kidney problems. Follow the directions on the label or as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Apply hydrocortisone cream. You can apply hydrocortisone cream or another corticosteroid cream to the swollen, red area to reduce pain and inflammation from the bee sting. Use as directed on the label.
- Reapply after a few hours if necessary.
Apply calamine lotion. Calamine lotion can be just as effective for treating bee stings as it is for soothing poison ivy rashes. Dab some onto the sting using a cotton ball. Follow the instructions on the product label. Calamine lotions that contain pain relievers (such as Caladryl) can be particularly effective.
- Reapply after 4 hours if necessary.
Take antihistamines if the sting causes itching. You can take antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorphenamine (Chlor-Trimeton). Follow the instructions on the label or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. These medications can help relieve itching.
- Antihistamines may cause drowsiness. Be sure to understand how the medication affects you before taking it, especially if you need to drive or work.
Advice
- Treat the bee sting early with antihistamines and monitor the pulse regularly. Keep an eye on both the sting site and the person stung for at least 4 hours after the incident.
- The bee sting may itch, but DO NOT scratch it. Scratching will only worsen the itching and swelling, and increase the risk of infection.
- Apply antibiotic ointment to the sting after cleaning off any home remedies or topical medications. This will help prevent infection.
- Sometimes the bee may dislodge itself—so unless the bee is dead, do not try to pull it out.
Warnings
- You may be allergic to bee stings, even if you've never had an allergic reaction before. You could also be allergic to a specific type of sting, as there are various kinds of honeybees and wasps. Just because a previous sting didn't cause any issues doesn't mean you won't experience an anaphylactic reaction next time, so always monitor for symptoms after a sting.
- Leave blisters intact; do not burst them, as popped blisters may lead to infection.
