How To Treat Bed Bug Bites: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

Maybe your like

1 Wash the bites with soap and water. Wash the area with mild soap and water; use a bar of soap and enough water to wet the surface of your hands. Work the soap in your hands into a thick, soapy lather. Rub the lather over the affected area liberally. Repeat until the entire area is covered. Leave on and do not rinse. Allow the soap lather to dry over the bitten areas. You should experience immediate relief from itching.[7] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Washing the bites with soapy water can help alleviate itchiness and prevent a skin infection.
2 Use home remedies to relieve itching. You can try a number of the following remedies to relieve the itching associated with the bites. These all use products you probably already have on hand.
- Make a paste of baking soda and water. Slowly add small amounts of water to the baking soda and stir until you have a thick paste. Apply a thick coat of the paste to your bedbug bites. Allow the paste to dry and stay on the rash for an hour or more before washing it off with warm water.
- Saturate a cotton ball with lemon juice, St. John's Wort, or witch hazel, all of which are natural astringents.[8] Dab at the rash with the cotton ball to help dry it out and control the itch.
- Apply the gel from an aloe plant to bedbug bites. Use pure 100% aloe vera gel. Aloe contains both antibiotic and anti-fungal properties, which can help prevent a secondary infection due to scratching.
3 Apply a steroidal anti-itch over-the-counter (OTC) cream. A cream that contains hydrocortisone or cortisone, such as Cortaid, can reduce inflammation and itching. You can buy a 1% hydrocortisone cream from any drugstore or pharmacy. Your doctor can tell you which cream and brand is ideal for you.[9] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Follow the package's directions to apply the cream correctly. The cream is very mild and does not cause side effects if used for a short period of time, like a week.
- You can also get a stronger corticosteroid cream with a doctor's prescription.
4 Use calamine lotion. When applied to the bites, calamine lotion may provide some symptomatic relief from the itching. It will also help to dry the rash and protect the skin as it heals.[10] [11]
5 Take oral antihistamine. Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can help control the allergic reaction (the swelling and rash) associated with the bites.[12] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Follow package instructions for proper dosages.
- Be aware that Benadryl can cause drowsiness and you should avoid driving while taking it.
- You could also try an OTC antihistamine cream that you apply topically to the affected area.
6 Get pain relief. If the bites are causing you any discomfort or pain, you can take OTC anti-inflammatory analgesic oral medication, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. Discuss these options with your doctor if you have any doubt about their usage and whether these medications are right for you.[13] X Research source
- Ibuprofen (Advil) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. It also reduces hormones that trigger fever.
- Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) is a drug that works as an analgesic, relieving pain by inhibiting pain signals in the brain. It is also an antipyretic, a drug that reduces fever. Do not give to children, however.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safer than aspirin for children and has many of the same effects as aspirin. It is not an NSAID, however, and will not reduce inflammation.
7 Consult a health-care provider. See your doctor if your bite does not clear up within the natural course of a bedbug bite (one to two weeks). You should also see a doctor for treatment if you have any of the following:[14] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
- Multiple bites
- Blisters
- Signs of skin infection (tenderness or oozing discharge)
- An allergic skin reaction (reddened, swollen skin or hives).
- Bedbug bites, like all insect bites, can become infected through excessive scratching, as underneath the fingernails lies a host of bacterial pathogens. If your bites become infected, they will appear red and swollen, feel tender, and may drain pus. Typically there will not be a fever unless a substantial area of the skin is involved. If you experience any of these symptoms, you must seek medical attention as it points to a secondary infection. Your physician may prescribe antibiotic therapy or, if the infection is mild, an antiseptic medication that you can buy without a prescription.[15] [16] [17]
- If you experience a severe allergic reaction, your doctor may want to give you an injection of an antihistamine, corticosteroid, or epinephrine (adrenaline).[18] [19]