What Do Bedbug Bites Look Like? | Everyday Health

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• 1All About Bedbugs
• 2All About Bedbug Bites
• 3How to Know if You Have Bedbugs
• 4How to Safely Get Rid of Bedbugs
• 5How Do You Get Rid of Bedbugs?
• 6How to Prevent Bedbugs (and Keep Them From Coming Back)

SEE MOREAll About Bedbug Bites

Ted Pink/AlamyByMoira LawlerUpdated on June 3, 2025Medically Reviewed byJacquelyn Dosal, MDON THIS PAGE

• Where Do Bedbugs Bite?
• How to Identify
• Are They Dangerous
• Do They Carry Disease
• FAQ

ON THIS PAGE

• Where Do Bedbugs Bite?
• How to Identify
• Are They Dangerous
• Do They Carry Disease
• FAQ

Bedbug bites look like swollen, red, itchy spots, often appearing in a zigzag formation. The insects bite at night when you’re asleep, usually about an hour before dawn.

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If you wake up with a bite, though, bedbugs may not be to blame. Their bites look very similar to those of other insects. Here’s how to confidently identify bedbug bites and what you can do to treat them.

What Bit Me? Spot These 12 Bug Bites

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Where Do Bedbugs Bite?

Swollen, red bedbug bites can appear on any uncovered part of the body while you sleep, says Steve Durham, an entomologist with EnviroCon Pest Control in Tomball, Texas. At-risk areas often include:

• The back of your neck
• Shoulders
• Arms
• Legs

Bedbugs prefer to feed on human blood, but they can also survive on the blood of mice, rats, or other animals. You probably won’t catch the bugs in the act of biting, though, because the bedbug injects an anesthetic and an anti-clotting substance to numb the area as it bites you.

[2]

How to Identify a Bedbug Bite

For most people, bedbug bites result in itchy bumps that develop at the site of the bite within a day.

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The bites usually look like mosquito bites and will appear as a swollen red spot that might itch.

[2]

Many people see bugs during or shortly after a bite or sting, helping them identify the culprit. But some bugs, such as bedbugs, mosquitoes, or spiders, may bite while a person is sleeping, so it may take some effort to work out which type of bite it is from the skin symptoms alone.

These may vary based on the following features:

[4]

• The size of mark at the site of the bite (may be less visible on dark skin)
• The level of pain or itchiness
• The size, shape, and number of rashes
• The color and appearance of bite marks
• The pattern of bites, such as grouped together or in a zigzag formation
• The location of the bites on the body
• How raised the bumps are
• Whether the bug is still attached to the skin, such as during a tick bite

You may notice a single bite, while other times several bites will appear in a line.

[2]

“In most cases, they occur in clusters or zigzags of flat, itchy bites,” Durham says. “One bedbug will usually bite more than once, so the severity of your infestation can have a big impact on the severity of your physical reaction to the bites.”

Bedbug bites differ from other bites in a few ways:

• They can appear anywhere on the skin that clothing doesn’t cover while you’re sleeping. Flea or chigger bites, on the other hand, usually only appear around your ankles, Durham says.
• They sometimes bite in a zigzag pattern.

  [5]

• Bedbug bites don’t normally have a red dot in the center, while flea bites usually do.

Bedbug bites tend to stick around longer than mosquito bites, though they look very similar.

But the bites will look different from person to person, and some people won’t develop any reaction. “The same bedbug could bite two different people and one could have no reaction at all and the other can have an extreme reaction with a swollen arm or itchy rash,” says Eric Braun, a board-certified entomologist and the technical services manager for the national pest control company Rentokil. Some people end up developing a rash that looks like eczema.

[6]

It’s also possible that you won’t see a reaction the first time a bedbug bites, since it can sometimes take the body a while to respond.

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Some people will have an immediate reaction. For others, it could take two weeks to emerge. Your body will likely become more sensitive to bedbug bites over time, and if you experience repeated bites, it could be only a matter of seconds before your body shows a response.

In most cases, the only way to say for sure whether it was a bedbug that bit you is to search for evidence of bedbugs living in your home. "Once you start to notice the itchy bites, the second giveaway is the presence of small blood spots on your sheets or mattress, usually resembling patches of rust,” Durham says.

Durham advises the following methods for seeking out bedbugs:

• You’ll likely only see them in their hiding spots or crawling across the floor since, unlike other insects, bedbugs cannot fly or jump.
• Check along the edges of your mattress. You may see the exoskeletons that bedbugs have shed as they matured.
• You may notice a musty smell that indicates bedbugs in the area.
• It can be helpful to check your bed with a flashlight during the middle of the night, when they’re more active.

Are Bedbug Bites Dangerous?

Bedbug bites don’t normally require treatment by a doctor, but there are a few precautions you should take at home.

[8]

Start by cleaning the area with soap and water to lower your risk of infection and to relieve itchiness. If the bites are itchy, pick up a corticosteroid cream at your local drugstore and apply it to the area. The bites generally will heal within a couple of weeks.

[9]

Some people develop allergic reactions to bedbug bites, which can include:

• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Hives
• A swollen tongue

Others may develop an infection in which the bite starts oozing pus. If you experience either of these reactions or you develop blisters where the bites occurred, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a dermatologist.

To treat an allergic reaction, the doctor may prescribe:

• An antihistamine
• A corticosteroid
• An epinephrine injection

If an infection develops in the area, a medical professional might prescribe an antibiotic or recommend an over-the-counter antiseptic. Finally, a corticosteroid or an antihistamine in pill or liquid form may help with severe itchiness.

A cold compress or ice pack will constrict the overreactive blood vessels and reduce itching.

[10]

Do Bedbugs Carry Disease?

Bedbug bites can itch, and knowing you have bedbugs in your home can be distressing. But being bitten won’t negatively impact your health. “Thus far, bedbugs have not been shown to transmit any diseases to humans,” says Jerry Lazarus, the president of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination.

That’s a key difference between bedbugs and mosquitoes, which Braun says are sometimes called the “deadliest animal on the planet.” Bedbugs bite and feed on blood like mosquitoes, he says. “However, they do not transmit any disease. The risk of getting ill from the bite isn’t there.”

The bigger concern with bedbugs is the effect they can have on one’s mental health, since having bedbugs can be both stressful and embarrassing.

The Takeaway

• A zigzag pattern of itchy, red spots on the back of your neck, shoulders, arms, or legs may mean that you’ve had a bedbug bite within the last day, but this pattern can vary.
• Bedbug bites can appear on any area of exposed skin and look very similar to mosquito bites, although their bites stay on the skin for longer.
• Reactions to bedbug bites are highly individual, and you may become more sensitive to these bites over time, meaning that a reaction becomes more severe or develops in seconds.
• If you suspect bedbugs, try checking the seams of your mattress for small, rust-colored stains.

FAQ

What do bedbug bites look like? Bedbug bites look like swollen red spots that often itch, similar to mosquito bites. They can appear anywhere on your body that isn't clothed while you're sleeping.Do all people have the same reaction to bedbug bites? No, reactions to bedbug bites can vary from person to person. Some may have no reaction at all, while others may experience extreme reactions such as swollen arms or itchy rashes. Some may have an immediate reaction, while others may experience a reaction several weeks later.How long do bedbug bites usually last? Bedbug bites generally heal within a couple of weeks. Doctors recommend cleaning the area with soap and water and applying a corticosteroid cream to relieve itchiness.Can bedbug bites lead to medical complications? Bedbug bites themselves usually do not require medical attention. But some people may develop allergic reactions or infections. In such cases, a dermatologist may be able to identify the problem and come up with ways to manage symptoms.Do bedbugs transmit diseases? Bedbugs do not transmit any diseases to humans. Unlike mosquitoes, bedbugs do not pose a risk of illness through their bites. On the other hand, they can negatively impact mental health because of the stress and embarrassment that can occur along with an infestation.EDITORIAL SOURCESEveryday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.SourcesResources

1. Bed Bug FAQs. Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
2. About Bed Bugs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 26, 2024.
3. Bed Bugs. University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. July 2020.
4. Powers J et al. Insect Bites. StatPearls. August 8, 2023.
5. Bedbugs: Signs and Symptoms. American Academy of Dermatology.
6. How to Find Bed Bugs. Environmental Protection Agency. July 23, 2024.
7. Bed Bugs: Signs and Symptoms. American Academy of Dermatology.
8. Bedbugs. Mayo Clinic. January 4, 2024.
9. Bedbugs: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Academy of Dermatology.
10. How to Relieve Itchy Skin. American Academy of Dermatology.

Meet Our ExpertsSee Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD

Medical Reviewer

Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments of inflammatory skin diseases, as well as laser treatment of the skin and injectables.

Dr. Dosal writes cosmetic questions for the certifying exams for the American Board of Dermatology. She is also the deputy editor for the American Academy of Dermatology's podcast, Dialogues in Dermatology.

See full bio

Moira Lawler

Author

Moira Lawler is a journalist who has spent more than a decade covering a range of health and lifestyle topics, including women's health, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and travel. She received a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young children, and a giant brown labradoodle.See full bioSee Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network

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