Bed bug bites: how to recognise them and what to do to avoid bloodsucker attacks?
Bed bugs are small (up to a few centimetres long) blood-sucking insects. They usually live next to their human victim in the bedroom bedding, between the seams of mattresses, in the crevices of bed frames, in other bedroom furniture etc.
For a long time, bed bugs were on the verge of extinction thanks to improvements in insecticides, but in recent years their attacks have increased again. And getting into your home is not as difficult as it seems. For example, bed bugs can be brought in with other people’s hand-me-down clothes, second-hand furniture, suitcases from hotels, etc.
In this article, we will discuss what bed bug bites look like, how to deal with them and how to treat them.
Table of contents
Bed bug bites: how to recognise them?
It’s important to know that itchy bumps can appear seconds after a bed bug bite, but the skin can also become irritated just a few days after an attack.
Please note that skin irritation usually disappears after about a week.
Bed bug bites have specific symptoms
- Bite mark: darker in the middle and lighter on the edges. In appearance, bed bug bites are no different from other insects. The bite has a darker red spot in the centre and lighter edges. On fair skin, bed bug bites usually appear pink or red, while on darker skin tones they may be purple or less noticeable overall.
- Multiple bites in close proximity. Perhaps the clearest way to tell that a bed bug has worked is to have at least a few bites nearby. Sometimes they may even be in a single line (one has to wonder at the precision of bloodsuckers).
- Bites on certain parts of the body. Bites are most often found on exposed parts of the body – face, neck, arms, hands, shoulders, legs. Bed bugs do not bother to crawl under pyjamas or blankets – when they find an exposed part of the body, they immediately start working.
- Itching. As with any other bloodsucker, the bitten areas itch quite intensely.
Photos of bed bug bites
What do bed or bed bug bites look like? So, bed bug bites are very similar to other insect bites. Some people’s skin may be marked with small reddish marks that look like a rash, while other people’s skin may even be covered with large puss-like lesions after being stung by a bed bug.
People are also interested in what dust mite bites look like. So it is the same as a bed bug bite.
What complications can you expect from a bed bug bite?
If your home is infested with bed bugs, you may also experience the following health problems:
- Likelihood of infections. The risk of infection increases when the skin surface is broken (i.e. when digging in broken areas).
- Sleep deprivation. Worrying about active night-feeding bed bugs can be very stressful. Some people are even afraid to go to bed, sleep very restlessly, and wake up constantly, so their performance and quality of life are affected.
- Impaired psychological and physical health. A bed bug bite may not seem so bad, but chronic sleep deprivation can lead to depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue and a weakened immune system.
For these reasons, it is therefore essential to eradicate bed bugs.
Treatment of bed bug bites
Some people are completely insensitive to bed bug bites. Others, on the other hand, may have quite a strong reaction in the body: the stung areas may itch badly, the skin may become blistered or have a hives-type rash that lasts up to several days, etc.
How to treat bed bug bites effectively?
- Disinfection. As the saying goes, there’s no shame in being careful, so it’s best to wash bite sites with soap and disinfect them to prevent infections. Medical alcohol is excellent for this. As soon as you notice a bite, the skin should be rubbed with rubbing alcohol to help reduce inflammation.
- Cold compress. If you notice bed bug bites, apply an ice pack or any chilled object to the stung areas. The cold helps reduce itching and swelling.
- Treatment with medicines. If your body reacts sensitively to insect attacks, it’s a good idea to keep allergy medication and a special cream for after-bite symptoms in your medicine cabinet.
- Medical help. You can also talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what other treatments might be effective. If a person who has been bitten by a bed bug develops a fever, signs of secondary infection, allergy symptoms or any other atypical symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately.
Remember not to dig up the sites of bed bug bites, as secondary infection can occur. If you are itching badly, take steps to relieve the itching as soon as possible or simply rush to a pharmacy
Folk remedies for bed bug bites
- Chamomile compress. Chamomile compress is an excellent antiseptic with a soothing effect. The effect is reduced itching and redness. The simplest method is to apply a cotton wool disc moistened with tea decoction or a diluted packet of chamomile tea to the site of the bed bug bites. Alternatively, the irritated skin can be rubbed with a strong chamomile decoction.
- Decoctions of mint, basil or other antiseptic herbs (such as calendula) can also help relieve itching.
- Vinegar, baking soda solution. Washing the affected area with a vinegar or baking soda solution can help prevent bed bug bites from causing maximum discomfort.
- Essential oils. If you have lavender, tea tree, peppermint or spearmint essential oils in your home, know that they are ideal for applying to the areas that have been stung by bed bugs.
Keep in mind that these home remedies can help only in mild cases. If the problem gets worse, professional treatment with the right chemicals for bed bugs extermination is needed.
Bed bug control and prevention
If you want to protect yourself against bed bug attacks, prevent these little parasites. Here are some tips on how to do it:
- Do not borrow or lend clothes, shoes or suitcases from other people, and do not bring second-hand items into your home, as they can carry bed bugs or their eggs with them;
- Clean your bedroom thoroughly and get rid of unused items and furniture;
- Wash bed linen and clothes in the hottest possible water.
- For more tips, see our next article “Controlling bed bugs at home”.
If your home is already infested with bed bugs, don’t waste time (as it is very difficult and time-consuming to eradicate bed bugs on your own) and contact our team: we’ll help you to get rid of bed bugs safely, quickly and, most importantly, for good.
