Top Tips for Treating Bed Bug Bites
“Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!”
Yeah? But what do you do when they actually bite?
Let’s walk you through the signs, the bites and top tips on treating bed bug bites.
Symptoms and Signs
Bites were less common in the past but have become more and more frequent in recent years. Symptoms may appear as late as 14 days after the bite.
People often mistake flea bites, mosquito bites or even rashes as bed bug bites. Before treating your bites, make sure that you are dealing with the right kind of bite.
What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
If your bites come in a long string or a zig-zag pattern, they may be from bed bugs. Each bite is usually red and swollen with a dark dot at the center.
Imagine sleeping peacefully, when a raiding party of little creatures crawls over your bedsheets to feed everywhere your skin shows, feasting together as one. That is how those bite patterns form.
Common Bed Bug Signs
- Specks of dried blood near mattress seams, headboards, between couch cushions or wall openings.
- Exoskeletons (shell-like casings from growing bed bugs).
- Small black droppings (like many little pinheads).
- Sweet, musty smell.
If you find signs of bed bugs, some insecticides may work, but professional exterminators may have access to more effective solutions to your pest problems.
Top Tips for Treating Bed Bug Bites
If you notice any of the following with your bites, it is probably best to see a doctor:
- Blisters
- Skin infection (bites ooze pus).
- Allergic reaction to the bite.
They may give you a cortisone shot to help with the pain and inflammation, antibiotics to help with the infection and/or a prescription for antihistamine medication that also decreases irritation.
Treating the Bites at Home
If there are no severe reactions or allergic reactions to the bite, try treating the symptoms at home until the bites go away in one to two weeks.
- Avoid scratching the bites to prevent the introduction of bacteria.
- Wash with soap and water to prevent skin infection.
- Apply cooling lotions like calamine lotion or aloe gel to soothe the area.
- Apply antihistamine cream to alleviate the itchiness.
- Apply corticosteroid cream if antihistamine creams are not strong enough.
Contact Us
Even the perfect treatment regime will be of little use if the bed bugs in your home or business are not eradicated to prevent future bites. Contact our professionals at Superior Pest Solutions and let us help you to truly sleep tight and end the bed bug bites.