Bed bugs are known to bite and the bed bug bites are quite discomforting. People might reach differently to the bed bug bites. Whether they are aware of it or not, people usually find themselves scratching the spots that are bitten by the bed bugs. In the worst cases, the rashes might develop and the incessant scratching can result in wheal.
Scratching the spots that are bitten by the bed bugs is not recommended. As you can probably guess, it can make things worse. When you scratch them incessantly, your skin might be peeled off. To prevent the bad things from happening, you are suggested to try your best to resist the urge to scratch these spots. If you cannot help it anymore, it is better for you to apply an anti itching balm to the areas that are affected.
As the ones who get bed bug bites, you might worry that these bites will spread along the skin when scratched. The good news is that the bed bug bites do not spread as they are non-contagious. However, it is possible for the welt caused by the bed bug bites to swell due to incessant scratching.
Do you know how bed bugs feed? Most bed bugs are known to be night feeders. Seeing them crawling around during the day is not common. When the night comes, they use their ability to track the carbon dioxide that people exhale to track their food sources, which are people that are unconscious. Not only that, they also track the warmth the body gives off. It is the reason why they share the same place to live as you.
Once they manage to find a food source, these bed bugs will crawl up the skin and start their mission. In order to suck out the human blood, they will use their mouth that looks like a tube. Once they are full, they will stop. When they suck the blood, they will inject saliva right into the spot where the blood is being drawn. The saliva that they are injected with is like a painkiller with the function to kill the pain caused by their bite. While it might sound fine, it can actually irritate the skin. This kind of irritation is the one that causes people to scratch.
How do you identify the bed bug bite? Itching and scratching is not actually limited to bed bugs. Just like bed bugs, the other insects that love to suck blood also cause skin irritations when they bite. These insects include ticks and flea. While the bites are similar, they are actually different, especially bed bug bites. Here are some characteristics of bed bug bites:
- You can tell that it is a bed bug bite if the rash caused by the bite appears in a row. If the flea was the one that is responsible for the rash, it would be formed in an uneven pattern, spread across different spots on the skin.
- A bed bug inducted rash can be painful if the bitten spot is scratched incessantly. It is the only reason. Actually, the bed bug bite is 100% painless. However, it might be itchy.
What should be done after knowing that there are bed bug bites? It will take a quite long time for the rashes that are caused by the bed bug bite left its own to fade off. About how long it will take varies, depending on the individual. If you fail to treat the bite, there might be other allergic reactions.
When you see the bed bug bites, the first thing that you have to do is to consult a dermatologist. Self medication is not recommended, especially when dealing with allergic reactions caused by insect pests. If it is unlikely to consult a dermatologist due to certain reasons, you are suggested to get calamine lotion or Alka-Seltzer. When you have any of them in your hand, you can just apply it on the bitten spot. Aside from these two, antibiotics might also work. While you can try these, it is always better for you to consult with a doctor before taking any medication.
As taking medication without consulting with a doctor is a bit risky, you might want to try stopping the bed bug bites from itching first before seeing a doctor. There are some simple home remedies that you can try. Some of them include using oatmeal, soap and water, cucumber, and so on.
Oatmeal has phenol. According to the USA FDA, phenol is an effective treatment for irritation and inflammation. That’s why it is one of the best things to relieve the itchiness and swelling from bed bug bites. Even though it is such a messy procedure, it is known to be really effective.
Using soap and water is the simplest and easiest way to stop bed bug bites from itching. This method is really effective to relieve the itchiness of the bite. The soap works as a mild antiseptic. Besides, it is also good at keeping the area that is affected to prevent infections. It is better for you to apply the soap on the affected areas before washing it with water in order to make this remedy even more effective. Make sure to leave the soap for a while to let it dry. After that, you can wash it off to give the maximum protection from constant itching.
Cucumber is not only delicious but also has a lot of uses. One of them is to relieve the itching from the bed bug bites. To use the cucumber, go to your kitchen and get the cucumber. Next, get the knife and slice it. After that, place a chilled slice of cucumber on the bed bug bites. Please leave it there for about 10 minutes. Feel free to use as many slices of cucumber, depending on the bed bug bites. If there are some slices left, it is important to make them chilled for the next use.
