What is the best way for a person to combat bed bug bites? Many people believe that Benadryl itself is the answer, but this is not necessarily true. In fact, there are other ways, such as natural remedies that can provide relief from your bed bug bites. Make sure you do not use never use only Benadryl.Bed bug bites aren’t just an annoyance, they can be downright painful and irritating. Using Benadryl as a treatment to reduce allergic reaction can help relieve the itchiness a bit, but it may not work for everyone depending on their sensitivities. Read on for our full review of this product. You’ve just been out for walking around when you notice that you’re coming home with a lot more than you went out with: itchy bites all over your body. You try to resist the urge, but eventually scratch some of them, coating your finger in blood. Turns out they’ve been bed bug bites. Using a topical ointment like Benadryl is recommended by pretty much any dermatologist to reduce the itchiness and inflammation. But what else can Benadryl do?
Bed Bug Bites Benadryl
Treat Bed Bug Bites With a Cold Compress
Treating bed bug bites with a cold compress can help reduce the itching and swelling, as well as ease the pain that often accompanies a bite. To treat bed bug bites with a cold compress:
- Place a clean damp washcloth in the freezer for at least two hours.
- Gently rub the skin around the bite to remove any remaining scabs. This can also help soothe and relieve itching.
- Remove your washcloth from its wrapper and squeeze out as much water as possible before applying it to your skin (you can use another piece of cloth if you don’t want to touch it). Wrap it in a towel, then apply toward where you feel like scratching most intensely; this will lessen how much you itch while still allowing some room for movement. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes before repeating if needed.
Use Benadryl for Bed Bug Bites
- Benadryl can be used to relieve the itchiness and swelling of bed bug bites, but it should never be used as a treatment for an infestation. If you think you have bed bugs, contact a pest control professional immediately.
- Apply a thin layer of cream containing 5% or 10% diphenhydramine to the affected area twice per day until symptoms improve. You may also apply an over-the-counter oral antihistamine such as Claritin or Allegra in addition to this cream if necessary. Seek medical attention if your symptoms do not improve after 2 days of use.
- Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you suspect that someone has accidentally ingested too much Benadryl (for example, by trying to take care of themselves using this information).
Use Medicated Creams to Treat Bed Bug Bites
To treat bed bug bites, use medicated creams and lotions that contain hydrocortisone to relieve itching and lidocaine to ease pain.
If your skin is irritated, an antihistamine cream may help with itching. Antihistamines do not kill bed bugs or prevent them from biting you again. They can also be used on children older than six months of age as long as they don’t have high blood pressure or glaucoma (open-angle). If you have these conditions, talk with a doctor before using an antihistamine cream on yourself or anyone else in your home who has been bitten by a bed bug.
You should not use antibiotics if your bites get infected, but only if the bite becomes red and swollen around it within a few hours after being bitten by a bed bug (the infection will look like pus).
Use Your Home Remedies to Help Treat Bites
There are several home remedies you can use to treat bed bug bites. Two of the most popular include aloe vera and witch hazel. Aloe vera is a plant extract that can be applied directly to the skin, while witch hazel is a liquid tincture made from the witch hazel shrub. Both have been known to be effective in reducing inflammation and itching from insect bites.
Other home remedies that may help:
- Treating your cuts with antibiotic ointment or gauze bandages (if applicable)
- Applying petroleum jelly or lotion on any areas where you’re experiencing stinging pain (e.g., if you’ve scratched at the bite location)
- Moisturizing dry areas like your lips and nose (which tend to get dry after exposure to air conditioning systems)
Make Lifestyle Changes to Better Treat Bed Bug Bites
- Avoid scratching your bites. The temptation to scratch bed bug bites can be overwhelming, and when you do it, you end up with a lot of damage to your skin. Scratching further irritates the area and causes swelling and redness that takes time to go away. If you’re having trouble resisting the urge to scratch yourself, try using an anti-itch cream or hydrocortisone cream on the areas where you’ve been bitten (these contain ingredients like baking soda) instead of scratching them raw.
- Take an antihistamine. A histamine blocker will reduce swelling, itching and redness in the affected area while also helping prevent bacteria from getting underneath your skin’s surface where they could lead to future infections or abscesses.* Apply cold compresses if necessary.* Keep other things in mind as well: bed bugs prefer warm temperatures (they live inside mattresses), so keeping your home at cooler temperatures may help deter them from biting again in the future; keep clothing clean (this means washing clothes often); take showers regularly; wash hands thoroughly before handling food; avoid bringing dirty laundry back into your house after visiting another person’s place—and don’t forget about pets!
Try these treatments and lifestyle changes to relieve the pain and itching of bed bug bites.
If you’re the type of person who is comfortable with the idea of killing bugs, start by removing any critters that may have made their way into your home. You should also wash and dry all items that came from your bed or bedroom: sheets and blankets are prime hiding spots for bed bugs. After drying, place all items in plastic bags until they’re ready to be folded back into use — keeping them out of sight helps keep them out of mind.
Using a pesticide can be effective when it comes to getting rid of these pests, but only if you use one that’s labeled for indoor use and follow its instructions carefully. If you’d rather not handle pesticides yourself, consider hiring an exterminator instead; just make sure he or she has experience with infestations like this one before hiring him or her (many do). And don’t forget about pets! They aren’t immune to bites either — make sure they get treated if they were exposed too (don’t forget about their beds and toys as well).
Using a bed cover in addition to other methods may help keep any new bites at bay as well; just remember that covers shouldn’t seal tightly around your mattress so as not to trap heat inside which could cause more sweating during sleep cycles while at rest on top of potentially already moist surfaces beneath sheets or blankets due directly underneath where these areas might become dampened by sweat buildup underneath those covers themselves over time–which could lead toward increasing risk for developing mold according within those locations where moisture content levels are high enough within these areas–and potentially worsen existing conditions within those same spots which might already contain mold spores before ever starting treatment plan against infestation itself!
- 3.5-ounce tube of Benadryl Extra-Strength Cooling Itch Stopping Anti-Itch Gel for fast cooling relief from skin pain and itching from most outdoor itches
- Provides relief from most outdoor itches associated with insect bites, sunburn, scrapes, minor skin irritations, burns, and minor cuts
- Soothing anti-itch gel also provides relief from itching associated with rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac
- Cooling gel formula contains 2% of the topical analgesic pain reliever diphenhydramine hydrochloride that works by blocking histamines to relieve itches associated with several ailments
- Intended for use by those ages 2 and up, soothing gel offers itch relief for kids and adults alike and is great to keep on hand during outdoor activities such as camping, hiking or taking a walk with the family
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 6.35 Inches |
Width | 2.43 Inches |
Length | 1.47 Inches |
Weight | 3.5 ounces |
Release Date | 2015-06-22T00:00:01Z |
- 24-count bottle Benadryl Allergy Dye-Free Liqui-Gels, antihistamine allergy medicine with diphenhydramine HCl that provides multi-symptom allergy relief and cold symptom relief
- Relieves allergy symptoms such as sneezing; runny nose; itchy nose; itchy throat; itchy, watery eyes, and it relieves cold symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose
- Dye-free Benadryl liquid gels work when you need it most. They offer the benefits of an antihistamine allergy medicine without the additional colors or dyes other brands may have
- Intended for adults and children ages 6 and up, these Benadryl tablets come in a 24 count pack for multi-symptom allergy relief
- Temporarily relieves symptoms due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies using the active ingredient diphenhydramine HCl
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 0.9 Inches |
Width | 3.6 Inches |
Length | 3.9 Inches |
Weight | 0.01 Pounds |
- 4 .47-fluid ounce sticks of Benadryl anti-itch relief formula to provide fast relief from skin pain & itching
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 8 Inches |
Width | 6 Inches |
Length | 6 Inches |
- 1-ounce tube of Benadryl Original-Strength Anti-Itch Stopping Cream to provide relief from most outdoor itches
- Topical cream temporarily relieves itching associated with insect bites, sunburn, scrapes, minor skin irritations, burns, and cuts.
- Formula contains with 1% diphenhydramine hydrochloride topical analgesic and 0.1% zinc acetate skin protectant
- Cream contains a histamine blocker and dries the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Is intended for use by those ages 2 and up
- Topical Analgesic.
- Skin protectant.
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 1.8 Inches |
Width | 3.9 Inches |
Length | 4.3 Inches |
Weight | 1 ounces |
Release Date | 2015-11-30T00:00:01Z |
- 20-count Kids’ Benadryl Allergy Chewables in a kid-friendly grape flavor are specially formulated to provide temporary relief of allergy symptoms on-the-go, such as sneezing & itchy throat, caused by hay fever & other upper respiratory allergies
- This allergy medicine for kids contains 12.5 mg of diphenhydramine HCl antihistamine per dose, an antihistamine that works to help alleviate children’s allergy symptoms like stuffy nose and itchy eyes so they can start feeling more like themselves
- From the brand moms turn to first for treating their children’s upper respiratory allergies, this on-the-go chewable children’s allergy tablet helps your child feel better when they need it most by easing symptoms & providing relief for 4-6 hours
- Antihistamine tablets for kids is specially formulated to relieve allergy symptoms caused by upper respiratory allergies including runny nose, sneezing, itching of nose or throat, and itchy, watery eyes
- Children’s chewable allergy medicine is available in a tasty, kid-friendly grape flavor and comes in a convenient, chewable on-the-go tablet to give your child’s allergy symptoms a time out
Additional Info :
Color | Multi |
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 4.86 Inches |
Width | 3.65 Inches |
Length | 0.94 Inches |
Weight | 0.06875 Pounds |
Release Date | 2016-06-24T00:00:01Z |