Bed bug marks on skin are not uncommon. Most people know that bedbugs can be found in the bedding and nesting areas of the home. However, many people are not aware that these pests can also be found hiding in floorboards, behind wall outlets, inside dressers, picture frames, baseboards and moldings. Bedbugs feed on human blood every 5 to 10 days. They have been known to bite during all hours of day and night. Have you ever been bitten by a bed bug or thought that you were? If given the chance, many people give in when asked if they have felt itchy marks on their skin. Bedbugs are parasitic creatures that feed off of the blood of their host. These marks are bites and are a clear sign that there is an infestation to be dealt with. I’ve heard tales of bed bugs from neighbors and read about it on the internet, but I never really knew what to look for. When I saw my first bed bug bite, I couldn’t believe that’s what it was. I thought maybe I was bitten by some sort of spider or flea, but when I looked in the mirror, that’s not what I saw!

Bed Bug Marks On Skin

Bed bug bites are often found in a line or group of three. Photo: Morsa Images

Bed bugs feed in a line, so it’s not uncommon to find bites in a group of three. The most common pattern is two bites side by side, with one bite on top of the other. However, you may also notice one bite slightly below or above the others in your cluster. This is due to bed bugs crawling around before they settle down to feed and inject you with their saliva (which contains an anesthetic).

If you suspect that your house has bed bugs and want to check whether or not they’re responsible for these marks on your skin, look for this pattern!

Bed bug bites are very often found in a line on the skin — here it is more obvious. Photo: Morsa Images

Bed bug bites are often found in a line on the skin. This can be mistaken for other things, such as mosquito bites, but it is important to check for more signs of bed bugs. The best way to do this is to check your mattress and box spring for signs of bed bugs, including eggs and fecal stains. You should also look along the joints where the bed frame meets your wall; this is where bed bugs will hide because they cannot climb up walls or furniture.

This is an example of a linear pattern of bites. Photo: James Gathany

This is an example of a linear pattern of bites. The bites are clustered together, often in lines or groups of three. They can be found on the arms, neck and face; these areas are common because they are more likely to be exposed while sleeping.

Bites may appear red, pink or brown in color, depending on whether you’re allergic to the bed bug saliva or not. If you have an allergic reaction to the saliva from a bite it can cause swelling around your skin and itchiness as well as pain in some cases (although this isn’t very common).

This is another example of a linear pattern of red marks from bed bug bites. Photo: CDC

Bed bug bites may be easy for you to identify if you have had them before, but if you are unsure, there are other visual cues that can help:

• Small red bumps or welts on the skin. These are usually in a linear pattern and appear in groups of three or four bites. They will look like small red dots with tiny black specks in the center of each bite.
• Red marks on your skin resembling a line of very tiny hickeys (bite marks) where bed bugs have fed on blood. These are usually found around seams in clothing where they are protected from being exposed to light while sleeping or sitting down during the day.

Bed bugs leave a patterned rash on the skin

Bed bugs leave a patterned rash on the skin. The rash is from the saliva of the bed bug, which causes irritation and itching. If you see a rash in a line or group of three, it is likely from bed bug bites. Bed bug bites are often found in a line or group of three because they feed in groups of three at each feeding session.