It’s not that easy. Bedbugs are a growing problem in the U.S. and, with increased reports of bedbugs, there’s a growing concern over bedbug bites. According to the National Pest Management Association, 24 percent of pest control companies report they are getting more calls regarding bedbug treatments this year than last year. Despite more people being aware of bedbugs, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding them — especially regarding allergic reactions to their bites. Are you allergic to bed bug bites ? Bed bugs bites are painful and even triggering for many. This means that any bite that’s been given on the skin, can be a problematic one, especially for those who are allergic to them. When you have an allergic reaction you should know some of the causes, just as any other allergic reaction. Medical conditions can mimic bed bug bites. The most common mimicker is eczema, which is an allergic reaction to irritants in the environment (e.g. dust mites, pet dander). It presents with little to no symptoms (i.e., redness and swelling) and can look very similar to a bed bug bite. Once the bed bugs arrived on the scene, people began developing these reactions suddenly without any prior history of allergies or eczema. This led many to conclude that bed bugs were responsible for these sudden “allergic” reactions, when in reality it was just skin irritation due to the misguided scratching of bug bites—which are incredibly itchy. An allergic reaction as a result of bed bugs bites is possible, but uncommon. The body takes a certain amount of time to process an allergen. In some cases, an allergen enters the body and is not dealt with by the body in any way, so it ends up in the bloodstream and an allergic reaction results. However, it all depends on the speed at which this occurs. If the reaction happens within 20 minutes, then yes it may be an allergic reaction. But if hours pass, then it’s likely not an allergy — it’s actually a delayed hypersensitivity reaction (rather than immediate).

Can You Have An Allergic Reaction To Bed Bug Bites

Introduction

Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed off of human and animal blood. Bed bugs can travel from one place to another on clothing, furniture, or luggage. The bites are usually small and painless, but some people may have an allergic reaction to the bites leading to skin irritation or inflammation. Bed bug bites will not transmit serious diseases in most cases; however, they can cause itching, redness and swelling on the skin. In this article we will look at whether it is possible to have an allergic reaction to bed bug bites as well as what symptoms of such a reaction might look like.

You may feel a slight, localized burning sensation on your skin

This is a common symptom of bed bug bites and can be experienced in the skin surrounding the bite. The burning sensation may intensify as time goes on, however it’s important to remember that this is a localized reaction and does not indicate anaphylaxis, which is a systemic allergic reaction.

If you do experience a burning sensation on your skin, there are several things you can do to help ease it:

• Apply ice packs or cold compresses to your bites to reduce swelling and pain.
• Use over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) if needed (please consult with your physician before taking any medications).
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day — especially if you plan on spending long periods of time outside!

You might have a rash or redness in the area of the bite

The rash or redness associated with a bed bug bite can range from mild to severe. The severity of the reaction depends on how an individual’s immune system responds. The rash may be flat or raised and appear as red spots, may spread beyond the site of the bite, or even take on a pattern (such as linear).

Rashes caused by bed bug bites often itch and are sometimes painful. They can occur anywhere on your body but are most common on areas where you rest while sleeping such as your neck and arms.

You can get blisters or hives

Blisters, also called wheals, are raised bumps on your skin. They form when your immune system reacts to something in your environment (like a bed bug bite) and releases chemicals that cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the surrounding tissue. You may feel pain and itchiness with blisters.

• Hives are red welts on your skin that can be caused by an allergic reaction to a substance such as bedbugs or their saliva. Hives usually go away after 24 hours but may lead to more serious problems if you have repeated reactions.

The bites might swell up and even itch

If you experience itching, swelling, blisters or hives after a bed bug bite, it’s important not to scratch the skin. Scratching can lead to infection and even scarring.

If the bites are severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor, they can be diagnosed by looking at them under a microscope. The doctor may also take blood tests or do skin biopsies (removing some of your skin). If you think you have bed bugs in your home and have been bitten by them recently but itchy bumps don’t appear right away on your skin, talk with your doctor about getting tested for an allergy.

As stated above and elsewhere in this guide: there is no evidence that an allergic reaction is ever caused by a bed bug bite alone! That said… if you do find yourself feeling itchy after being bitten by these tiny creatures then there are steps you can take:

Allergic reactions to bed bug bites are rare.

Allergic reactions to bed bug bites are rare, but they do happen. If you are bitten and begin to experience itching and hives, stop scratching immediately. Consider taking an antihistamine or other medication if your symptoms persist for more than 30 minutes after being bitten. You can also apply ice packs to the area of the skin that was bitten at least 20 minutes after the bite occurs; this may help reduce swelling and inflammation.

If you think you might be suffering from an allergic reaction—or even if your bites look particularly bad—you should check in with a doctor or dermatologist as soon as possible. It’s important that you make sure the problem is not caused by something else like a staph infection or fungal infection (including ringworm).

It’s important to check for allergic reaction signs after being bitten.

While it’s normal to feel the itch of a bed bug bite, you should be on the lookout for any signs of an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be triggered by many things, including foods, drugs and insect bites. It’s important to check for allergic reaction signs after being bitten.

Signs of an allergic reaction include but are not limited to:

• A rash
• Swelling around the area where you were bitten
• Itching
• Bite marks (the most common sign of being bitten by anything) * Hives or redness

Conclusion

If you’re allergic to the anticoagulant saliva of bed bugs, your symptoms will be more severe than an average reaction. You may even require medical attention. It’s important that you get checked out by a doctor so that you can receive proper treatment for your reaction and avoid complications. Here is a list of common treatments for bed bug bites:

Antihistamines like Benadryl are effective at reducing itching, swelling and redness from bug bites

Corticosteroids like hydrocortisone cream can also help reduce inflammation

Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen are helpful if there is pain associated with the bite marks

Apply ice packs or cold compresses on affected areas of skin to relieve itching and swelling caused by reactions to bed bugs. This could also help prevent blisters from forming after being bitten by insects like mosquitoes that carry disease-causing germs (i.e., malaria). If not treated properly these lesions could become infected; therefore it’s important to cleanse thoroughly before dressing yourself up again. We recommend using rubbing alcohol on any open cuts leftover from scratching at one’s skin too much before applying any medicated creams/gels on them afterwards as well! In some extreme cases where individuals have been known to develop full-blown rashes due their sensitivities towards bedbugs we suggest consulting with our physicians about getting prescribed topical steroidal medications instead though.”