Bed bug bites remain one of the most perplexing problems that plague victims encounter when trying to decipher how they were bit. Questions like “do bed bug bites spread when scratched?”, or “how to get rid of bed bugs – is bleach good enough?” have plagued victims for decades, and unfortunately many answers have been born from myth. Many people do not know if bed bug bites spread when scratched or if scratching the bites can cause them to spread. Let me tell you that bed bug bites, unlike some other types of bug bites, indeed get worse and itchier with scratching. This is because the skin is fragile and scratching it breaks the skin which pours out more histamine and other allergic substances. Bed bug bites is a common problem both for infestation patients and pest control professionals. Pest bites have become a real concern for many people. Bed bugs, technically speaking, do not get under the skin like other bugs that usually bite humans and animals. Bites do not occur burrows and transmission is not their primary feeding strategy. But does scratching bed bug bites spread the itchy, irritating bumps? Contrary to popular belief, bed bug bites do not spread through scratching. The reality is that humans have a variety of defenses against being infected by microorganisms found on visual surfaces. This includes the skin. Our fast-healing skin prevents pathogens from entering our bloodstreams. Plus, our immune systems are able to kill most pathogens before they spread through the body. Bed bugs are notorious for re-infesting homes and their bites are typically left untreated because people fear they will spread if they scratch the bite area. Bed bugs do not care if you scratch or not, and will happily invade your home and bite you repeatedly after one initial exposure — even if you never scratch at the site of the bug bite, as long as there is an untreated bite on your skin, it can cause an allergic reaction.

Do Bed Bug Bites Spread When Scratched

Introduction

The bite of a bed bug doesn’t spread like poison ivy or chickenpox. That’s because the bites are caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of the bed bug after it bites you, rather than being a contagious skin condition in and of itself. In other words, when you scratch at your itchy bites, you’re not causing them to spread further. But there are still some important things to keep in mind if you’ve been bitten by bed bugs.

No, bed bug bites do not spread when you scratch them.

Bed bug bites are not contagious, as they are caused by a single-celled organism known as a bed bug. Bed bugs are parasites that feed on humans while they sleep. Bites occur when the bed bugs inject an anti-coagulant into your skin, causing slight swelling and itching at the site of the bite.

The most common question asked about bed bug bites is whether or not they transmit disease or HIV/AIDS. It’s true that some people may have allergies to insect bites, but no evidence exists to suggest that anyone could contract any illness from being bitten by one of these insects. In fact, research has shown that there is no risk for infection from scratching at a bed bug bite either! However, scratching can cause further irritation and make it more difficult for your immune system to heal you naturally; therefore it’s best just leave them alone!

However, it’s important to keep in mind that bed bugs can live on the body for up to two days without biting.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that bed bugs can live on the body for up to two days without biting. This means if you were bitten by a bed bug and didn’t notice the bite until two days later, there’s a chance that it wasn’t from one of the bugs in your home—it may have been from another place where you recently traveled or visited.

Although alarming, this doesn’t mean you should panic about having been infected with bed bugs when bitten by one; it simply means that any time you’re bitten by an insect or spider (or anything else), keep an eye out for signs of infection and contact your doctor if needed.

They may have crawled from one place to another on the body, and might not have bitten you where you think they did.

If you think you’ve been bitten by bed bugs, the first thing to do is find out if they’re really there. This can be done by looking for signs of their presence around your home, like blood spots on sheets or bedding.

Once you know that there are indeed bed bugs in the area where you live, it’s important to pay attention to any possible bites and scratches that might have occurred while fighting them off. Bed bug bites can seem similar to mosquito bites at first glance—they often appear as red dots surrounded by a slight swelling—but they don’t itch like mosquito bites do (or at least not until after a few days). If you notice bumps on yourself or someone else in your home after a skirmish with these bugs, take note of where they appear on the body and how many there were. Then check those areas for other signs of infestation such as small piles of fecal matter or even tiny black specks that resemble pepper grains (these are actually molted exoskeletons from dead insects).

Scratching at bites can cause them to become infected.

When bed bug bites are scratched, they can become infected. Scratching will cause the wounds to be more swollen and itchy and can increase swelling around the surrounding area.

Scratching at your bites can also make them appear redder due to inflammation, which is a normal reaction of your body’s immune system as it tries to fight off infection in the affected areas.

Bed bug bites don’t spread, but scratching at them can make your symptoms worse and cause them to become infected.

The last thing you want to do is scratch at your bites, as this can cause more irritation and even infection. Bed bug bites are itchy because the bugs inject their saliva into the skin when biting us, which causes an immune reaction in our bodies. When we scratch at these bites, they become inflamed and may stay that way for weeks or months (check out our infographic on how long bed bug bites last).

Scratching at your bed bug bites can also spread them to other parts of your body like your arms or hands if you happen to scratch too hard while trying to relieve the itchiness. If you’re experiencing a lot of itching from bed bug bites, try wearing gloves or using calamine lotion instead of scratching until the area has healed up completely.

Conclusion

If you have an infestation of bed bugs in your home, it’s important to contact a professional exterminator who can get rid of them for good. It may also be helpful to follow some simple tips for preventing future infestations, like checking for bugs before getting into a hotel room and keeping your belongings away from other people’s stuff when traveling by plane or train.