Have you ever had a bug infestation in your house? You see them scurrying around as they move things and hoover up food in the kitchen. The next day you end up with little red spots all over your body? These are bed bugs. They have a reputation for being sneaky but can be defeated by using these methods to kill them. We at getting Rid Bed Bugs have had many people asking us the question “how to get rid of these bites” especially when there are no signs of bed bugs. We hope that the information in this article will answer your questions and help get rid of these pesky bites. It’s not easy to tell the difference between bed bug bites and mosquito bites. But, with a little help from the exterminator, you can definitely get rid of those pesky little critters that are biting you and taking over your home. Since bed bugs are small, they can bite you anywhere. Once they bite your skin, the saliva from their bite can cause an allergic reaction making the bitten area uncomfortable and itchy. Below is a non-exhaustive list of home remedies for bed bites that you could use to stop your skin from itching and help you get some sleep.
How To Make Bed Bug Bites Stop Itching
Introduction
If you’re on this page, you likely have bed bug bites and are probably having a difficult time finding relief from the itching. We know from first-hand experience how frustrating it can be to find treatment for bed bug bites, which is why we’ve written this guide. This article provides simple solutions that we found to be effective, along with some background on what causes the itchiness in the first place.
The next few sections of this post will address the following topics:
- The science behind bed bug bites — they are more than just insect bites!
- Treatments you can apply directly to your skin (these are what typically provide fast relief)
- Internal treatments that are often effective as well if you take them regularly (some may also help in relieving itchiness)
Identify the bites.
You should look for small bites in a line, or a cluster of bites. Bed bug bites are typically on the upper body and exposed skin. Look for bumps that might be the shape of an insect or looks like a mosquito bite but is in a line.
Use an over-the-counter antihistamine.
- Use an over-the-counter antihistamine.
- Look for a cream that contains 1% hydrocortisone. This will kill the bacteria, reduce inflammation, and relieve itching and other symptoms of bed bug bites. Be careful not to use too much, though — you can get skin irritation from using too much hydrocortisone. Also avoid using this treatment if you have rosacea or another skin condition that causes redness and rashes under pressure or stress (like eczema).
- If possible, choose a cream rather than lotion because it will relieve your itch more quickly if you have broken blood vessels when you get bitten by bugs like ticks or fleas/ticks
Clean the bite area with soap and water.
- Clean the bite area with soap and water.
This is a step that’s often overlooked, but it’s very important to thoroughly clean the area where you were bitten so as not to spread any infection or bacteria that may have been picked up during your day-to-day activities. Make sure to use a mild soap (some people prefer using Dr. Bronner’s) and lukewarm water; this will help prevent irritation or burning of your skin. If you’re concerned about getting soap in an open wound, drag a cotton ball across the bite instead—the wetness of the cotton will be enough to cleanse it without irritating your skin further.
Apply an antibiotic cream to the bite site.
To prevent infection, clean the bite site with soap and water. Then apply an antibiotic cream to help prevent infection. If you have a bandage available, cover the bite thoroughly and secure it with safety pins or medical tape. To ensure that you don’t accidentally rub off any of your new medicine, try using a clean cotton swab to apply it instead of your fingers (or if you have no bandages available at all). Wash your hands afterwards so as not to spread germs around!
Wash your bedding in hot water and dry it at a high setting.
Like most household pests, bed bugs can be killed with hot water and high heat. Wash all your bedding in hot water to kill any bugs, eggs or larvae. If you can’t wash something—like a mattress cover or pillow case—put it in the dryer on high heat for at least 20 minutes to kill any bugs that may be there.
If you do not have access to a washing machine or dryer (or if you’re too grossed out by the thought of putting dirty sheets through your washer), you can still treat the item with cold water, which will prevent eggs from hatching when they come into contact with it again after drying. One method is placing items in a plastic bag and then putting that bag inside another larger plastic bag filled with ice cubes and water for 24 hours; this will also kill any live adults on the surface of fabrics like fabric softener sheets that may have been used previously but not yet been laundered off properly during routine laundering cycles.”
Use an over-the-counter corticosteroid spray or cream.
If you have bed bug bites and are experiencing itching, your doctor may recommend using an over-the-counter corticosteroid spray or cream. These are available at pharmacies and can be used safely on children. Corticosteroids help stop the itching caused by bed bug bites. They also reduce swelling, which is another side effect of a bite or sting reaction.
Corticosteroids do not kill the bugs themselves—they only treat your symptoms—but they’re safe to use if you follow directions carefully. Be sure to follow up with your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve after a few days of treatment so they can see what else might be causing them!
Consider taking a bath in baking soda or epsom salt.
Baking soda and epsom salt are common household items that can help alleviate the itching associated with bed bug bites.
Baking soda is an alkaline substance and will neutralize the acid from a bed bug bite. Epsom salt is also known to relieve itching, though it’s best used when taken internally with water.
To use baking soda or epsom salt in your bath, mix it with warm water until dissolved. If you have sensitive skin, be careful not to over-soak yourself—it may take some experimentation before you find what works best for you!
Bed bugs can make you feel miserable, but there are several things you can do to make their bites stop itching!
Bed bugs can make you feel miserable, but there are several things you can do to make their bites stop itching!
Bed Bug Bites: The Itch Must Go On
- Over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl and Diphenhydramine will help relieve the itching sensation that comes with bed bug bites. You can also use an over-the-counter corticosteroid spray or cream like triamcinolone acetonide. This is especially useful for those who have had a large amount of bites from multiple locations on your body. However, it’s important to note that these treatments may cause side effects such as swelling in the skin where applied or even more severe reactions if used incorrectly! Be sure to follow package directions carefully when applying topical medications—especially if you have sensitive skin or allergies!
- Take a bath in baking soda (or epsom salt) for about 15 minutes before bedtime every night until you no longer need it—this may take up to two weeks depending on how severe your reaction was initially after being bitten by bed bugs!
Conclusion
Bed bugs are a painful nuisance that can take over your life. Thankfully, with the right steps and methods, you can get rid of them and make the bites stop itching. If you want to know more about bed bug infestation or how to prevent one, check out our other articles on this subject!
- 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
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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 |
- Removes insect venom, saliva, and other irritants left under the skin using suction
- By removing the irritant, the body stops producing the reaction that is causing you to itch & swell
- Works on: mosquitoes, bees, wasps, biting flies, no-see-ums, chiggers, sea lice & more
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Additional Info :
Color | Single |
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 1 Inches |
Width | 3 Inches |
Length | 5 Inches |
Weight | 0.01984160358 Pounds |
- Helps relieve itching and pain from chiggers (redbugs), ticks, mosquitos, no-see-ums, biting flies, gnats, sand fleas and other bug bites
- Formulated with 10% benzocaine, a topical anesthetic used to help relieve pain and itch associated with bug bites and stings
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Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 3 Inches |
Width | 2.5 Inches |
Length | 3 Inches |
Weight | 0.375 Pounds |
- 5% TOPICAL LIDOCAINE CREAM MAXIMUM STRENGTH – This numbing gel cream temporarily relieves pain, itching, soreness, burning, reduces swelling, and protects irritated skin
- FAST-ACTING & LONG-LASTING – This lidocaine gel cream begins numbing in 3-5 minutes; peaks after 20-25 minutes; lasts for 1 hour from its peak. Enhanced with Liposomal Technology
- EXTRA SOOTHING & HYDRATING FEATURES – Infused with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, this topical anesthetic numb cream soothes and protects the skin from irritations. Best for minor cuts, minor scrapes, minor burns, insect bites, anorectal disorders
- ODOR-FREE, OIL-FREE & NON-GREASY – Doctor recommended. Water-based skin numbing cream for easy application and no-mess removal
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Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 1.5 Inches |
Width | 1.7 Inches |
Length | 2.3 Inches |
Weight | 0.084375 Pounds |
- After Bite Original AfterBite – the original, trusted Itch Eraser for more than 30 years.
- Instant itch relief for bites from mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and other common insects.
- The proprietary mix of soothing ingredients acts fast when you need it most.
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 3.94 Inches |
Width | 3.94 Inches |
Length | 3.94 Inches |
Weight | 0.03 Pounds |