Bed bugs are parasites that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They can suck the blood of other living organisms with their tube-like mouth. Notably, bed bugs bite badly and give an itching effect on the skin. Besides their bites also causes redness in the skin and other problems.
So, the most important issue amongst the people sick of them is how to stop bed bug bites from itching. Moreover, bed bugs also bite infants and this can be very painful to them. There are several natural ways and other home remedies that can help soothe the bites of these parasites.
It is plainly obvious that while itching your red, burning, and painful bed bug bites, you must have wondered, how to stop bed bug bites from itching. Bed bug bites can cause physical and mental trauma. They are proof of the fact that you have these nuisances as pests in your home and you might try your best to conceal them, just to avoid being discovered. In addition to that, they are painful and take a few days to calm down.
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How Long Do Bed Bug Bites Take to Show Up?
It is unlikely that you will notice a bed bug bite as soon as it happens. This is owing to the fact that bed bugs secrete a small amount of anesthetic when they bite humans. This prevents the feeling of pain and also aids the bed bugs in feeding without any disturbance. It might take a few hours to days for the bed bug bites to show up.
What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
The most appropriate definition of a bed bug bite would be a raised, warm, swollen red nodule on your skin. They may be painful and itchy, in most cases. They tend to appear in tiny clusters, in a zig-zag fashion along an imaginary line on the skin of humans. This is because bed bugs tend to form tiny clusters when they feed. Most bed bug bites are found in the upper half of the body, though that is not a hard and fast rule.
How Long Do Bed Bug Bites Usually Take To Subside?
In most cases, bed bug bites will subside within a week or two if they don’t get infected. Repeatedly itching the bug bite may lead to breaking the skin. This can further lead to secondary infections.
How to Stop Bed Bug Bites From Itching?
Usually, bed bug bites subside by themselves. However, you might need a bit of help dealing with the symptoms of bed bug bites if there is a lot of itching or swelling. You could try the following remedies:
- Topical steroid creams are helpful with pain and itching.
- Anti-itching creams are easily available in pharmacies. Calamine lotion is a good example of this.
- Oral histamine syrups can also be useful if you have a number of bites all over your body.
- A painkiller can help you deal with the pain that arises from bed bug bites.
- You could use antibiotics if you suffer from secondary infections.
4 Home Remedies for Bed Bug Bites
Home remedies are a good way to go if you do not feel the need for over-the-counter medication. There are a number of household items that you can put to use to help you with the itching and swelling that comes along with bed bug bites. They are as follows:
- Cold compress/ice, to cool down the area and reduce itching
- Toothpaste – It works much the same as a cold compress. The menthol in toothpaste will have the same cooling effect.
- Oatmeal baths – Crushed oatmeal along with water, formulated into a thick paste supposedly works by calming down the allergic reaction.
- A mixture of baking soda and water is also known to cool down the affected area and reduce inflammation.
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Ways to Calm Bug Bites on Infants!
Infants and pets are the most susceptible to bed bug bites, for a number of reasons. It might be extremely painful to watch your little baby covered in bed bug bites. Here is what you can do about it:
- Wash the affected area, using mild soap and warm water.
- Pat dry with a towel and apply some calamine lotion.
- If your child is big enough, advise him/her to not itch the area.
- Trim your child’s nails so that they cannot do much damage by itching.
- Some parents even put on mittens for their children so that they are unable to itch.
- Speak to your child’s pediatrician if it has been over two weeks and the bed bug bites have not subsided.
Final Words
Although bed bugs in general are a serious problem, bed bug bites may not be. Call an exterminator and have them dealt with as soon as possible rather than putting up with the discomfort and inconvenience of having these pests crawl all over your bed. The majority of the time, bedbug bites heal in 1 to 2 weeks. Apply an over-the-counter or prescription steroid cream to reduce swelling and itching to relieve symptoms. To lessen burning and itching, take an oral antihistamine.
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