Here’s how you can identify and treat bedbug bites at home.
Identifying a Bedbug Bite
Often bedbug bites are in a pattern of three, often referred to as “breakfast, lunch and dinner”. They can be small pin-prick like bites, or larger raised welts, depending on your reaction to the bite. They may burn, sting or itch, however you may feel nothing at all. If you see any suspicious looking marks on your body, investigate a little to make sure they are bedbug bites so you can proceed to get rid of the bugs and treat your bites accordingly.Where do Bedbugs Bite?
Bedbugs will bite anywhere that skin is exposed. If you believe you have bedbugs, then you may want to wear full-length pyjama bottoms, tucked into socks and long sleeve tee-shirt tucked into your bottoms. Bedbugs may still bite your face, neck and hands.Why There are Different Bedbug Bite Reactions
When a bedbug decides to make a midnight snack out of your, they first inject the bite-site with their saliva that contains a chemical that prevents your blood from coagulating (thickening or clotting), making slurping up their meal easier. Some people will have a reaction to this chemical, even though a very small amount has been injected.Treating Bites
If you do not generally have sensitive skin, and are experiencing little to no reaction to the bedbug bites, then there is little cause for concern. Bedbugs are not known to be disease carriers, so you will not need to seek medical attention if you don’t have a strange reaction.Generally an uncomplicated bite can be washed with soap and warm water and will be just fine. You may want to have some anti-itch cream containing soothing ingredients such as oatmeal on hand, which can be very helpful if you have a mild reaction.
An allergic reaction to the bites will develop anywhere fro 24 to 36 hours after you have been bitten. If your bites are very itchy and/or burning, you should wash them in soap and water, then treat them with a small amount of antihistamine or apply some ice to the area if you prefer to go the natural way.
The information about bed bugs that I have researched, collected is to help the growing numbers of bed bug sufferers.