Skin Treatment For Bed Bug Bite

Bed bugs are tiny (about 0.6 centimeters in length) parasites that multiply rapidly once they infest a home. They feed on the blood of humans, animals, and birds.

Though the parasites were somewhat eradicated by intensive spraying of pesticides like DDT in the US during the 1950s.  In the sixties, DDT was banned due to environmental concerns.  The bugs have resurfaced again.  They are found everywhere in the world thanks to extensive tourism activity.

What happens when a bed bug bites

A bed bug lives for one year on the staple diet of human blood.  A bed bug attaches its huge stings to the human skin and sucks in blood for about ten minutes.  The stings weigh twice as much as their weight.

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If you have sensitive skin, the bite may lead to blisters, rashes, and also swelling.  The rashes resemble hives and may become pus-ridden.  Other possible side effects are stress and sleeplessness.

For a bed bug bite, should refrain from scratching the area affected and treat the bite as promptly as possible.

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Here are some other tips to help you treat the skin for a bed bug bite

• The age-old therapy of applying hot or cold poultices for alleviating the itching is quite effective; you have to opt for either of the two depending on how beneficial it is especially for you
• Antihistamine tablets are found to be effective against itching, like Claritin and Zyrtec.  These tablets do not cause sleepiness
• Tagamet and Zantac are also effective anti-histamines against the problem
• Benadryl tablets also help, but they tend to cause sleepiness and are best when taken in the night
• The bed bug’s saliva contains substances that aggravate pain and itching after its bite.  Some steroids like hydrocortisone are known to lessen the itching
• Prednisone, another steroid used to treat poison ivy problems, does not alleviate the problems of bed bug bite
• Besides oral medication, there are several anti-septic lotions, ointments, and creams that can provide relief from bed bug bites
• You should buy products that include (1) Pramoxine – to combat the pain, and (2) Diphenhydramine – to take care of the itching
• The best way to treat the problem is to combine oral medication with a suitable lotion/cream application

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Alternative therapy for bed bug bite

• Lavender perfumed sprays can contain the irritation caused by the bite
• Red walnut, black pepper, and maybe red pepper aromas too can keep the pain and irritation at bay
• Mint scented sprays can keep the bugs away
• Though garlic and cayenne are effective against bug to bite their aromas are too strong and pungent to be used in sprays