Daily Archives: February 24, 2014

Don't let the bed bug bites! Learn the truth about the effectiveness of bed bug repellent, what you need to do to prevent the bites and how to get rid of those blood sucking pests.

Bed bugs the idea of having these fast growing urban pest in your bed and house is enough to send anyone running for an insect repellent immediately. After all, realizing there are thousands of these little brown bugs crawling in the mattress that can bite and suck your blood in the dead of night not only can ruin your sleep but is also enough to affect you psychologically and harm one's quality of life.

As such, if you have been bitten by bed bugs, you may feel the need to invest in some sort of bed bug repellent (spray, lotion or cream) for the skin to repel and prevent further bites.

However, do these repellant insecticides really work to prevent bed bugs and their bites? Here are some facts...

According to Dr. Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., an associate professor in Urban Pest Management at Virginia Tech's Department of Entomology, they tested several repellant insecticides on bed bugs and found that none of the repellent insecticides have had any effect against bed bugs.

He says on MSNBC:

...we have found bed bugs to be very determined little creatures and I think it would be hard to stop a hungry bed bug. In addition, the repellants that you buy for mosquitoes last only a couple of hours before the effects begin to wear off. If you apply a repellant before getting into bed, a lot of the material could rub off on the sheets etc. Also, bed bugs are most active between 3 and 5 am, which is several hours after the time you would have put the on the repellant to go to bed. Bottom line, a repellant may prevent you from getting a bite or two but I do not believe that they will significantly hinder a hungry bed bug.

These results have also been further confirmed by the University of Kentucky. According to them:

Conventional insecticides used as skin repellents such as OFF (DEET) to deter ticks and mosquitoes, do not appear to be effective against bed bugs. Attempting to avoid being bitten by applying insect repellent at bedtime is not recommended. Sleeping with the lights on is not likely to deter hungry bed bugs either.

Other Frequently Asked Repellent Methods For Killing Bed Bugs

See the rest here:
Does Bed Bug Repellent Work To Prevent Bed Bug Bites?

When it comes to bedbug bites, everyone reacts differently. Some people just have small red marks, while others have a more severe allergic reaction to the bedbug bites. The best treatment options for bedbug bites include anti-itch cream, topical antiseptics (to ward off infection), and oral antihistamines. These treatments for bedbug bites are over-the-counter. If you have a severe reaction to bedbug bites, see a doctor; you may need a corticosteroid. See Also: Is This a Bed Bite?; Are Bedbug Bites Dangerous?; and Pictures of BedBug Bites

For mild bedbug bites, an antibiotic cream is recommended. I like Neosporin + Plus Pain Relief. This maximum strength first aid antibiotic cream is available over the counter in a variety of sizes, and can be taken along while traveling.

I like the Neosporin spray for small children that don't want to have a cream rubbed on them, or are sensitive to you touching their "boo-boos." It's also extremely convenient to carry, as you can throw it in a purse or a pocket, even add it to a keyring.

Originally posted here:
Treatments for Bedbug Bites - Hotel Reviews - Resort and ...