Treating Bed Bug Bites – Bed Bugs Guide

Treating Bedbug Bites

This is the thing people are usually most concerned about when they find out they've got bed bugs: how do they stop that itching, and are the bites dangerous?

First of all, it's important to know that not everybody reacts to the bites in the same way. A lot of people don't feel or notice them at all - you're bitten when you're asleep, and the bed bug will inject a chemical into the bite that stops the blood from clotting and keeps you from feeling it. Many people are allergic to this chemical - if you're itching, or seeing a reaction on your skin, then you're one of them. Most people's allergies are mild in the sense that they aren't dangerous. It's highly annoying, and your skin will itch like crazy, but it is extremely rare for anyone to have a serious health problem based on a bed bug bite (though there have been a few cases where people have gone into shock. Obviously, if you see something that seems like it's a more serious symptom than itching you need to see a doctor).

How do I know for sure that what's on my skin is a bed bug bite?

It's actually pretty hard to tell, because they can look like little bumps, a rash, or just reddish skin. There's nothing really distinctive about them, and many doctors misdiagnose them as some other skin condition. They're basically just an allergic reaction, so they could look like a lot of different skin conditions.

Here's one example of what they could look like - a bunch of little red welts (thanks to Martin for giving permission to use the photo):

Here's another one, this time thanks to Andrew. You can see in the picture below that the bites could easily be confused with a rash:

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Treating Bed Bug Bites - Bed Bugs Guide