How to Treat Bed Bug Bites
If you have recently gone to bed only to wake up with small, red bug bites on you, you may be dealing with an infestation of bed bugs. Most commonly found inside of your mattress and box spring, bed bugs are a pesky parasite that will feed on blood.
They tend to come out in the middle of the night when you’re sound asleep. Bed bugs do venture away from your bed area, so you’ll often find them in various cracks and gaps throughout the house, underneath furniture, in your couches or around electrical wall outlets.
How do you treat these irritated bites? Read on to find out more.
Applying Ice
The most irritating part of a bed bug bite is how inflamed and irritated it can become. You can apply ice to the bites to help with treating bed bug bites and to reduce some of the inflammation and itching that’s going on.
Try to keep your hands off of the bites so you don’t break the skin and they don’t become more irritated.
Make a Cinnamon Paste
Cinnamon is a very effective way to treat a variety of insect bites. It has natural properties that act as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. You can apply a little bit of the paste to each bite before covering it up with a band-aid. This will help to seal and heal the area.
Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion can be used for a variety of different skin conditions. A very small amount rubbed onto the bed bug bites will reduce itchiness, pain and redness. It can make the skin feel much cooler.
Even if you’re not currently experiencing itching from your bed bug bites, applying a little bit of calamine lotion can speed up the healing process so you don’t become itchy at any point.
Baking Soda Paste
Combine some baking soda with a little bit of water. Apply the paste to your bed bug bites to neutralize the chemicals that are inside of the bites. Baking soda can also act as an anti-inflammatory agent that will reduce swelling and itch. This is a product that you probably already have in your home.
The U.S. has seen an increase in bed bug infestations in the past few years. Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia have experienced the same, so you’ll want to be prepared.
Because bed bugs are able to breed incredibly fast. Females lay up to five eggs each day. This is why bed bugs are so difficult to contain. As babies, bed bugs are hard to spot. A grown bed bug can get to be the size of an apple seed.
If you suspect that you have a bed bug problem, you’ll want to wash your bedding in very hot water each day. Vacuum your mattress, box spring and underneath your bed each day.
If you can, replace your mattress and box spring. If you do succumb to some bites, treat them immediately to prevent any complications or infection.
