Bedbugs are nothing less than nocturnal blood suckers and they can ruin a good night’s rest. If you are having a hard time sleeping because of these miniature vampires, then it probably means that your bed has a bedbug infestation. And if you’re feeling allergy symptoms mentioned here, you also need to visit an allergy clinic. Here are the ways by which you know you have bedbug bites.

Don’t Let The Bedbugs Bite – What To Know?

Bedbugs are very small, brownish-red critters that come alive at night, literally. They are nocturnal creatures and the places where they thrive are old, unkempt, and musty beds and mattresses. Their main source of sustenance is blood and they can bite animals as well as humans to get their food. Bedbugs can be found almost anywhere.

Bedbugs are natural and expert hitchhikers. Their infestation can spread like wildfire. If you come home from a holiday or somewhere else and there are bedbugs in that location, then it’s highly probable that you’ll be bringing in some critters from vacation as well. They can latch onto luggage, clothes, handbags, and other things.

The places where bedbugs can hide and thrive include:

• The seams of the mattress
• Underneath the headboard
• Inside the frame of the bed
• Inside the spring box of the bed
• Wedged in the cracks of the bed or other furniture
• In the divots of the suitcase
• In the folds of clothes

Bedbug bites are not dangerous to human health at all. They are not poisonous or harmful to the skin, in any way, shape, or form, but the bites can be quite itchy, so that is an issue. However, bedbugs can cause allergic reactions in people who have insect allergies. So, it’s important to manage the infestation and prevent serious bites and flare-ups.

Bedbugs can lead to anemia in pets, like ticks, but the duration is spanned over a long time, but it can be a bit serious if you let it go unnoticed for too long.

Symptoms Of Bedbug Bites

Bedbug bites are different from normal insect bites and here are some symptoms that are necessary to pinpoint these itchy welts.

• Itching, especially at night
• Red, raised spots, similar to inflammation
• Mild pain and burning sensation

Usually, the target areas of bedbugs for bites are:

• Legs
• Arms
• Neck
• Chest
• Face

People who have insect allergies are more prone to serious symptom aggravation and it can lead to an allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is the difficulty in breathing, a lot of swelling on the face, and in worst cases, it can lead to death. Soo, it’s a medical emergency. You must go to a hospital or an allergy center immediately. Some of the symptoms that can potentially lead to an anaphylactic shock include:

• Swelling on the face
• Tightening of the chest
• Wheezing and coughing
• Difficulty in breathing
• Extremely upset stomach
• Nausea and vomiting
• Overall loss of appetite
• Irregular heartbeat
• Flaring of patches on the skin
• Foaming in the mouth

Usually, bedbug bites are not even felt, while you’re sleeping and you will only discover them in the morning when you take a look at your body. The reason why is bedbugs inject an anesthetic or numbing agent as well as a blood-stopping agent when they bite the skin.

This can prevent you from feeling the bite and the skin won’t even bleed, rather it will raise like a big pimple. However, in a lot of cases, people do feel the bite and the itching can wake them up from sleep and that’s also very discomforting. So, a treatment is needed.

Treatment For Bedbug Bites

The treatment for bedbug bites is pretty standard and since they’re not life-threatening, a little bit of topical treatment will go a long way. Here are some modes of treatment that you can try:

Topical Itch Creams

The most effective and simple mode of treatment is applying anti-itch cream. These creams are available over-the-counter and they help a lot in alleviating the itch and also get rid of the redness and swelling with regular use. It’s advised to use the cream twice a day or as needed.

There are different variants available, like creams, lotions, or gels, but your goal is to look for something with hydrocortisone in a concentration of 1%.

Icing

If the bites are very severe and frequent and they also burn, then you can use an ice pack to cool the area down as well as numb the burning sensation. The icy cold temperature is going to shock the area and tone down the discomfort.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are perfect for itches as well as allergies, so always keep a bit of them on hand, in case of bedbug bite emergencies. Antihistamines can numb the itchy feeling and they can also reduce internal swelling. You can take a couple of antihistamines to help with the symptoms and give immediate relief.

Steroid Creams

If the itching is unbearable and you have some allergic issues with bedbug bites, then you need to take things up a notch by using steroid creams. If the bedbug bites are bigger than a normal-sized pimple and it hurts and itches a lot, then you might need steroid creams. They’re also a good option for treating bleeding welts and bites so that an infection doesn’t rear its head.

Soap Wash

Last but not least, a preliminary treatment mode for bedbug bites is using water and soap and washing the area where the bite is. This cleans the area and also gets rid of any germs that might be present on the surface. You can wash the area as many times as you want, but twice a day is more than enough to keep the bite safe from infections. This will also alleviate your urge to keep itching the area.

How To Deal With Bedbug Infestation?

This is probably the most important thing to do when dealing with bedbugs and that’s to get rid of the problem. Here are the things you can do to get rid of a bedbug infestation and also prevent it.

Steam Them Up

One thing that can kill bedbugs is temperature. Steaming your bedding at 100 degrees centigrade or more can obliterate the existence of all bedbugs as well as the eggs. So, whenever you see an infestation of bedbugs, grab your steamer and go to town.

Ventilate

Musty beds and unkempt bedding are the perfect breeding ground for bedbugs. If you live somewhere very stuffy, with zero ventilation, then you should open the windows and let some fresh air in. Also, turn on the fan and let the air circulate throughout because it’s going to get rid of the musty smell and potential bedbug infestation.

Change The Bedding Frequently

You will need to change the bedding frequently. A lot of the time, not changing the bedsheets can lead to trapped moisture in the hidden crevices, which is the perfect place for bedbugs to grow and multiply in population.

Conclusion

Scratching your skin off while being half asleep, isn’t the most peaceful way to end your day. So, treat those bedbug bites and hit the hay without any worries. People with allergies must see an allergy doctor for the bedbug bites treatment.