Over the years that have past, there have been reports of bed bug infestation increase in many apartments and homes in Singapore. Most of the affected people have been searching for different ways of eliminating them as they are a nuisance and affect the quality of sleep one gets at night. As this fight continues, there is another issue of how to deal with the kind of a bite you get from these bed bugs. It is important to first of all make sure that the bites you have on your skin are caused by a bed bug before looking for the best way of treating them. This is because different individuals react differently to these bites. There are some who do not react while others react by getting extreme itches and rash. Below are some important ways in which to effectively treat these bites:
Identify the Bed Bugs Bite
This ought to be the first step you take whenever you notice any form of bites on your skin. It would be important to first of all establish whether the bites on your body were caused by a bed bug or not before seeking ways of treating them. Bed bug bites resemble the bites people get from other insects including mosquitoes and this is the reason why it is important to distinguish them. They appear as a reddish bump that appears raised or like a blister. They are also in a unique pattern, mostly occurring in rows of three or five bites. In order to be certain that the bite on your skin indeed belongs to bed bugs, you should check your beddings to see if you get any signs of their infestation. After making sure that they are indeed bites from a bed bug, you should now seek ways of treating them.
Wash the Bites Using Soap and Water
You should wash the area of the skin where you notice the bites with a mild soap and water. You should wet the surface of your hands with enough soap and then rub the lather you create over the affected areas. You should repeat this until the whole area is well covered but do not rinse it as yet. The soap lather should be left to dry over the whole area that was bitten as it offers you an immediate relief from the itching you will be experiencing from the bites. It prevents skin infections in addition to the alleviation of itchiness.
Using Home Remedies to Relieve the Itching
There are quite a number of home remedies that you can turn to relieve itching from the bed bugs bite. You can make a paste using water and baking soda to help alleviate pain and itching on the bitten area. You should add small amounts of water slowly to your baking soda until you get a thick paste that should be applied over the bites. It ought to be left to dry and also stay on the rash for about an hour before you wash it off using some warm water.
You can also apply some lemon juice, witch hazel or St. John’s Wort over the rash using a cotton ball saturated with these natural astringents. You should then dab the rash using the cotton ball to help in drying it out, an act that will help in controlling the itch. The other home remedy you can use is an aloe vera gel that should be 100% aloe vera. This gel ought to be applied as it contains anti-fungal and antibiotic properties. These two properties will be important as they would prevent you from getting secondary infections from the scratching that results from bed bugs bite. You could also treat these bites by taking a bath that you have added peppermint oil to in order to relieve the feel of itching.
Using Tea Tree Oil
You could also deal with the bed bugs bite well using Tea Tree Oil. This is an essential oil that is usually derived from Melaleuca Alternifolia leaves through steam distillation. These leaves are mostly used for medicinal purposes as they are good in dealing with a variety of conditions, bites being included. This oil has anti-fungal and antiseptic properties. This oil should however, be used with a lot of care as there are some claims that it may have several side effects. In its undiluted form, it may cause irritation to the skin and could also cause blisters or redness on the skin. There are also claims that it may alter hormone levels thereby causing breast enlargement that is unexpected in boys. It should not be used internally and should also be avoided if one is breastfeeding or pregnant.
Applying a Steroidal Anti-itch Cream
You can also apply a cream that contains cortisone or hydrocortisone like Cortaid to reduce itching and inflammation. These creams are readily available over the counter and it is recommended that you consult your doctor on the best cream and brand for you to use. Ensure that you follow the directions on your package on how to apply your cream correctly. The cream is usually mild and causes no side effects when used for short periods of time.
Using Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion can be applied to bed bugs bite to offer some symptomatic relief from the itches. It will also help in drying the rash caused by these bites. This lotion is always great as it offers protection to the skin as the affected areas heal.
Taking Oral Antihistamine
Taking oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine (benardyl) will help in controlling the allergic reactions, the rashes and swelling, which are associated with the bed bugs bite. You should ensure that you taje the right dosages by following all the instructions on the packages. Benardyl can cause drowsiness and it should therefore not be taken while you are driving. You can also get an antihistamine that is topically applied on the skin area that is affected.
Conclusion
All the above are some of the remedies and ways you can turn to in the treatment of bed bugs bite. They are great in helping you find relief from the itching that results from these bed bug bites. It is important to note that you do not necessarily need medical treatment for the bites you get from a bed bug. From a strict medical perspective, they pose little threat to human beings.
