Bug bites are a pretty common occurrence, especially during the hot summer months. And although it is rarely life-threatening, being bitten by a bug on any part of your body can be an immediate buzzkill and may completely limit your motivation to do anything.
Couple this with some serious scratching and itching of your skin and it may leave you feeling extremely frustrated!
Fortunately, there are a couple of easy ways to heal bug bites that don’t require you to have deep medical knowledge. All you need is a couple of over-the-counter medications and a lot of patience.
If you don’t know where to start, this article contains our top tips and tricks to help you heal a bug bite.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Bug Bite?
Bug bites usually leave a reddish lump on the skin. This is often quite painful or itchy, or may even be a combination of the two!
Some people may have a mild allergic reaction to a bug bite which could cause a much larger area surrounding the sting or bite to become red, painful, and swollen. This should pass in a few days, but if it continues to cause discomfort, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor.
How To Treat A Bug Bite
Most bug bites are completely harmless but some can spread increasingly dangerous diseases such as the Zika virus or even malaria. In this instance, it’s important to treat the bug bite as quickly as possible.
You should follow the tips below for a mild reaction to a bug bite:
- Before you do anything, make sure to thoroughly wash the affected area with soap and water. This will clean it ready for you to apply ointment.
- If there’s swelling, apply a cloth or flannel dampened with very cold water or even packed with ice to the direct area of the bug bite. Hold it there for anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes.
- You should also raise the affected area to above the level of your heart to reduce the swelling (if it is on an arm or a leg).
- To manage the pain, try to take painkillers regularly. They will not always be suitable for everyone, so it may be in your best interests to ask a professional for some advice if you’re a little unsure about what to do. Make sure to read the accompanying leaflet.
- To relieve itching, we’d suggest considering over-the-counter treatments like a hydrocortisone cream or antihistamine tablets, for example. Again, this depends on the severity of your bite.
- If you’re looking to reduce the risk of developing an infection, try to avoid scratching the area without bursting any of the blisters that form. If a child has been bitten, quickly clean and trim their fingernails. If it’s a baby who has received a bug bite, we’d recommend purchasing some anti-scratch mittens to prevent the bite from becoming infected.
When To Worry About A Bug Bite
The majority of people have a pretty limited response to a bug bite, noticing only a small, itchy, pink bump forming in just 20 minutes of the bite. Any itching tends to occur within 24-48 hours whereas the bite begins to heal over a couple of days.
In terms of properly healing a bug bite, you may be looking at a healing timeline of around a week before your skin returns to normal!
It’s pretty rare for a bug bite to cause serious problems. However, it may cause more severe allergic reactions in some people that result in more intense breathing difficulties, swelling of the face and mouth, and extreme dizziness. In these circumstances, this would be classed as a medical emergency.
Other symptoms might include vomiting, a racing heart, and nausea. However, bug bites might also become infected. Prominent signs of early infection might include the following:
- Area tenderness
- Injury swelling
- Hives
- Trouble breathing
- Fluid or pus coming from the affected area
- Red streaks stemming from the bug bite
If you experience any of these symptoms, you might need to be put on a course of antibiotics to properly heal the bug bite.
Summary
All in all, there’s no exact way to heal a bug bite. Every bite differs which means you must treat it accordingly. However, you can apply creams and ice to effectively treat and reduce the main effects of one of these bites. We’d recommend doing this as soon as possible to help you heal your bug bite as quickly as you can.
