Worried your rash may have been caused by bed bugs? Discover how to check for signs of a bed bug rash and what you can do to help reduce the itching.
Bed bug rash treatment isn't a long-term solution for an infestation, but it can provide relief from painful burning and itching. The telltale raised red welts occur when a cluster of bed bugs creep over your sleeping body, leaving an unsightly feeding trail in their wake.
These home invaders feast on your blood every five to 10 days but can go more than a year without feeding. Professional bed bug treatment is the only way to prevent future bites. Here's what doctors have to say about treating existing bed bug bites.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE BED BUG BITES
Do not give in to bed bug bites. If scratched, germs and bacteria can be deposited under broken skin. This leads to infection and worsens your bed bug symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises:"Bed bug bites usually do not pose a serious medical threat. The best way to treat a bite is to avoid scratching the area and apply antiseptic creams or lotions and take an antihistamine."
American Family Physician speaks directly to the bed bug rash, agreeing:
"There is no evidence that any treatment alters the natural history of bed bug dermatitis."
That's because, left unscratched, the rash and bites self-resolve within a few days to weeks. There simply is no specific bed bug rash treatment that will make the bites go away any faster, despite any claim of home remedies. The Journal of the American Medical Association reiterates the point and adds further details about stronger treatments:
"There is no definitive treatment for bed bug [bites]. Symptomatic relief for pruritic bites can be obtained using over-the-counter topical antihistamines or topical corticosteroids. Topical, oral, or intravenous antibiotics may be required when secondary bacterial infections occur. Urgent intramuscular injection with an antihistamine, corticosteroid or epinephrine (adrenaline) may be required for some individuals who develop a systemic allergic reaction to bed bug bites."
HOW TO REDUCE THE ITCHING FROM BED BUGS
Keep in mind that all redness, swelling, burning and itching stem from mild allergic reactions to the saliva of the bed bug. Specifically, the reaction is from a natural anesthetic that prevents you from feeling the bite and waking as they feed. Developing a rash from bed bug bites is common, but you should see a doctor or dermatologist for bed bug rash treatment if any oozing, hives or signs of infection occur.To get home relief from the itch of a bed bug bite, the American Academy of Dermatology (ADA) recommends:
"Wash the bites with soap and water. This will help prevent a skin infection and help reduce itchiness. If the bites itch, apply a corticosteroid cream to the bites. You can get a weak form of this medicine without a prescription at your local drugstore. Stronger corticosteroids require a prescription."
HOW TO GET RID OF BED BUGS FAST
Unfortunately, even if you killed the bug that bit you and received bed bug rash treatment from a doctor, your bed bug problem still won't be resolved since there is never just one culprit. Attacks will continue until every last intruder is relentlessly pursued and eradicated, top to bottom.The best long-term bed bug rash treatment is getting rid of the bed bugs themselves. Call now to get your free bed bug inspection and find out how to extend your Terminix� Bed Bug Guarantee from 30 to 90 days.
