Home Remedies for Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs have made a comeback. Once relegated to the dingiest of cheap motels and flophouses, in 2010 bed bugs began appearing in higher-end accommodations, residences, and other buildings in the United States. In August 2010, even New York City's Empire State Building reported an infestation.
If you are staying in a hotel or other accommodation, there's not much you can do to prevent bed bugs bites, because they are nearly invisible to the naked eye and you probably won't spot them until it's too late. If you notice small dark flakes on the walls, the woodwork around the bed (particularly the headboard), the mattress, and especially the sheets, then find another hotel: the black flakes are blood spots tracked by bed bugs.
If, however, you have bed bugs in your home, then finding another bed is not likely an option. Getting rid of the bugs is a huge job, and simply washing your sheets and mattress will not be sufficient. Bug "bombs" that are effective in exterminating other pests such as cockroaches and crickets will not work against bed bugs either. In most cases, you will need to call a professional exterminator.
 Bed Bug |
Different people have different reactions to a bedbug bite, which appear as tiny blister-like projections, red in color and often in neat rows. For some, the bites are not irritating and subside on their own after a few hours. For others with sensitive skin, however, the bites can be painful, leading to allergic reactions, rashes, and a burning, itching sensation.
Before using any kind of home remedy to alleviate this discomfort, you must first prevent bacterial infection. Wash the affected area thoroughly with cold water and disinfectant soap. This should also help you recover more quickly from the pain and swelling of a bedbug bite.
A simple ice cube may help provide immediate relief from pain and swelling; rub the ice cube on the affected area. However, as the ice melts, the itchiness will probably return. One bed bug remedy to reduce your pain and itching in more long-lasting fashion is to take equal quantities of baking soda and salt, and mix these with some water to create a thick paste. Apply this paste liberally to affected areas. You should feel immediate relief; you can apply the paste repeatedly until the bites subside.
Calamine lotion is also effective. Commonly used to alleviate the severe itchiness caused by poison ivy, calamine lotion can be used similarly to treat bedbug bites. Soak a small cotton ball in calamine lotion and rub it into the affected area; the lotion will immediately reduce your itching and inflammation, providing a cooling effect. You can apply calamine lotion as often as needed.
One other treatment is to dissolve two tablets of any effervescent antacid in water, and apply this solution to your bites with a cotton ball.
If you continue to experience strong pain and inflammation, you should consult with your doctor; you may be having a severe allergic reaction that requires professional treatment. However, any of the remedies above should help you through your discomfort.
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