Many people do not even suspect that now bedbug bites can become a big problem. Even in a modern comfortable apartment there is no guarantee that these blood-sucking insects will not start. You can suffer at the camp site, at a party and even at a hotel. After this, some people have a question: how to smear bedbugs? After all, these insects feed at night, when it is impossible to protect themselves from them. And they leave bites itchy and often painful. Children are especially affected by them, so every mother should know how to smear the bites of bedbugs in a child. The correct selection of drugs will help to avoid severe inflammation and an allergic reaction. Also, lubrication of bites helps reduce itching, which prevents infection of the wounds.
Bites of bed bugs in humans
How to smear skin? The question is mainly those who have severe itching or inflammation. But even without these unpleasant symptoms, you can detect bites and begin treatment. To do this, you need to learn to distinguish between bites of bugs and other insects, as well as distinguish them from an allergic reaction. Sometimes this can be difficult. But there are some characteristic features of just such bites. First of all, bedbugs bite only at night, mainly in the morning, when a person is completely relaxed. Therefore, the reaction to bites appears some time after waking up.
One insect sucks blood several times, so the bite marks are usually located in one line. There may be several such tracks. They consist of red spots with a dot in the middle. The bug bites through the skin, but before it releases an anesthetic, so that the victim does not feel pain. The bite site itself can then become crusty, sometimes a yellowish or clear liquid or even pus is released from it. The skin around it swells and reddens; in the presence of an allergic reaction, edema can be very strong.
Bedbugs in children
How to smear the skin of a child, every mother should know. It is advisable to have suitable means in the medicine cabinet in advance, since an allergic reaction can be very strong. Children have thin and delicate skin, so they are more often attacked by bedbugs. And they carry their bites harder. These places swell, blush, and itch. An allergic reaction often occurs. Traces after bites can last for several weeks.
If the bites are not very inflamed or itchy, the parents may not immediately pay attention to them. In this case, the bugs will bite the child every night. Such frequent blood loss can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Moreover, often parents do not even suspect that the weakness and pallor of the child arose from the bites of bedbugs.
How can you smear the skin in children? Not all ointments, and especially folk remedies, can be used for babies. Usually most of them can be used after 12 years. But there are many good drugs that are approved for use from 1 or 3 years. It can be gels - “Fenistil”, “Elidel”, ointment “Bepanten”. But they must be prescribed by a doctor. Therefore, with severe itching, the development of inflammation or an allergic reaction, be sure to contact a medical institution.
Consequences of bites
In most cases, there is nothing to worry about if a person is bitten by a bug. Most often, such bites pass independently in a few days, and some people do not even cause severe itching. But usually the reaction to bedbug bites is the same for different people, only for some the symptoms are stronger, for others it is weaker.
- Itching appears in all victims of bedbugs. There is an irresistible desire to comb the place of the bite. Itching usually takes 3-4 days. But it is because of him that one has to look for what to smear the bites of bugs. After all, when combing, you can bring an infection into the wound.
- Edema also appears frequently. It usually begins to grow almost immediately after a bite. And in people with allergies, edema can increase very quickly. Especially strong tumors appear in children. A characteristic feature of edema after a bug bite is that the skin acquires a bright red color.
- Pain is rare. Mostly they are in children, as they have very thin skin. Moreover, their pain can be very severe. Therefore, it is so important to know how to smear bedbugs.
- Sometimes a severe allergic reaction occurs. In addition to standard redness, swelling, and itching, other symptoms may appear, such as coughing, runny nose, sneezing, headache, rash all over the body. Very rarely, but still possible respiratory failure or anaphylactic shock.
Treatment features
Not all people experience such serious symptoms from bedbug bites. How can you smear your skin? Only those to whom these insects cause serious discomfort are wondering. Usually, itching and soreness disappear on their own after a couple of days, swelling and redness may last for a week, but they do not cause problems.
But often you still have to decide how to smear the bites of bedbugs. To do this, you can use various ointments, creams, gels or solutions. They must have anti-inflammatory, antipruritic and decongestant effects. Such drugs will help get rid of itching, pain, redness and other uncomfortable sensations. There are no special remedies after bedbugs. What to smear skin in this case, the doctor or the pharmacist can advise.
If such bites are found, it is recommended to take the following actions:
- take a warm bath, it is better with the addition of anti-inflammatory decoctions of herbs, if they are not allergic;
- disinfect the bite places with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, vodka, alcohol tincture of calendula;
- if there is no allergic reaction, but the places of the bites itch, you can try to remove the itching with folk remedies;
- with severe swelling and itching, it is better to use pharmacy drugs;
- if an allergic reaction begins, you may need to see a doctor, especially for children.
Variety of tools
There are no specific drugs for bedbug bites. But there are many remedies that can relieve itching, inflammation, prevent an allergic reaction and infection of the wound. It can be:
- alcohol tinctures of various herbs or other substances, for example, calendula tincture, ammonia, salicylic alcohol;
- various antiseptics or anti-inflammatory drugs in solutions - Menovazin, Dimexidum, hydrogen peroxide;
- ointments with anti-inflammatory effect;
- creams that differ from ointments with a less oily base and less active substance;
- gels that relieve itching and inflammation faster due to faster penetration under the skin.
How to relieve itching?
Most often, a problem arises than to smear the bites of bedbugs so that they do not itch. After all, itching is the most common consequence of the attack of these insects. And sometimes it is so unbearable that a person combes bites, wounds appear in which infection can get. Therefore, it is best to use special tools immediately after the onset of the first symptoms. It relieves itching well:
- ammonia;
- ointment "Afloderm";
- gel "Fenistil";
- "Psilo-balm";
- ointment "Rescuer";
- cream "Baneocin".
Pharmacy products
Now in medicine there are no definite recommendations on how to smear bites of bedbugs in humans. You can use different means purchased in a pharmacy for this. The main thing is that they remove the discomfort. And the choice of the drug depends on which symptoms are manifested more. The following medicines can help:
- Golden Star balm will well disinfect the bite site, relieve swelling and itching;
- Afloderm ointment is used for severe itching;
- propolis alcohol tincture is an antiseptic and relieves inflammation;
- Menovazin solution relieves inflammation, prevents an allergic reaction, and it is recommended to use it with a large number of bites;
- “Tsindol” preparation dries out wounds, prevents their infection;
- Bepanten cream moisturizes and restores the skin well;
- with severe inflammation, ointment "Tsikaderma" is used.
Application of Fenistil
This is a fairly popular antipruritic drug. Therefore, most doctors, when asked what ointment to smear bites of bugs, answer, what is better "Fenistilom". The active substance of this drug is dimethindene maleate. It is an antihistamine with a vasoconstrictor effect. It blocks the work of histamine receptors, responsible for the development of inflammation and itching. Effective drug "Fenistil" after bites of various insects. It quickly relieves swelling, reduces discomfort and painful itching. But it is advisable to spread the bite places immediately after their discovery. It is possible to apply Fenistil even to children after 1 year.
"Psilo-balm"
This is a gel preparation, the main active ingredient of which is diphenhydramine. It is known to many as the drug "Diphenhydramine". "Psilo-balm" also blocks histamine receptors, reduces capillary permeability. The drug has a cooling effect, reduces swelling and inflammation. It helps against itching and pain. It is recommended to use “Psilo-Balm” also in the case when crusts form on the site of the bite, since it effectively dries them. This drug can significantly accelerate the healing and disappearance of bite marks.
Allergic reaction withdrawal
If the bites of bedbugs caused a strong allergic reaction in a person, treatment should be started immediately. Indeed, in such cases, the development of anaphylactic shock is possible. They recommend using antihistamines along with external agents. It can be Tavegil, Suprastin, Claritin or Loratadin.
Of the external remedies that lubricate the bite, the drug "Elidel" can be noted. It is used if the bite has led to an allergic reaction, such as eczema. The drug has anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects. But you can not apply it if a wound develops a bacterial infection.
In the most difficult cases, the doctor may prescribe drugs containing hormones. This may be hydrocortisone ointment, Afloderm, Advantan, Triderm, Elokom and others.
Folk remedies
Previously, everyone knew how to smear the bites of bed bugs, since they were very common. Therefore, in folk medicine, many recipes have been accumulated specifically for these purposes. You can choose a more suitable one. But it is recommended to use them only if there is no allergic reaction, but only itching and slight swelling. There are some of the most effective and simple recipes:
- apply ice to inflamed skin;
- dissolve a little laundry soap, mix with vinegar and grease the bite;
- attach a used tea bag;
- lubricate the bite site with alcohol or alcohol tincture as often as possible;
- well suited for healing wounds and relieving itching of aloe juice or fresh leaf of plantain;
- you can relieve itching and swelling with the help of garlic juice;
- It is recommended to make a strong solution of soda and lubricate the bite;
- squeeze parsley juice or mint leaves into the itchy areas;
- in extreme cases, if there is nothing at hand, you can wipe the inflamed skin with urine, this will help prevent the occurrence of an allergic reaction.
How to protect yourself from bites
If these parasites are found in the apartment, it is necessary to process all the furniture, floor, carpets, bed linen. You can do this yourself or call a special service. But immediately the insects will not disappear, so you need to know how to protect yourself from their bites. There are several recommendations that will help reduce the likelihood of bites and avoid the associated discomfort.
- First you need to inspect the entire bed, especially each slit, process bedding.
- Then, insect access to the sleeping area is limited. To do this, you can put the legs of the bed in a container of water.
- In addition, you can process a sleeping place, the walls near it and furniture with means that repel bed bugs. It can be turpentine, naphthalene, various essential oils.
- It is also necessary to protect the person himself. First of all, going to bed is recommended in closed clothes. Moreover, the cuffs of pajamas should fit snugly to the skin. It is also good to wear socks. And exposed skin should be lubricated with fish oil.
Bite Treatment Reviews
Many people once with horror discover these insects in their homes. Or come from vacation with bite marks. Especially hard for children. Someone seeks help from a doctor, while others try to cope with itching and inflammation on their own. Most of all positive reviews from Fenistil and Elidel gels. Afloderm ointment or Golden Star balm also relieve itching. Some prefer folk methods. The most positive reviews about the lubrication of bites by a solution of soda, peppermint or garlic juice. Such an independent treatment can be effective if the reaction to bites is not very strong. Otherwise, it is better to seek the help of a doctor.