Bedbugs hide in bed all day, but wake up at night to bite sleeping humans, usually on the face, neck, arms and hands, according to MayoClinic.com. About the size of an apple seed, these red-brown bugs cause itchy red spots on the skin, often with a darker center, which tend to cluster in sets of three. Bedbug bites are rarely serious and easy to treat. The more daunting problem is to get rid of the infestation.
Home Remedies
The redness and itchiness of bedbug bites usually takes a week or two to away on its own, according to MayoClinic.com. But it's possible to reduce symptoms more quickly with over-the-counter products. These include topical creams that contain hydrocortisone to relieve itching and inflammation, as well as oral antihistamines. It's a good idea to wash the bites thoroughly with soap and water, according to SkinCarePhysicians.com, a service of the American Academy of Dermatology. Applying ice to the bites may reduce some of the swelling.
When to See A Doctor
If a skin infection develops from scratching bedbug bites, it can require medical care, according to MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of an infection include pain around the bite and a white, yellow, or green discharge. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Sometimes, people develop an allergic reaction that causes severe itching, blisters, hives, fever and fatigue and this will also require a doctor's visit. Doctors may need to treat this reaction with an injection of antihistamine, corticosteroids or adrenalin, according to the "Journal of the American Medical Association."
Tackling the Infestation
Bedbugs will keep biting and causing skin problems unless they are eradicated from the home, according to MayoClinic.com. However, this is easier said than done and may require a professional exterminator. Thoroughly vacuuming the bed and all its crevices can remove bedbugs, but it's difficult to reach all their hiding places. Clothes and bedding should be washed in water heated to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit to kill them. Drying clothes and bedding on high heat can also help. It's also possible to prevent bites by wearing pajamas that cover as much skin as possible because bedbugs usually don't get through clothing.
