How do you treat bites from house bedbugs? - briefly
Clean the affected skin with mild soap and water, then apply a topical corticosteroid or antihistamine cream to alleviate itching. Seek medical care if redness expands, signs of infection appear, or symptoms persist.
How do you treat bites from house bedbugs? - in detail
Bedbug bites appear as small, red, raised spots, often in clusters or linear patterns. Immediate care focuses on cleaning the area, reducing inflammation, and preventing secondary infection.
First, wash the affected skin with mild soap and lukewarm water. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel. Applying an antiseptic solution—such as povidone‑iodine or chlorhexidine—helps eliminate surface bacteria.
For itch relief, use over‑the‑counter topical agents:
- 1 % hydrocortisone cream, applied 2–3 times daily for up to a week.
- Calamine lotion or a cool compress, applied as needed.
- Oral antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine 25 mg or cetirizine 10 mg) for moderate to severe pruritus.
If swelling or redness intensifies, a short course of oral corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone 10 mg daily for 3–5 days) may be prescribed by a clinician. Persistent or worsening lesions warrant medical evaluation; bacterial superinfection requires systemic antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin, based on culture results.
Avoid scratching to reduce the risk of skin rupture and infection. Keep fingernails trimmed and consider wearing cotton gloves at night if compulsive scratching occurs.
When a reaction spreads beyond the bite sites, includes fever, or shows signs of an allergic response (e.g., hives, difficulty breathing), seek emergency care immediately.
Long‑term management includes eliminating the insect source: thorough vacuuming of mattresses, bed frames, and cracks; washing bedding at 60 °C; and applying approved insecticides or contacting professional pest control. Reducing the beetle population prevents new bites and limits further skin irritation.