What appears on the skin after a bedbug bite? - briefly
A bedbug bite usually results in a small, red, raised bump that itches intensely; several bites often appear in a line or cluster of similar lesions. The reaction may include slight swelling and a central puncture point.
What appears on the skin after a bedbug bite? - in detail
A bedbug feeding episode typically leaves a small, raised, erythematous spot on the skin. The lesion often begins as a faint pink macule that enlarges into a firm papule within a few hours. It may develop a central punctum where the insect’s mouthparts penetrated. Intense pruritus usually follows, prompting scratching that can produce a secondary excoriation.
The reaction progresses in stages:
- Immediate phase (minutes‑hours): mild redness, slight swelling, occasional tiny vesicle.
- Delayed phase (12‑48 h): pronounced wheal, surrounding erythema, possible hive‑like expansion.
- Late phase (days‑weeks): post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation, occasional lingering papule or nodule.
Multiple bites often appear in a linear or clustered pattern, reflecting the insect’s “break‑fast‑fast‑break” feeding habit. Size ranges from 1 mm to 5 mm in diameter; larger wheals may indicate an allergic sensitization.
In some individuals the immune response is amplified, producing:
- Large, urticarial plaques.
- Bullous lesions filled with clear fluid.
- Systemic symptoms such as fever or malaise (rare).
Secondary bacterial infection may develop if the area is scratched excessively, presenting with increased warmth, purulent discharge, and spreading erythema.
Differential considerations include mosquito bites, flea bites, allergic contact dermatitis, and scabies. Distinguishing features of bedbug lesions are the characteristic linear arrangement and the delayed onset of itching relative to the bite itself.