What do flea bites look like? - briefly
Flea bites present as tiny, red, raised spots about 2–5 mm across, often with a surrounding pink halo. They commonly occur in clusters of three to five and provoke strong itching.
What do flea bites look like? - in detail
Flea bites appear as small, raised welts typically ranging from 2 to 5 mm in diameter. The central point is often a pinpoint puncture that may be slightly darker than the surrounding skin. Surrounding the core, a reddish‑pink halo forms, creating a halo‑like pattern that can spread outward as the reaction intensifies. The lesions are usually intensely pruritic; scratching may lead to excoriation, swelling, or a secondary bacterial infection.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: 2–5 mm, sometimes coalescing into larger patches when multiple bites occur close together.
- Shape: Round or slightly oval, with a central punctum.
- Color: Pale or reddish center, surrounded by a pink to reddish‑brown erythema.
- Distribution: Often clustered in groups of three or four (“breakfast‑lunch‑dinner” pattern) on the lower legs, ankles, and feet, but can appear on any exposed skin.
- Evolution: Initial redness may fade within 24 hours; persistent itching can cause the area to become more inflamed or develop a wheal‑like swelling.
In individuals with heightened sensitivity, the reaction may include larger wheals, hives, or even systemic symptoms such as fever. In contrast, non‑allergic persons may notice only a faint, transient spot that resolves without intervention.
Differential cues that separate flea bites from other arthropod bites include the typical grouping pattern, the preference for lower extremities, and the presence of a distinct central punctum surrounded by a uniform halo. Mosquito bites, for example, are usually isolated, larger, and lack the clustered arrangement, while bed‑bug bites often present in linear rows.
Management focuses on alleviating pruritus with topical corticosteroids or antihistamines, keeping the area clean to prevent infection, and addressing the underlying infestation through environmental control measures.