What do healed bedbug bites look like? - briefly
Healed bedbug bites appear as flat, pink‑to‑light‑brown patches that may be slightly raised and can linger for several weeks. They usually lack a central punctum and may show mild discoloration or occasional itching.
What do healed bedbug bites look like? - in detail
Healed lesions left by Cimex infestations display a predictable sequence of visual changes. Initially, the bite presents as a raised, red papule that may itch. As the inflammatory response subsides, the area flattens and the erythema fades, leaving a faint pink or brown discoloration that can persist for weeks.
Typical characteristics of the resolved mark include:
- Diameter of 2–5 mm, roughly the size of a pinhead.
- Rounded or slightly oval shape, often with a central punctum where the insect fed.
- Uniform color transition from bright red to a muted pink, then to a light brown or tan hue.
- Absence of active swelling; the surface is smooth to the touch.
- Possible residual hyperpigmentation that darkens with sun exposure and gradually lightens over time.
In some cases, the skin may develop a subtle, flat scar if the bite was scratched excessively. The scar tissue is usually lighter or slightly darker than surrounding skin and lacks the raised texture of the original lesion.
Distinguishing features from other arthropod bites are:
- Multiple bites often appear in a linear or clustered pattern, reflecting the bedbug’s feeding behavior.
- Lack of a central puncture mark in mosquito bites, which tend to be more isolated.
- Absence of the central necrotic core seen in spider or tick bites.
Overall, a healed bedbug bite is a small, smooth, faintly pigmented spot that may persist for several weeks without ongoing inflammation.