Identifying Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites are not uncommon—especially when your home is in the midst of a bedbug infestation. Finding out whether your mark is from a bed bug bite or not requires some investigation.

Our helpful guide below ensures you a speedy recovery, with our professional bed bug removal services to keep those critters at bay for years to come.

What do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?

The bites are raised and red, and have a similar appearance to bites or stings from a wide variety of other bugs and insects: mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, ticks, centipedes, etc.

The bites can be misleading—bed bug bites can often look like spider bites due to their size and redness. They won’t itch until several days after the bite occured. Here are some clear indications you have bed bug bites:

• Red, itchy bumps

• Dark center on every bump

• Swolen area around the bump

• Multiple bumps in rows of 3-5 bites

  • Often referred to as breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Bed bug bites, mosquito bites, and flea bites are difficult to differentiate from one another. If you're still unsure, consult with a doctor or healthcare professional to diagnose your marks.

Where are the bed bug bites located

Bed bug bites are usually located on visbile skin, including:

• Arms and Hands
• Legs
• Back or behind
• Neck
• Face

These are the areas most often exposed while you sleep. This isn't an exclusive list: bed bugs will bite anywhere they can feed, so if you have marks on your chest, stomach, or other areas, do not immediately rule out bed bugs as the culprits.

How to get rid of bug bites

Whether you've got bed bug bites on arms, legs, or your face, you're concerned about one thing: how to make the itching stop.

We've got the bed bug bite home remedy list for you:

• Carefully wash your bites with soap and warm water, don't scrape or break the skin
• A cold cloth, or ice pack wrapped in a towel, can reduce swelling
• Apply a thin paste made of baking soda and water, leave on for at least an hour (however long you need) and wash off
• Essential oils such as Tea tree, Rosemary, and Basil have been known to help aleviate itching and swelling.

If home remedies are proving ineffective on your bites, then you can try:

• Applying anti-itch cream or calamine lotion to the affected area
• Consult a doctor to get a prescription pain reliever
• Oral antihistamines reduce itching and burning

**DON'T SCRATCH BED BUG BITES**

**Scratching a bed bug bite can cause a secondary infection and could lead to bleeding, sepsis, or, in the worst possible case, death from prolonged, untreated infection.

How long do bug bites last

Bed bug bite appearance and symptoms can last anywhere from 1 week to 3 weeks. Though your symptoms may fluctuate in severity, it’s important to monitor the appearance of your bites to ensure that they fully disappear and your skin recovers properly.

If you’re more sensitive to the bites then it may take you longer to fully heal, but don’t worry: you will recover and the itching will subside.

Are there Bed Bugs in Your Home?

Look around. Are there bed bugs present in your home? Is there anything to indicate the presence of some other bug you may have been bitten or stung by? If you check your bed, clothes, and furniture, and don’t see any bed bugs present, chances are high that you’re not dealing with bed bug bites. You’ll want to investigate other insects and bugs as the possible culprit.