- Last Updated on January 20, 2020
How Long Do Bed Bug Bites Last?
Bed bugs and their nasty bites!
“Sleep tight, Don’t let the bed bugs bite” is a saying you’ve most likely heard expressed by a loved one, being tucked up in bed, probably from your childhood.
Did you wake up this morning with rashes and itchiness over your body?
Are you worried that you are covered in bite marks, does your skin appear sore? If so, you’ve most likely been a victim of bed bugs, and the bad news is it may last weeks.
In most cases, bed bug bites typically appear to heal within one to two weeks. However, not to worry as there are plenty of ways to treat these nasty bites in under a week!
So, don’t run away from your bed, get off your sofa and treat that irritation before it affects your health and becomes an infection!
Get ready to learn plenty of new bed bug facts, once you know how to get rid of bed bug bites you will always know how to find the weak spots of these pests!
Bed bug bites are very unpleasant, let us help you in the hope you do not need to call pest control! We can guide you through everything you need to know, like, how long bed bug bites last, pest control, different bites, protecting your bed, oral antihistamines, how to recognize an infection and overall about the bug.
Bed bugs and their nasty bites!
“Sleep tight, Don’t let the bed bugs bite” is a saying you’ve most likely heard expressed by a loved one, being tucked up in bed, probably from your childhood.
Did you wake up this morning with rashes and itchiness over your body?
Are you worried that you are covered in bite marks, does your skin appear sore? If so, you’ve most likely been a victim of bed bugs, and the bad news is it may last weeks.
In most cases, bed bug bites typically appear to heal within one to two weeks. However, not to worry as there are plenty of ways to treat these nasty bites in under a week!
So, don’t run away from your bed, get off your sofa and treat that irritation before it affects your health and becomes an infection!
Get ready to learn plenty of new bed bug facts, once you know how to get rid of bed bug bites you will always know how to find the weak spots of these pests!
Bed bug bites are very unpleasant, let us help you in the hope you do not need to call pest control! We can guide you through everything you need to know, like, how long bed bug bites last, pest control, different bites, protecting your bed, oral antihistamines, how to recognize an infection and overall about the bug.
In this article, you are going to learn:
In this section, we will be learning overall, about the bed bug, and their bed bug bites. Learning about the bed bug bites is very useful as there are many aspects to it.
The bed bug leaves sometimes, foul bite marks, so we need to know how to heal them and how to get rid of them. Especially if you are allergic or end up with an infestation!
What are the symptoms and treatment for bed bug bites?
As these bed bugs leave repulsive bed bug bites it is crucial we know the correct treatment for the bites. We can also take care of the bug, pest control can take care of that if needed due to a bed bug infestation.
The symptoms of the overall bug bites can be irritating, so we also will learn how to recognize them as they can become part of a larger problem.
How do you help prevent the bites from the bed bug when sleeping?
After you have read this article, you will be able to recognize places that are more commonly known for common “symptoms of bed” (bed bug). We will discover that not all services seem as hygienic and safe to sleep!
We will also learn all about the prevention of the bed bug bites and about the bed bug itself. When the bed bug bites and does feed on you, welts may be caused and may cause itching.
What do bed bug bites look like?
Bed bugs are small, nocturnal blood suckers that feed on the blood of animals and humans if bitten.
Bed bugs are attracted to bite anywhere on your body where there is skin. Bed bugs are unable to bite through clothing, but they will crawl inside to find skin that is vulnerable.
Normally, they bite exposed areas such as the face, neck, hands, shoulders, arms and legs.
When Bed Bugs bite, it is usually painless but results in a red, itchy welt similar to that of a mosquito and sand fly. The difference being that bed bugs tend to bite in clusters.
If you notice lots of little clusters of red bumps on your skin, the culprit is most likely a bed bug.
When a bed bug bites, it injects the host with an anesthetic and anti-coagulant so they won’t feel a thing.
This gives the bed bugs a 10 minute window of blood sucking while their host is blissfully unaware.
How long do bed bug bites last?
So, how long do bed bug bites last? Once you’ve been bitten by a bed bug, the bite itself may take anywhere between several days to 14 days to develop on the skin and roughly another 14 to completely disappear. These reactions are dependent on the person.
If you have signs of a reaction, it may cause irritation and itchiness. Some reactions are more severe than others. Bites may become very itchy, however, you must avoid scratching, you can resist the itch!
If you appear to be bitten anywhere on your body (look for bite marks) you must clean the bite and check that it is not infected. The itching will eventually calm down as well as the overall reaction and will begin to heal.
There are various ways to get rid of the pests, like getting a company or different services to deal with any infestation. An infestation is the last thing we want, so we have to be on top of the pest before it becomes pests.
For people who are less sensitive to insect bites, the red spots and itchiness will fade after 3 days. However in some cases people develop a severe allergic reaction which is called anaphylaxis and requires medical attention right away.
It’s useful to know the signs and identify bed bug activity in your home instead of relying on skin reactions.
Just remember, don’t scratch your bites! If you scratch the affected areas the wounds are more prone to infection.
Bed bug bite symptoms
Bed bug bites can cause some pretty irritating symptoms… literally! They may flare up and cause a painful burning sensation.
When being bitten it may also cause an itchy bump with a clear center, this will heal however may be sore for a while after being bitten. You might also have a red bump that will itch, with a dark center and a lighter swollen area.
A lot of people complain about small red welts or bumps in clusters or a line, these do as well become itchy.
Being aware of small dots of blood from the feed on your sheets or bedding, or even bed bug droppings on your bed is very useful.
What are the treatments?
Before seeking to apply a cream it is recommended that you clean the wound and area around the wound with soapy water.
Itchiness is mentioned repetitively throughout this article as it is a very common symptom of a bite! But not to worry as there are actually more treatments than you think to help with the itching, scratching and things like welts!
To deal with the scratching,
the following may help to reduce minor symptoms:
- Hydrocortisone
- Anti-itch creams
- Antihistamines
To further help with the healing process you could also use calamine lotion on the affected area. Calamine lotion helps to protect the skin and dry out the rash.
It provides symptomatic relief from the continuous itching as well.
Most bed bug bites fade away after a few weeks, however if the red welts haven’t disappeared, it’s recommended to seek medical attention.
How to prevent bed bug bites while sleeping?
A single female is capable of laying hundreds of eggs in its lifetime, so bed bug prevention is the best defence against this pest.
During the day, bed bugs will look to seek refuge in the cracks and holes of furniture, walls and mattresses. Often found in the seams and folds of upholstered furniture can be a good hiding place. Bed bugs have been known to live in vacuum canisters.
It’s recommended to buy a tear-resistant white mattress cover to eliminate potential hiding spots where these bed bugs take refuge. A lighter shade or light-colored sheet will expose bed bugs.
Keeping a clean home is a good prevention strategy, especially around the bed or if you’ve purchased second hand furnishings. Make sure you clean and vacuum it thoroughly.
We recommend vacuuming your mattress at least twice a month.
Places where bed bugs are commonly found:
- Hotels
- Vacation homes
- Cruise ships
- Hostels
- College dorms
- Rented homes
- Urban areas
- Nursing homes
Objects commonly infested with bed bugs:
- Second hand furnishings
- Luggage or baggage
- Chairs
- Bedding
- Storage boxes
- Shipping items
Summary
So there we have it, each person is affected differently from bed bug bites with some less severe and the bites fading after a few days while others who suffer from an allergic reaction require longer to heal.
Whether you’ve had an allergic reaction or not, it is important not to scratch the wounds as they could become infected.
Finally the best way to prevent bed bugs is purchasing a light-colored mattress cover and regular cleaning, especially vacuuming hiding areas such as cracks and folds of bedding and mattress.
Also if you ever purchase anything second hand make sure you clean it thoroughly with lots of soap and water before using it!
Learn more about Bed Bugs
We have numerous other bed bug guides. Each of these guides are written by our specialists to help you live a pest free life.
Ronald has 25 years of pest control experience under his belt. He scrutinizes each control method, product and process to prevent infestations effectively.
