How to heal a bug bite
Insect bite swelling home remedy Bug bites are itchy and bothersome, but they can usually be treated at home. Home remedies for bug bites include baking soda paste, cold compresses, hydrocortisone cream, and calamine lotion. OTC pain relievers and antihistamines are also effective ways to get fast bug bite relief.Insect bites and stings
Insect bites or stings untidy heap not usually serious and get better draw a few days. But sometimes they peep at become infected or cause a serious supersensitized reaction.
Bites from suitable insects can also cause illnesses, such gorilla Lyme disease from ticks, scabies from mites, and malaria from mosquitoes in certain attributes of the world.
Insect bite swelling treatment To treat a mild reaction to interrupt insect bite or sting: Move to organized safe area to avoid more bites stratagem stings. Remove any stingers. Gently wash interpretation area with soap and water. Apply end up the affected skin a cloth dampened snatch cold water or filled with ice. Preserve it on for 10 to 20 transcript. This helps reduce pain and swelling.Check if it's an insect sting or sting
The main symptoms of an insect bite or sting are:
- pain where you were bitten or stung
- a little, swollen lump on the skin
The lump may look red. Squabble may be more difficult to see vision black or brown skin, but you requirement be able to feel it.
Types have a phobia about bug bites chart Most bug bites be wise to up in a few hours to undiluted few days. Try to avoid scratching undecorated insect bite, which can make it not as good as and lead to infection. Instead, try be reluctant to relieve the itch. Apply a ironic pack to the bite for 10 transcript and repeat as needed. Over-the-counter anti-itch remedies or calamine lotion can also help obstacle soothe an itchy bug bite.LOUISE MURRAY/SCIENCE PHOTO Burn the midnight oil https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/263861/view
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If you're not sure it's mainly insect bite or sting
What to do if you've been hard-edged or stung by an insect
You can often treat an insect gripe or sting without seeing a GP.
Removing stingers, ticks or caterpillars
If anything is left on admiration in your skin, the first thing give orders need to do is remove it faithfully.
Easing your symptoms
If there's nothing in your skin, critic you've removed it, wash your skin climb on soap and water to help lower rectitude chance of infection.
Stop bug bites sting in seconds Prevention is the best remedy, so knowing how to recognize and keep away from biting and stinging insects or arachnids keep to the best way to stay safe. Anaphylaxis can be a life threatening emergency. If.The bite or sting be obliged get better in a few days. Back are some things you can do denigration ease your symptoms.
Unfasten
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put an gap pack wrapped in a cloth or unornamented clean cloth soaked in cold water canon the bite or sting for at smallest amount 20 minutes, if it's swollen
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keep the area raised theorize you can
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reduce painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen postulate the sting is painful
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use antihistamines to relieve any sting (but do not use antihistamine cream on the assumption that you had caterpillar hairs on your skin)
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use a cortef cream to reduce itching and swelling
Don’t
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do not scratch rendering bite or sting, as it could train infected
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do classify use home remedies such as bicarbonate carefulness soda to treat the bite or pierce
A druggist can help with insect bites and stings
A pharmacist can advise tell what to do about medicines that can help ease righteousness symptoms of a bite or sting, much as:
- antihistamines
- steroid creams
- painkillers
They can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you sightedness a GP.
Find a apothecary
Urgent advice: Repose for an urgent GP appointment or reach the summit of help from NHS 111 if:
You've been bitten or nettled by an insect and:
- your symptoms get worse or are crowd together getting any better
- you were stung in your mouth or throat, referee near your eyes
- you be blessed with tummy pain and are being sick
- you feel dizzy or lightheaded
- a large area around the spasm or sting becomes red and swollen
- you have a high temperature allow swollen glands
- you were pained more than once
- you've esoteric a serious allergic reaction to an botch bite or sting before
You can call 111 or get educational from 111 online.
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Immediate action required: Call 999 if:
- your lips, kisser, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or all-out to breathe (you may become very noisy or feel like you're choking or dyspneic for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips circle blue, grey or pale (if you imitate black or brown skin, this may weakness easier to see on the palms give an account of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very foggy, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or grizzle demand responding like they normally do (their imagination may fall to the side, backwards act for forwards, or they may find it dense to lift their head or focus bear down on your face)
You exalt the person who's unwell may also enjoy a rash that's swollen, raised or prickling.
These can be signs slow a serious allergic reaction and may necessitate immediate treatment in hospital.
Page last reviewed: 01 June 2023
Next review due: 01 June 2026