Are you asking yourself, “How do I get rid of bed bug bites?” Then you are at the right place. Bed bugs can be quite a nuisance as their bites can cause itchy rashes, allergic reactions, and blisters. Feeding on their victims while they sleep, bed bugs can be hard to link to the crime.

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, brown, wingless insects that feed on the blood of humans, and other mammals, while they sleep. They are about the size of a lentil. Luckily, bed bugs are not known to spread disease.

Where do bed bugs live?

Bed bugs hide in many places, including homes, workplaces, hotels, and furniture. They are attracted to warmth, darkness, and carbon dioxide; therefore, they tend to live where people sleep. They can also hide in the cracks of wallpaper, floorboards, luggage, computers, and mattresses. Their tendency to hide out of sight explains why it can be difficult to conclude they are the cause of the bites. Bed bugs can be present even in the cleanest of homes.

What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like on the Skin?

When bitten by a bed bug, the skin’s reaction will be similar to any other insect bite. The bites appear as small, red hives, sometimes with bumps or blisters. They tend to be grouped in a cluster as the insect bites many times in the same area. 

In addition to itch, bed bug bites can cause a burning sensation and rarely a systemic allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention. Spots of blood in bedding or night clothing are also signs of bed bug presence. Bed bug bites on dark skin generally look the same but may have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

• Check out this video on what bed bugs look like

Treatments and Your Dermatologist

Over-the-counter products can usually take care of bed bug bites; however, you may need to seek treatment from a dermatologist if they get severe. If needed, a dermatologist may prescribe a variety of medications. These include:

• Prescription-strength topical steroids
• Antihistamine
• Antibiotics- should the bites lead to infection

How to prevent bed bug bites

Here are a few tips that may prevent you from having to ask, “How do I get rid of bed bug bites?” again. 

• Inspect hotel rooms for small brown or black spots on mattresses
• Not any sweet, musty smells in a place of lodging (odor is associated with a large infestation)
• Protect luggage from contamination from furniture and rugs
• Wash clothing in hot water when returning from trips
• Encase mattresses and box springs in bed bug-proof covers to prevent infestation

Need additional Bed Bug Help in NYC?

Dr. Dina Strachan at Aglow Dermatology is an expert in all skin types and can help you determine the best solution to ease your bed bug bites. Call us at 212-627-1004 or visit us online to make an appointment.