Bed bugs are real nuisances. Their bites are very itchy and extremely uncomfortable. We reveal which home remedies are the best for bed bug bites.
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How to recognize a bed bug infestation
The bad news first: bed bugs are everywhere in the world and they are always active. The small creepy-crawlies love it moist and warm, which is why they nest in mattresses. There they wait until we are sound asleep, before they attack us. Like other parasites, bed bugs feed on our blood. And because bed bugs also release saliva into the bite wound when they bite, our bodies react with defensive reactions: redness, itching and swelling.
The surest signs of a bed bug infestation are the typical bite marks. After a day or two, very itchy, mosquito bite-like pustules usually form where the crawlers have bitten. Other signs of bed bugs include:
- Bloodstains on the sheets
- black traces of excrement from the animals on the sheet
- sweetish smell from the stink glands of the animals
- Bed bug eggs in the cracks in the mattress
Well, where are they from?
By the way, nobody needs to be ashamed of a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs can infest even the cleanest and tidiest of homes. The little pests often travel back home with us as stowaways in our holiday luggage. Bed bugs can be fought with traps you set up yourself. If you want to be absolutely sure, call an exterminator service.
4 simple home remedies that help against bed bug bites
Well, you’ve been bitten by bed bugs. This is less pleasant and sometimes causes you a lot of trouble. To avoid scratching the itchy bite and risking an infection, use these proven home remedies.
1. Cooling with aloe vera or ice cubes
Cold helps against the itching. Cool the affected areas with an aloe vera gel. Aloe gel not only provides a pleasant cooling effect, it also has an anti-inflammatory effect and can thus prevent infections of the bite wounds. You can also go over the bedbug bites with ice cubes to relieve acute itching.
2. Baking soda and water
Baking soda and water are recommended for itching and for faster healing of bed bug bites. Make a quick homemade baking soda and water paste by adding baking soda to a bowl and gradually mixing in water to form a chewy paste. Dab the baking soda paste onto the affected skin and let it dry. The baking soda will help dry out the bites, thus relieving the itching.
3. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a natural wound healing agent. As an astringent, it has a drying, styptic and anti-inflammatory effect once applied to a wound. The juice of the citrus fruit is also antibacterial, which prevents the subsequent inflammation of bug bites caused by scratching. Apply some lemon juice to a Q-tip or cotton pad and pat the affected areas.
Continue reading : How to fight bed bugs effectively > >
4. Heat
A tried and tested home remedy for itchy insect stings and bites of all kinds is heat. Briefly heat the bottom of a spoon and press it on the itchy bed bug bites for a few seconds. The heat causes the body to produce less histamine at the site of the bite. Histamine consists of protein and promotes itching. The saliva of the bed bugs that has penetrated the bite wound and causes itching also consists of protein. Concentrated, brief exposure to heat can dissolve protein compounds and relieve itching.
