Caring for Your Skin after Insect Bites

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Everyone has gotten a nasty bug bite as some point. It is important to take care of bug bites and treat them. If they are left untreated they may cause ugly scars or could even become infected.

Insect bites can be mild or they can be severe. Treating bites is an important aspect of maintaining your healthy skin. While they may be virtually unavoidable, you can still do your part to make sure the bites heal properly and that your skin still looks its best after a bite.

There are various approaches to caring for and treating a bug bite, depending on the type of bite. It is most helpful if you know which type of insect bit you, even if you only have a general idea, such as it being an ant.

Treating Mosquito Bites

By: John Tann

Mosquito bites are usually nothing to worry about and clear themselves up in a few days. You can speed up the healing process by applying essential oils to the bite such as tea tree oil, lavender, or sage. The oils will also provide you with relief from the itching that can become agonizing. If you notice symptoms such as faintness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or body aches after being bitten by mosquitoes, you should seek medical attention immediately; this could be a sign of a more serious complication.

Ant Bites

There are a lot of different types of ants, but no matter the type, ant bites can hurt and sting pretty bad. Majority of ants that may encounter have venom in their bite that is intended to be delivered to a prey. The venom causes the initial sting and the burning and itching that follows.

If you receive an ant bite you should immediately wash the area with warm water and soap. This will wash off any venom that is close to the surface and any that is reachable in the bite itself. There are various remedies you can use to help with the pain, swelling, and itching that may accompany an ant bite. Products that can be applied to the bite to relieve symptoms are aloe gel, tea tree oil, hydrocortisone cream, dish washing detergent, fresh cut onion, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and crushed aspirin.

Any of the above will help alleviate symptoms. The best thing you can do for an ant bite is to treat the itching so you are not tempted to scratch. Scratching an ant bite could lead to a possible infection and can prolong the healing process, possibly leaving scars. Ant bites can lead to a serious allergic reaction in some people. If you experience slurred speech, excessive swelling, or problems breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

Bee Stings

When you are stung by a bee, the bee injects its stinger into your skin. The first thing that should be done to treat a bee sting is to remove the stinger. Usually there will be a partial amount of the stinger still sticking out of the skin. The stinger should be removed by gently scraping something across the skin such as a fingernail or a credit card. Stingers should not be pulled out with anything, not even tweezers. Squeezing on the stinger with something such as tweezers causes more venom to be injected into the skin.

After the stinger is removed you can wash the sting area with warm soap and water, then dry the area. If you are experiencing a lot of pain with the sting, then you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen to help with the pain and reduce swelling. You can apply calamine lotion, ice, or lemon juice to the sting to relieve pain and itching.

A common allergy is bees, so it is important to watch out for signs of an allergic reaction. Bee stings can be fatal, and these types of allergic reactions come on strong and fast. If you think you are experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction to a bee sting, you should immediately get to a hospital or medical professional.

Treatment for insect bites do vary depending on the type of bite. Majority of insect bites can be treated with everyday home items and products that can easily be purchased. If you take the time to care for an insect bite and treat it properly, you will be rewarded with beautiful skin that doesn’t look like it ever had an insect bite.

Regardless of the type of bite you have, always be wary of additional symptoms that are not typical of an insect bite, especially if you don’t know which type of insect bit you. Any symptoms that aren’t normal for an insect bite should be taken seriously and you should seek medical attention. If you don’t you could suffer serious skin and health consequences.

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