Bedbug Bites –The Facts

bedbugs feeding

Bedbugs are attracted by the presence of carbon dioxide,which is what we exhale in breathing. An interesting fact is that bedbug saliva contains a numbing agent to numb the skin as it bites and anti-coagulant to keep the blood of its meal host flowing. Therefore,humans rarely feel being bitten,and only realize they have been bitten the next day.

The bedbugs climb onto your skin and pierce the skin with two hollow tubes.  One tube injects the anti-coagulants and anaesthetics while the other tube is used to withdraw your blood.  A typical bedbug feeding lasts for about five minutes.  About half of the population is sensitive to bedbug anaesthetics and will develop with a red itchy welt at the injection site.  The bedbug bites may appear in a cluster pattern – this is caused when bedbugs are disturbed when feeding and they detach and change feeding locations.

bedbugs on torso

Bedbug bites will appear just about anywhere on your body but bedbugs prefer to feed on exposed skin.  Your face,neck,arms,and legs are the most common areas for bedbug bites to occur.  They will also climb underneath loose items of clothing and bite your legs and torso.

Bedbug bites look different from one person to another. Some people experience bedbug bites that are larger or smaller,some have a red dot in the center,some look like mosquito bites or pimples. Often  bedbug bites appear groups of 2 or three (a pattern known as “breakfast,lunch,and dinner”),or in a line,or in a circle.

Some people may not even notice them while others will have a very intense itching sensation. Apply calamine lotion and do your best not to scratch your bites.  For a stronger treatment for severe itchiness or infection,you can apply local antiseptic lotion,antibiotic cream or oral antihistamines. Some physicians recommend topical steroid creams for bedbug bites treatment that contain hydro-cortisone   to stop the itch and resolve any rash quickly.

bedbug bite cluster pattern

Bedbug bites will last for two or three days and then slowly fade away. However the rashes can last much longer if the person is more allergic prone. It is important to not scratch the bedbug bites. Scratching only makes the itching worse and can actually cause an infection.  If you notice any signs of infection,contact a physician.  On very rare occasions,allergic reaction to bedbug bites can caused nausea,sickness and even shock. Some people may also be affected psychologically with an inability to sleep.

The good news about bedbug bites is that unlike mosquitoes or ticks,bedbugs are not known to carry blood borne pathogens.