Bed Bug Bites - Pictures, Symptoms and Treatment

Information about bed bugs bites, pictures of what do bed bug bites look like, how to check if you have been bitten by bed bugs and advice on how to stop the itch.

Bed bugs bite their hosts by using their sharp beak to pierce the skin and inject their saliva. Like mosquitoes, their saliva contains an anticoagulant (to prevent coagulation of the blood) as they suck and also acts as an anesthetic agent to prevent the victim from feeling the bite. Therefore, while sleeping, humans rarely feel any sensations of being bitten, but will only realize the day after.

Nymphs (young bed bugs) take about three minutes to feed, while a full-grown bug feeds for ten to fifteen minutes. After feeding, they then crawl back to the nearest crevice to digest.

Bed Bugs Bites Pictures - What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?

A young woman with numerous bed bug bites on her back and buttocks.

Bed bugs bite rash on forearm.

A picture of bed bugs bites on the inner side of the arms.

Bed bugs bites on the lower back/buttocks of a woman, sitting on the bed that gave her the bites. 

What Are The First Signs And Symptoms of Bed Bug Bites?

Often, bed bug bites are mistaken for common household insects bites since the bites can look almost identical to those caused by other parasitic blood feeding insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, ants and lice.

Neverthless, bed bugs bites can be easily recognizable once you know what are the symptoms to look for.

The first tell tale symptoms of bed bug bites are the multiple small, flat or raise welts on the skin that will always appear in a linear or clustered pattern because of the bed bugs tendency to feed on the same location more than once. The welts can turn red and become itchy. Scratching the bitten areas may also lead to infection.

The next tell tale sign that you may have bed bugs is that you will get bitten every night while you are sleeping and develop similar clustered pattern large itchy welts every day.

Other possible signs of bed bugs infestation are tiny blood spots on bedding materials or staining on bed sheets from bed bug waste.

Bed Bug Bites Vs Fleas, Spiders and Mosquitoes Bite - What Are The Difference?

Even though bed bug bites cause itchiness and irritation to the skin similar to flea, spider and mosquito bites, there are a few differences.

Bed bug bites are small, flat, reddish in color and usually appear in groups or in a line formation on hands, feet, neck and other exposed body parts. Flea bites typically occur on the wrists, ankles and behind the knees in scattered formation. Spider bites are larger than bed bug bites. Mosquito bites are also larger and swell quickly

Since bed bugs feed at night, you may notice bites in the morning after you wake up. These bites tend to appear more rash-like rather than bite-like, which is why these bites are typically mistaken for other types of rashes caused by laundry detergent, soap and other products.

Where Do the Bites Most Commonly Occur?

Any exposed areas of the bodies while we sleep are target spots for a bed bug to bite and suck on for blood. The face, neck, back, hands, arms and legs are the most common areas where bed bug bites occur.

Two day old bed bug bites on women back.

How Long Does the Bite Rash Last?

Reaction to bed bug bites depends on the individual. Some people will not have any reaction at all while for others who are quite sensitive to bites, they may have localized allergic reactions and develop bed bugs rash that can be extremely itchy as they get bitten repeatedly.

Typically bed bug rashes will show up a few hours after the actual biting but there are some cases whereby the rash does not appear until a few days or even a week later since this is dependent on the allergy reaction to the person that is being bitten.

Generally, a bed bug bite rash 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. Often it will require some medical intervention to finally clear up the skin rash completely.

Do Bed Bug Bites Transmit Disease?

Even though bed bugs are really bothersome and considered a nuisance, bed bug bites are fairly harmless and not known to spread diseases.

Nonetheless, on very rare occasions an allergic reaction to the bites has caused nausea, sickness and even shock. Some people may also be affected psychologically with an inability to sleep.

How to Treat Bed Bug Bites?

For fast relief from the itchness of bed bug bites, you are advised to run it under lukewarm running water for approximately a minute and clean the affected area with an antibacterial soap, which will minimize the inflammation and take your mind off it.

For a stronger treatment for the severe itchiness or prevention of infection, you can apply local antiseptic lotion, antibiotic cream or oral antihistamines. Some of the recommended topical steroid creams for bed bug bites treatment are hydro-cortisone - Cortaid Intensive Therapy  , for example - that helps to stop the itch and resolve any rash quickly.

How to Avoid Getting Bitten Again?

If you suspect that you suffer from bed bug bites, it is best to inspect your house and contact a reputable pest control company for bed bugs extermination.

Alternatively to get rid of them yourself, you need to clean your home thoroughly. Wash all bedding and clothing in hot water, vacuum carpets and any cracks in the wood floors and encase the mattresses with bed bug proof covers.

Bed Bug Control -- Methods to treat, prevent and kill bed bugs permanently.

Related Articles

Bed Bug Rash
Identifying bed bug rash and what remedies can help stop the itch and clear the rash.

Bed Bug Repellent
Get the truth about the effectiveness of bed bug repellent, what you need to do to prevent the bites and how to get rid of those blood sucking pests.

Bed Bug Pictures
See and identify what do bed bugs look like.