When bitten by a bug, one person’s skin can react differently from another’s. Some bite marks can become swollen, itchy, and possibly infected. If you’ve been bitten by a bug and you need a way to stop the itch, use a few of these tips to help soothe your skin.
Ice
It’s widely known that ice will reduce any type of swelling so a bite mark that has risen should be iced. As for the itchiness, ice can numb the bite mark which will help you not feel how itchy it truly is. When applying the ice or ice pack to your skin, do so in 15 minute intervals. If your child is the one with the bite mark, use ice as a placebo effect by telling them that ice stops the itchy sensation.
Topical Creams
Creams such as toothache medicine have numbing agents in the formula like benzocaine. These creams will instantly numb the skin on contact, immediately soothing any pain or itchiness. Bug bites that aren’t scratched or touched will heal at a faster rate, and numbing them will prevent you from scratching away.
Slap Away
A quick way to soothe the itchiness of a bug bite is to give it a few slaps with your hand. Slapping will interrupt the nerves that send signals to your brain that the bite is itchy. Once the bite has been smacked, your skin will be soothed anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. This is a better alternative than scratching the bite mark. Scratching can lengthen the healing time and expose it to possible infection.
When your skin has a bad reaction to bug bites you can utilize these tips to soothe any itching that may come with them. If these bites are coming from bed bugs, call Knockout Pest Control immediately to manage the infestation in your home. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (800) 244-7378.
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