Have You Got A Rash Caused By Bed Bugs?

One sure sign that you have a possible infestation of blood sucking pests on your hands is the bed bug rash. It is important however that you do not immediately assume that any rash which appears on you or any of your family is down to bed bugs! There are a vast number of skin conditions which will produce similar symptoms such as eczema, psoriasis, even chicken pox as well as bites from other blood sucking insects like mosquitoes and fleas. This can often make a doctors task of giving a diagnosis very difficult.

If you are worried that your rash may have been caused by bed bug bites you really have must try to find evidence of an infestation. You must search your home for clues like for example, bed bug poo, shed skins, tiny blood smears on your mattress and bedding, bed bug eggs and of course live bugs.

Does a bed bug rash look like?

Typically a bed bug rash will appear randomly as little red bumps which can either be flat or risen on areas of your skin. The area round the bumps can often be swollen and is usually itchy. The worst thing you can do however is scratch as this can often lead to the rash becoming infected.

The most commonly affected areas are the face, neck, legs and arms i.e. any part of the body which has been left uncovered during the night.

Signs Of A Bed Bug Infestation

Not everyone bitten by these vampire pests will display symptoms. Some fortunate people will suffer no reaction what so ever to saliva of these blood sucking bugs. Bed bugs are fairly clever, because, their saliva contains a mild anesthetic to prevent the victim feeling an anticoagulant and the bite to allow the blood to flow more readily to make feeding easier.

There are a few unfortunate individuals on the other hand who may suffer a severe reaction perhaps even anaphylaxis which would require urgent medical attention.

The bites will usually appear within a time frame of anything of one day up to several days after the initial bite. The more often someone is bitten the more sensitized they will become meaning the bites will appear much faster.

How do you treat a bed bug rash?

In the majority of cases no medical attention is required - unless a bacterial skin infection sets in and antibiotics are required. The itching can be soothed using creams such as hydro cortisone or oral antihistamines. The bites themselves will disappear in time provided of course that the bed bugs have been eradicated from your home.

There are other health issues which an infestation can cause such as anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia. Theses can potentially have a far greater effect on an individuals life than a bed bug rash.