Monthly Archives: November 2022

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What Can You Put On Your Body To Prevent Bed Bug Bites

This guide will show you how to stop bed bugs from biting. Youll find out five things that you can put on your skin to prevent bed bug bites while youre sleeping.

The best part? All of them are skin-friendly with no side effects!

Plus, this guide also reveals the secret way to prepare your bed that will bring the chances of getting bed bug bites to almost zero.

Lets dive in.

You can use any one of the five things on your skin to repel bed bugs from biting you

They keep bed bugs off of your body. And all of these are bed bug repellents.

Lets find out how you can use them in a right way for maximum effect.

Vicks VapoRub repels not only cough and cold, but also bed bugs.

To stop bed bugs from biting you, use Vicks VapoRub on parts of your body that are prone to bed bug bites, like the neck, knees, lower back, belly, and elbows.

Ever wondered why Vicks VapoRub is a good bed bug repellant?

The pungent smell of eucalyptus and methanol in Vicks VapoRub repels bed bugs and many other bugs.

But you must keep in mind that you need to apply a generous amount of Vicks VapoRub on the bite prone areas of your body.

These areas are your neck, shoulders, the undersides of the knees and elbows.

Research has proved that essential oils have insecticidal properties. But essential oils are not insects or bed bug killers.

Bed bugs dont like the smell of essential oils. The strong smell of essential oils is highly pungent for bed bugs.

There are four types of essential oils that work best- Eucalyptus essential oil, Tea tree essential oil, Peppermint essential oil, and Lavender essential oil.

Essential oils can be tricky to buy unless you know how to buy a genuine essential oil.

If you use a poor-quality essential oil, you wont protect yourself from bed bug bites while sleeping.

Choosing the right essential oil is a big topic. But to keep things short and simple, heres what you should look for while buying essential oils

The University of Minnesota has this informative post on how to choose the right essential oils without getting duped.

There are two ways to use an essential oil on your body.

The first way, and the most effective way, is to directly apply the essential to the places of your body where bed bugs bite.

But, if you do it daily, youll soon run out of essential oil.

Quality essential oils are expensive. Youll create a big hole in your pocket if you use this method every night before sleeping.

So, the second way is to make a spray of by mixing essential oils with water.

Mix an ounce of essential oil with a gallon of water, and spray it around your bed, on the mattress and bed frame.

Spraying it on your body and on the bed frames will certainly keep bed bugs away from your bed and skin.

White vinegar is a cheaper, yet effective, alternative to essential oils.

The acidic nature and pungent smell of vinegar repel bed bugs and many other bugs like ants, roaches, and centipedes.

But you dont have to pour a bottle of vinegar on yourself.

All you need to do is take a piece of cotton, wet it in vinegar, and rub it on the parts of your body where bed bugs bite.

To keep bed bugs away from your bed, you can spray a mixture of vinegar and water around your bed too.

The only adverse effect of spraying vinegar too often on your bed is that your mattress will start to smell like vinegar if you use it daily.

There are some excellent bed bug repellents for skin that you can use before sleeping.

We highly recommend Avon Bug Guard. Its water-resistant, PBA free, and its non-greasy, making it perfect for everyday use.

Use the bug repellent spray on your forearms, at the back of knees and elbows, neck, back, and on your feet. These are the common areas where bed bugs bite.

As we mentioned earlier, even if you use creams or essential oils, always wear clothes while sleeping.

If you dont, then the bed sheet and blankets will remove the creams and oils from your skin, exposing you to bites from bed bugs.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, coconut oil has bug repellent properties that are stronger than DEET. (source)

The study showed that coconut oil has fatty acids that repel flies, ticks, mosquitoes, and bed bugs.

So, if youve mosquitoes in your home and bed bugs, then using coconut oil on your skin will stop them from biting you.

Just like the essential oils, the more natural the coconut oil is, the better.

Coconut oil is sticky, and it smells too. So, you, your clothes, and bedsheets might smell coconut-ty.

But there is some excellent quality coconut oil like COCO & CO that are non-greasy, non-smelly, and 100% pure. They work well in keeping bed bugs away.

You can sleep without bed bug bites despite a bed bug infestation in your home.

To make the five things that repel bed bugs work even better, youll need to prepare your bed a bit before sleeping.

But dont worry. Its not a whole lot of work.

There are three things that you can do within minutes before going to bed. Lets find them out.

Bed bugs can bite you on your neck, shoulders, legs, on the folds of knees, and elbows. Bed bug bites appear in a zig-zag fashion as itchy red welts.

The more your skin is exposed, the more bed bug bites youll get.

So, sleep with your clothes on covering most parts of your body. Before that, use the five things that you learned that prevent bed bug bites.

Bed bugs cant bite through clothing. So, a night suite with pajamas is essential to deny bed bugs access to your skin.

Do not wear any shorts and tank tops while sleeping till youve gotten rid of bed bugs.

If you wear the bed bug repellents and sleep with most of your skin exposed, the repellents will rub off against the bedsheet.

Thatll lead to bed bug bites.

Steam cleaning your mattress is a godsend method to prevent bed bug bites and kill bed bugs.

Why?

Its because heat is a highly effective bed bug killer. And steam cleaners produce heat.

Bed bugs cant survive temperatures more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Any heat more than that will kill bed bugs and baby bugs and even destroy their eggs on your bed.

So, take a steam cleaner and use it on your bed mattress. Slowly clean along the edges, corners, and folds of the mattress.

Bed bugs hide in these folds. You can also clean the headboard and bed frame of your bed with the steam cleaner.

Its an optional step. But it works wonders.

Spraying bed bug repellent on clothes and wearing bed bug repellents on your skin add double-layered protection that prevents bed bug bites.

When theres a severe bed bug infestation in your home, bed bugs in dresser drawers are also possible.

Bed bugs will take refuge in the clothes and linen that you keep in the dresser drawers, especially when theyre close to your bed.

Also use bug repellent sprays on the fabric that you keep in the dresser drawer, closet, or wardrobe.

No, you cant. Bed bug bites cause zig zag itchy red welts on the skin. These welts last for at least 1-2 weeks before they go away.

If youre not allergic to bed bug bites, then you wont even get these welts despite getting bitten by the bed bugs.

Applying toothpaste on bed bug bites is a great way to soothe the itching that bed bug bites cause.

The toothpaste contains methanol which is an anti-itching agent.

Apply toothpaste on the bite wounds. Within a few minutes youll get a relieving cooling sensation on the bitten portion.

There are other products like calamine lotion, peppermint essential oil, fresh aloe vera gel, and a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda that also provide relief from the itching of bed bug bites.

There are many unproven and mythical rumors that float around claiming to prevent bed bug bites.

You must not waste your time and money on them.

Here are the top 7 rumors and myths about preventing bed bug bites and to kill bed bugs.

Not at all. Its the biggest bed bug myth around. Vaseline, and any other kind of petroleum jelly, wont stop bed bugs from biting you.

Many believe that if you use generous amounts of Vaseline on your body and around your bed frame, then the bed bugs will get stuck and wont be able to bite.

Thats wrong.

Vaseline doesnt have any insecticidal properties like essential oils and coconut oil, which can repel bed bugs.

Bed bugs can easily bite through the layer of Vaseline on your skin and suck your blood.

Please dont do it. Burning sulfur doesnt have any effect on bed bugs.

And burning sulfur is dangerous. Smoke from sulfur causes shortness of breath, sinus, and it can even damage your eye.

When it comes to getting rid of bed bugs, theres one thing that you should never waste your money on, and thats bug bombs.

Bug bombs are ineffective because they cant seep into the gaps where the bed bugs hide.

Once you use the bug bomb, the bed bugs will escape and hide in tight corners and gaps.

You might be successful in killing a few them, but not the entire population.

Also, bug bombs dont have residual toxicity that can stick on the bed bugs skin and spread to other bugs.

Thats why its always a wise thing to do to contact a reliable pest controller to get rid of bed bugs.

Its another rumor or myth. The CO2 from the fire extinguisher will not freeze the bed bugs to death.

In fact, CO2 attracts bed bugs.

So, dont waste the gas inside your fire extinguisher to kill the bed bugs. Well, you can use the canister to smash the bed bug to death.

The laughable belief is that bed bugs bite only when the lights are off. Therefore, many people sleep with the lights on, thinking that itll trick the bed bugs.

Unfortunately, it doesnt!

Bed bugs bite when youre stationary. So, it doesnt matter to them if the lights are on.

No, it doesnt. Even if you use virgin olive oil, it wont.

Its better to use olive oil for cooking rather than putting it on your skin to repel bed bugs. It simply doesnt work.

No, it wont. Bed bugs, like termites and roaches, are tough and hard to kill pests.

Bed bugs love the humid and tropical climate, but that doesnt mean theyll die in winters.

Bed bugs can go without a blood meal by laying low for 400 days.

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What Can You Put On Your Body To Prevent Bed Bug Bites

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Are Bed Bugs Still a Problem For These Four Cities in Michigan?

There are four cities in Michigan that have significant problems with bed bugs.

Unfortunately, Michigan is a hot spot when it comes to bed bugs. Earlier this year we told you about four cities in Michigan that made Orkin's 2022 list of the 50 worst cities for bed bugs.

The Michigan cities included includeDetroit at #4,Grand Rapids at #11,Flint at #23, andLansing at #48. Chicago was #1 on the list for the second year in a row.

We're only going to assume that these cities are still in a bed bug battle as they're usually on the annual list every year. It's not a question of whether or not they're on the list, it's more about where they are on the list. We won't knowif these Michigan cities have fallen off until theupdated Orkin list comes out in January.

SEE ALSO:Michigan Women Sets Herself and Car on Fire Trying to Kill Bed Bugs

We get a preventative treatment applied inside our house every few months. It's not because we had bed bugs, it's because we don't want to risk ever getting them.

You can pick up bed bugs from anywhere. You could simply go to the moves and sit in a seat where someone with bed bugs was sitting and then unknowingly bring them into your home. It's a risk that we're not willing to take.

Getting rid of bed bugs is not an easy task, it's almost impossible without hiring professionals. However, there are a few things you can do:

Now youunderstand why we get preventative treatments.

Michigan has more than a handful of creatures that can kill or hurt you. Be careful out there.

These Genesee County buildings are part of the National Historic Places Registry

Check out the top male and female baby names from 1980-2021 in Michigan.

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What to expect after bed bug treatment – MSU Extension

There are steps to take after a pest management professional has treated your home for bed bugs.

When working with a pest management professional (PMP) to eradicate bed bugs, it is important to cooperate and follow all steps that are specified by the PMP. According to research, individuals who work cooperatively with their PMPs can make the eradication process much shorter. The Michigan State University Extension article, Preparing Your Home for Bed Bug Treatment, outlines the steps that should be taken.

If the PMPs treatment included pesticides, they will tell you how long to wait before re-entering the home. Once inside, air the rooms for an hour. Linens and clothing that were left in the treated rooms should be washed and dried. Wash in hot water and dry on the hot setting for at least 30 minutes. The PMP will tell you when the room can be vacuumed.

Bed bug management is a time consuming and difficult task. After physical repairs, cleaning and treatment have been conducted it is important to monitor for surviving bed bugs. If the PMP used conventional treatment, there may be some surviving eggs that will hatch. This doesnt mean that the treatment was ineffective. As these eggs hatch it will be necessary to continue monitoring and to have follow-up treatments. A conventional chemical treatment program will usually require at least one follow-up treatment two weeks later.

You may continue to sleep in your bed after treatment. Encasements should be put on mattresses and box springs. Any surviving bed bugs in the mattress or box spring will not be able to escape the encasement or bite. Encasements also prevent bed bugs living in other parts of the room from establishing themselves in the mattress or box spring.

After treatment the PMP will inspect to determine whether the treatment has been effective. If a significant reduction in bed bugs is not observed, it may be necessary to consider a combination of methods or an alternative to the treatment that had been used. You will have to follow any steps outlined by the PMP prior to the follow-up service to prepare the room(s) or home. Monitors such as sticky traps or bed bug interceptors may be helpful in the weeks following treatment.

There are several reasons why a treatment may not be effective:

For information on how to prevent or treat bed bug infestations, visit the Michigan Department of Community Health website, http://www.michigan.gov/bedbugs.

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Bed bugs | DermNet

What is a bed bug?

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is a blood-sucking human parasite that is found worldwide. Bed bugs come from the insect family Cimicidae. The bed bug is oval shaped, flat, reddish brown, and up to 5 mm long. Immature bed bugs are smaller than adults and may be translucent to light yellow.

Bed bugs

Bed bugs are attracted by warmth and generally feed at night. They can survive for long periods (e.g. up to one year) without feeding. In developed countries, bed bugs often hide in the cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, and other nearby structures. They can travel in furniture, luggage, and clothing, or can migrate through holes in walls, water pipes, or gutters. In developing countries, bed bugs can be found in the cracks and crevices of the walls of mud houses, as well as thatched roofs. Reports of bed bug infestations appear to be increasing in homes, apartments, hotel rooms, hospitals, and hostels in developed countries. This may be due to increased international travel, immigration, and insecticide resistance.

There is currently no scientific evidence that bed bugs can transmit other human diseases, although there is a debate on whether they are implicated in Hepatitis B and Chagas disease transmission.

Bed bugs usually feed without detection by the host, although some people with bed bug infestations report a restless night's sleep. Bed bugs generally bite in a linear pattern (a line) on exposed areas of skin such as the face, neck, hand, and arms. Most patients do not experience a reaction to a bed bug bite, and the only evidence is a tiny punctum (hole) at the site of the bite.

When a reaction occurs, the lesions are most commonly 2 to 5 mm red, itchy bumps. If they are not scratched they usually resolve in a week or so.

Some people experience significant skin reactions to the bites including:

These reactions may evolve into a bullous rash (fluid-filled blisters) and may become complicated by secondary bacterial infections such as impetigo or cellulitis.

Systemic reactions that have been rarely associated with bed bugs include asthma and anaphylaxis.

Bed bug bites

Treatment is not generally required. However, various treatments may relieve the symptoms of bed bug bites:

Firstly bed bugs must be correctly identified. A thorough search of the cracks and crevices of the bed and surrounding areas should be undertaken to detect the easily visible bed bugs or their faecal matter.

Eradication of bed bugs can be difficult and requires chemical and non-chemical control strategies. Hire a licensed professional pesticide applicator with experience in treating bed bugs.For further details, refer to the links in our Related information section below.

Once clear of bed bugs prevent recurrence by enclosing mattress and pillows, removing clutter, and reducing hiding places for the bugs. Each bed leg or caster can be placed in a container of talcum powder or wrapped in adhesive tape (sticky side out) to act as a barrier to the bugs.

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How to Get Rid of Bed Bug Bites: The Most Effective Home Remedies

Dont let the bed bugs bite is a common phrase that people say before going to bed. Unfortunately, if you have bed bugs, good wishes arent enough to get rid of these little biting critters for good. Bed bug bites can cause itchy red clusters of bumps on your skin which are also called bed bug rashes. This severe itching creates a strong urge to scratch and is very frustrating. You may even lose sleep scratching through the night and worrying about the bugs in your bed.

Getting rid of bed bug bites can be very effective with home remedies. Many home remedies help to treat the itchy bites that these nasty bugs cause and also help to reduce skin irritation, reduce redness and swelling as well as prevent infection. Some natural remedies for treating bed bug bites like apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and oatmeal reduce itching and swelling around the affected skin area. Other remedies include coconut oil, tea tree oil, or aloe vera to soothe the itchy skin and the inflammation around the bed bug rash.

Before learning about the best home remedies for treating bed bug bites, lets look at the signs and symptoms of bed bug bites.

Bed bugs are tiny parasitic insects that range in size from 1mm to 7mm. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these little pests feed on the blood of humans and animals.1 The bite from a bed bug can cause a bed bug rash which is an allergic reaction that makes the surrounding area inflamed, red, and itchy. Sometimes bed bug bites are confused with flea bites. Flea bites on humans occur at any time you are around the house, bed bugs are mostly active when its dark, so you will be bitten while you are asleep.

Dr. Varnada Karriem-Norwood on WebMD says that the red, itchy bites usually occur on the arms or shoulders, but they can also be on the face and be a reason for itchy hands. The red bumps on the skin tend to be in straight rows, although they can be in clusters. Although bed bugs dont carry disease, scratching the skin irritation can lead to secondary skin infections.2

Bed bug rash or bite marks may appear several hours or even several days after the bite has occurred. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that it may even take up to 2 weeks for bed bug rash and bite marks to become itchy, inflamed spots, depending upon the persons allergic reaction to the bites.

Usually bed bug rash or bites last several days and then slowly fade, but in some cases they can last longer if the bitten person is more sensitive to the bites. Some people may not have any reaction at all, while others who are more sensitive can develop bite marks or rashes that cause severe itching.

You can spot bed bug signs by carefully examining your bed linen. Some of the telltale signs of bed bugs are exoskeletons left behind after molting, tiny blood spots on your mattress or bed sheets, and a sweet musty odor.1

Doctors from the Mayo Clinic recommend checking in the cracks and crevices of beds, headboards, bed frames, and in the seams of mattresses.3 Generally, bed bugs live within 8 feet of sleeping areas.

To eliminate bed bug infestation, please read my article about the top 10 home remedies to get rid of bed bugs naturally. Youll discover effective bed bug treatments and detailed instructions how to use them.

To get rid of bed bug bites, its important to reduce the itching and inflammation. This will prevent you from scratching the itchy bumps and rashes that the bed bug bites cause.

The simplest way to stop bed bug bites itching fast is to apply a cold compress to soothe the red bed bug rash. The effect of cold helps to calm the nerve endings and take the itch out of the bite.

Many doctors recommend a cold compress to reduce pain and redness of a bed bug bite. Dr. Charles Patrick Davis on eMedicineHealth says to first of all wash the affected skin area. Then place a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel on the affected skin area.4 Leave on for around 10 minutes. Use the cold compress as needed to relieve the itchy skin and reduce redness causes by bed bug bites.

Raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a great natural remedy to make bed bug bite go away because its acidic properties relieve itching and redness. ACV contains acetic acid which is a natural anti-inflammatory and also acts as an antiseptic. Applying apple cider vinegar to bug bites can also help to prevent any secondary skin infection.

Scientists have found that topical applications that have a low pH level (acidic) help to relieve pruritus (skin itching).5 Apple cider vinegar has the effect of balancing the skins pH level which is higher when inflamed.

The journal PLoS One also found that acetic acid protects the skin from bacterial infections and speeds up the healing process.6

To use apple cider vinegar to relieve the irritation caused by bed bug bites, please do the following:

Washing your face with apple cider vinegar is another reason to use ACV to quickly cure bed bug bites around your nose and cheeks.

Another great and easy home remedy to alleviate the discomfort caused by bed bug bites is to apply lemon juice. Because of its citric acid content, lemon juice has medicinal properties that work similar to apple cider vinegar in relieving itchy skin.

To get fast relief from bed bug bites, dip a cotton ball in lemon juice and apply to the itchy bed bug rash. Repeat the process 2 or 3 times a day to stop the bites itching.

Use the natural astringent properties of witch hazel to dry out bed bug rashes quickly and reduce the urge to scratch. Witch hazel contains tannins which not only help get rid of itching caused by bed bug bites but also have antibacterial properties that prevent infections. Witch hazel is also one of the best home remedies to get rid of flea bites.

Doctors on WebMD say that witch hazel is applied directly to the skin to reduce itching, pain, and swelling caused by insect bites as well as mite bites.7 Studies into the anti-inflammatory effects of witch hazel found that the astringent properties help to reduce skin inflammation and improve its appearance.8

To soothe an itchy bed bug bite, you can apply witch hazel directly to the affected skin area. This is what you should do:

Baking soda is a natural antibacterial agent that can help dry out inflamed skin rashes and help to cure bed bug bites. Baking soda is also anti-inflammatory and will reduce the itchy sensation from the bed bug rash on your skin.

Doctors recommend using baking soda to soothe the redness, itching, and stinging that are caused by a mild reaction to an insect bite such as bed bug bite.9 A study into the antibacterial activities of baking soda found that it is also effective against a number of strains of bacteria.10

Make a home remedy for getting rid of bed bug bites by combining some water with baking soda. Here is how to make your anti-itch paste:

The baking soda treatment will help to protect the bed bug rash on your skin from becoming infected with germs. When combined with other ingredients, baking soda can help you get gorgeous, healthy-looking skin.

Pure aloe vera gel will help to get rid of the itch from an insect or bed bug bite. Aloe vera is rich in soothing properties that reduce inflammation and nourish your skin. To relieve skin itching, you can use aloe vera in its pure form straight from the plant leaf or you can buy pure aloe vera gel.

Aloe vera is known for its healing effect on the skin. In a study published in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology on the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera, it was found to be more effective at reducing skin irritation than 1% hydrocortisone gel.11 Hydrocortisone creams are often prescribed for insect bites.

It is very easy to use pure aloe vera gel to heal bed bug bites. All you have to do is apply the aloe vera gel liberally to the affected skin area a few times a day. The soothing effect of aloe vera on the skin will quickly get rid of itching and help to protect your skin.

Oatmeal is a natural remedy for skin inflammation and will soothe bed bug bites and other insect bites. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cleansing effect of oatmeal quickly reduces irritation, itching, redness, and swelling associated with painful bites.

A study published in the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology found that applying a topical treatment of colloidal oatmeal (ground oatmeal) helped reduce itching, skin rashes, burns, and eczema.12 In fact, colloidal oatmeal is registered at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide temporary relief of itching and irritation caused by insect bites.13

To get rid of bed bug bites with oatmeal, here is an effective home remedy:

You can also add some honey to the oatmeal anti-itch remedy to help boost its antibacterial potential.

Oatmeal is so effective at getting rid of any kind of skin irritation, you can use it in a warm bath as a home remedy to stop itching all over your body.

Honey, especially Manuka honey, contains powerful medicinal properties that can soothe an itch and heal bacterial skin infections. A dab of raw honey on the bed bug bite may be all you need to soothe the irritation. Honey should also be applied to insect bites to help prevent secondary skin infections developing.

The Mayo Clinic reports that there is some evidence that honey can be used as a topical itch treatment and it can help form a protective barrier on the skin.14 Studies have shown that honey can help reduce scalp itching and prevent infections.15

All you have to do to relieve itching from a bed bug bite and speed up the healing process is apply a little honey to the itchy spot. You can repeat as necessary throughout the day whenever you feel the urge to scratch the bed bug rash.

Another natural remedy to cure bed bug bites and soothe the discomfort they cause is to put some slices of cucumber on the itch. Cucumber is especially soothing on the bed bug rash if you take it straight out the refrigerator before applying it.

A medical study found that cucumbers have anti-inflammatory activities and help to inhibit inflammatory enzymes like COX-2. Cucumbers are also rich in vitamin C, E, and A all of which are essential for keeping skin healthy.16

Place slices of cooled cucumber directly on the bed bug rash to ease pain, reduce inflammation, and quickly stop the itch. Use as necessary every time the insect bite starts itching.

Relieving the discomfort of bed bug bites is one great way to use your old tea bags. There are various types of tea that you can use to soothe a painful itchy bite.

Black tea contains tannins which act as an astringent on the skin to reduce itching. The Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry says that the tannins are released when the black tea is put in hot water. The journal reports that tannins can be used to heal the skin and form a protective layer over tissue.17

Chamomile tea has a soothing effect on the skin as well as the mind. Studies into the anti-inflammatory and protective properties of chamomile show that its a great herb to relieve itching and inflammation and speed up the healing process of skin infections. Chamomile tea has been shown to be more effective than 1% hydrocortisone creams and is safe for long-term use.18

To use black tea bags or chamomile tea bags, you should place one teabag in a cup of hot water. Leave to infuse for a few minutes. Place the tea bag in the refrigerator to cool is down. Use as a cold compress on the itchy bed bug bite to get rid of the irritation and to get a quick itch relief.

You can also use the essential oil of chamomile to relieve itching. The University of Maryland recommends putting 5 to 10 drops of chamomile oil in a warm bath to soothe bed bug bites.19

There are many other essential oils for skincare that are excellent home remedies to reduce swelling and redness and prevent itching caused by bed bug bites.

Apart from tea tree oil and lavender oil, which can be applied directly as a spot treatment, essential oils should always be diluted before using on the skin. Coconut oil is a great carrier oil to use to reduce itching and prevent skin infections.

Coconut oil has many beneficial medicinal properties. The journal Pharmaceutical Biology reported that coconut oil reduces inflammation and eases pain.20 Read more about the 10 secret ways to use coconut oil on your skin.

When using essential oils with coconut oil on your skin, you should add 2-3 drops of essential oil in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.

The journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews reported on studies showing that tea tree oil shows anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. It can be added to coconut oil to help heal bed bug bites speedily and kill off any germs that may cause infection.21

If you have just one or two itchy bed bug bites, you can put a drop of tea tree oil directly on the spot to get instant itch relief. If however you have a sensitive skin or need to apply it on a larger skin area, mix a few drops of tea tree oil in a tablespoon of coconut oil and apply to the bed bug bites to reduce skin irritation and inflammation.

Using tea tree oil is also good for treating spider bites and cockroaches bites.

Tea tree oil is also one of the ingredients in my effective bed bug spray.

A study from 2015 found that lavender essential oil contains antioxidant, pain relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender oil was just as effective as dexamethasone, a pharmaceutical drug that is sometimes prescribed to relieve allergic reactions and reduce swelling.22

Another study found that lavender oil helped to reduce allergic skin reactions when used topically.23

Like tea tree oil, you can dab a drop of lavender oil directly onto a small itchy bed bug bite. For larger bed bug rash area, you should mix lavender oil with coconut oil to make a topical anti-itch cream.

The University of Maryland reports that calendula oil is an effective treatment for itchy skin inflammation.24 You can use a few drops of calendula oil mixed with coconut oil. Or you can buy a calendula cream to relieve itchiness from bed bug bites.

Usually, home remedies quickly and effectively heal bed bug bites and all your symptoms should be gone within a week.

However, doctors from the Mayo Clinic25 advise that you should see a doctor if you have a severe allergic reaction to the bed bugs or if the rashes caused by the bites start to blister.

Read my other related articles:1. The Top 10 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Naturally2. The Best Bed Bug Sprays to Kill Bed Bugs Fast 3. Mite Bites: Warning Signs and Natural Treatments4. Itching All Over the Body Causes and Natural Treatments5. What Do Flea Bites on Humans Look Like?6. How to Effectively Kill Bed Bugs Using Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

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