Category Archives: Bed Bug Oil

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Do bed bugs only leave one bite?

wikiHow Contributor

No, they can leave more than one bite.

What can I put on my skin to prevent being bitten?

wikiHow Contributor

Unfortunately, there is not much that you can put on your skin. Bedbugs are typically active between 3am and 5am. Anything that you put onto your skin before going to bed would most likely have rubbed off by then. Some people find that wearing perfume or cologne to bed helps repel bedbugs, however.

Do bedbugs live in clothes as well?

wikiHow Contributor

Yes. They will live in your clothes if they are in a dresser that is used frequently. Washing all of your clothes in hot soapy water will kill them.

What can I use as a repellent for bed bugs?

wikiHow Contributor

You can use essential oils to repel them. Scents such as lavender, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, lemongrass oil, cedar oil, or peppermint work well. Sprinkle it around your mattress edges and the legs of your bed.

I have a very poor family and can't afford these things to get rid of bed bugs. What can I do?

wikiHow Contributor

They sell tea tree oil at the dollar store, as well as peppermint oil, and you can get lavender and peppermint candles for $1. Start there.

Does DE work on bed bugs?

wikiHow Contributor

They are repelled by DE. DE will kill them by causing cuts to their abdomen and thus causing them to dehydrate and die. However, it takes about two to seven days for them to die once exposed to it. Dust and sprinkle food-grade only DE in cracks, crevices, furniture such as mattresses and couches. Rub it into carpets. Always reapply every seven days or so. Wear a mask, and do not breathe in the dust, as it is harmful to your lungs, causing irritation. It is effective in repelling and killing bed bugs, but slowly. Be sure to have monitor traps and inceptors. Isolate your bed. Remain vigilant.

What should I do after a bed bug bite?

wikiHow Contributor

Do not scratch, though it may be tempting. Rubbing alcohol, methalated rubs, and hydrocortisone creams are helpful. If you develop a rash, antihistamines will help. If you experience a serious allergic reaction, see a doctor.

Do bed bugs bite exposed skin?

wikiHow Contributor

They'll bite through clothes, but mainly they bite skin that's not covered: fingers, wrists, etc.

Do bed bugs bite every night?

wikiHow Contributor

If you have multiples of bedbugs, it is very possible to be bitten every night. If they have already fed, they can stay hidden for up to a week.

Does rubbing alcohol act as a repellent of bed bugs?

wikiHow Contributor

It will kill them if sprayed on them, but it will not repel them.

Ask a Question

Categories: Bed Bug Control

In other languages:

Italiano:Smettere di Farsi Mordere dalle Cimici da Letto,: ,Espaol:hacer que los chinches de cama dejen de morderte de inmediato,Portugus:Acabar com Picadas de Percevejo de Cama Imediatamente,Deutsch:4 Wege um Bettwanzenbisse sofort zu stoppen,Franais:faire cesser immdiatement les piqures de punaises dans un lit,Bahasa Indonesia:Menghentikan Gigitan Kutu Ranjang dengan Segera,Ting Vit:Dit tr rp ging,Nederlands:Snel van bedwantsen afkomen,: ,: ,:

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 946,302 times.

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How to Stop Bed Bug Bites Immediately - wikiHow

Bed bug bites can cause a very itchy rash and an irresistible urge to scratch the clusters of red bumps. Many people develop a bed bug rash after being bitten multiple times by these parasitic insects. The bed bug rash may be just a patch of itchy red skin around the bite mark or it could be a large number of welts that itch and may even blister.

Getting rid of the rash that develops after bed bug bites can be a challenge. Very often, scratching the red itchy rash just makes the itching even worse. Also, you may suffer from some embarrassment if the bed bug rash is on your face, arms, or legs. The good news is that there are many effective home remedies for bed bug rashes that will stop the itching and help your skin heal faster.

To naturally treat a rash that has been caused by bed bug bites, its important to reduce inflammation, swelling, and itching on your skin. However, natural remedies need to include antimicrobial properties to prevent skin infections getting worse. That is why ingredients like tea tree oil, witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, and aloe vera are excellent home remedies for bed bug rashes.

In this article, you will learn how to effectively treat the symptoms and visible signs of a bed bug rash. You will also find out how to identify bed bug bites and what you should do if you have an infestation of bed bugs.

Bed bug rashes on your face, arms, hands, and legs are an allergic reaction to being bitten by bed bugs. These are tiny insects that grow to about 5-7 mm and feed on the blood of humans and animals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that it can take up to several days for bed bug bite marks or a rash to appear. It can also be difficult to tell the difference between clusters of bed bug bites and other insect bites. For example, bed bug rashes can look similar to flea bites or mosquito bites.1

According to doctors from the National Health Service, bed bug bites are painless at first. As the body reacts to the bed bug bite, red itchy bumps will appear. Sometimes, you may notice a rash around the bed bug bites or the clusters of red itchy welts could appear to be a rash-like patch of skin.2

However, Dr. Carol DerSarkissian on WebMD says that the only way to really tell if the rash is due to bed bug bites is to look for signs of an infestation of bed bugs.3

For more information, read the article on what do bed bug bites look like.

The length of time a bed bug rash lasts depends on the severity of your bodys reaction. Dr. Steven Doerr on eMedicineHealth states that a rash can appear anywhere from a few minutes after the bite to a few days. If the bite turns into a red swollen bump then the rash can last up to two weeks.

However, if you scratch the itchy rash a lot and an infection gets into the wound, then the healing time for a bed bug rash will be longer than two weeks.4

If you notice signs of a bed bug rash, you should immediately inspect your bed and bedding for the little critters.

Dr. Carol DerSarkissian on WebMD says that bed bugs live in tiny crevices in furniture, in the seams of mattresses, in box springs, and along baseboards. Some of the tell-tale signs that your rash has been caused by a bed bug infestation are:

If you notice signs of bed bug activity or even see live bed bugs crawling around your bed frame, you need to take immediate action to get rid of the bugs for good. To find out how to exterminate bed bugs completely using homemade sprays and bed bug powders, please read my article on the top 10 home remedies for bed bugs.

There are many wonderful home remedies to soothe itching and prevent infection of bed bug rashes and blisters. Applying these natural treatments regularly will help you to resist the urge to scratch which can cause the itching to become even more intense.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to take the itch out of a bed bug allergy rash fast is to apply a cold compress. The coldness helps to soothe irritated nerve endings and reduce itching.

Dr. Charles Patrick Davis on eMedicineHealth recommends an ice pack placed on itchy insect bite rashes to calm inflammation and get rid of itching.5

How to use it:

To quickly calm the symptoms of a bed bug skin rash using a cold compress, this is what you should do:

Alternatively, you could use a cooled tea bag for the cold compress. Just place a black tea bags, green tea bag, or chamomile tea bag in a cup of boiling water for a few minutes. Remove, and cool in the refrigerator and use in place of the ice pack to treat your bed bug skin rashes.

Another easy remedy for bed bug rashes that you can make at home is an apple cider vinegar solution. The anti-itch properties of apple cider vinegar are due to the acetic acid in the vinegar. This acidic property of apple cider vinegar also acts as an antiseptic to kill germs and prevent secondary bacterial infections.

According to a report from 2010, topical treatments that lower the skins pH levels help to soothe itching.6 Diluted apple cider vinegar is gentle enough for most peoples skin to balance pH levels and reduce inflammation. Also, the journal PLoS One reported that acetic acid acts as a natural antibacterial treatment and can treat infections in skin wounds.7

How to use it:

To calm an itchy rash caused by an allergic reaction to bed bug bites, you can use an apple cider vinegar solution this way:

Apple cider is also great for washing your face and will help to reduce an itchy rash on your cheeks or neck caused by bed bugs.

The skin-soothing properties of aloe vera have been well researched and you can apply the gel directly to itchy bed bug bite rashes. You can buy aloe vera gel that has very few added ingredients or you can squeeze the gel straight from the plant leaf.

Many doctors recommend using a hydrocortisone ointment to reduce itching in insect bites. However, you can use aloe vera gel as a natural anti-itch ointment. The journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology reported that the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera were just as effective as 1% hydrocortisone gel in getting rid of itching.8

How to use it:

It couldnt be easier to use aloe vera gel to treat bed bug rashes. This is what you should do:

Witch hazel is another natural remedy that will take the itch out of bed bug bites or a rash. The reason that witch hazel is so effective in soothing itchy skin is that it contains tannins which are a natural astringent.

According to many doctors, witch hazel is a natural remedy for itching and pain. By applying witch hazel to irritated skin and insect bites, you can also help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Its healing properties are also useful if scratching the bed bug rash has caused the skin to break.9

How to use it:

To promote healing of a rash caused by annoying bed bugs, you can use witch hazel this way:

Apply witch hazel to a bed bug rash any time you feel discomfort or a strong urge to scratch the cluster of bites. You can also use witch hazel to get rid of clusters of flea bites.

If you need fast relief from a bed bug skin rash that is causing irritation, you can apply a baking soda paste. The anti-inflammatory properties of baking soda along with its antibacterial activity is a quick and cheap way to treat bed bug rashes.

According to Dr. David Derrer on WebMD, baking soda will calm redness, soothe itching, and generally help treat symptoms of an allergic reaction to an insect bite.10

How to use it:

To help cure a bed bug rash using baking soda, you just need to make a paste this way:

Baking soda can also be used as a cheap home remedy to reduce blemishes on your skin and keep your skin looking healthy.

Oatmeal is a great way to treat large rashes caused by bed bugs that are on your back or in hard-to-reach locations. Oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory properties to reduce inflammation in insect bites that have caused an allergic reaction.

The Journal of Drugs and Dermatology reported that ground oatmeal helps to reduce skin rashes, itching, and other symptoms of irritated skin reactions.11 Oatmeal is so effective for treating insect bites that it is registered with the U.S. FDA to relieve itching and irritation caused by insect bites.12

How to use it:

For treating bed bug rashes that cover a large area, you can make a relaxing bath with ground oatmeal. This is what you should do:

If you want to know how to make an oatmeal and yogurt paste to relieve itching from clusters of bed bug bites, then please read my article on how to get rid of bed bug bites naturally.

A dab of honey on a bed bug rash can do wonders to heal the irritated skin quickly. Honey is commonly used to treat many types of skin infections, blisters, and wounds and can relieve itchy insect bites. Honey has powerful antibacterial properties; therefore, by applying honey to bed bug bites, you can prevent bacterial infections causing pus to form in the bite marks.

Doctors from the Mayo Clinic stated that honey can be used as a topical itch treatment and it forms a protective barrier on the skin.13 The European Journal of Medical Research reported that applying honey to the skin helps reduce itching in some skin infections.14

How to use:

If you want to use honey to get rid of bed bug rash symptoms, it is best to use Manuka honey for its healing power. However, you can use any raw, unprocessed honey on the itchy rash.

One easy way to quickly remove the symptoms of a bed bug rash is to apply slices of cooled cucumber to the red patch of skin.

It is not just the cold from a chilled cucumber that relieves itching from a bed bug rash. According to the journal Fitoterapia, the seeds of cucumber have a cooling effect. Research has also shown that cucumbers relieve irritated skin and reduce dermal swelling.15

How to use it:

Here is the best way to use a chilled cucumber to treat bed bug rashes on your face, arms, or legs:

The anti-inflammatory properties of cucumber are also great for puffy eyes and you can also make your own cucumber gel for soothing tired eyes.

Many essential oils can be used to make a topical ointment for relieving itchy and inflamed bed bug rashes. Two of the best essential oils for insect bites are tea tree oil and lavender oil.

When using these oils to treat a bed bug rash, you should mix them with a carrier oil. For this, the best oil to use is coconut oil because it has antibacterial properties as well as helping to moisturize the skin and promoting skin healing. For the recipe, you should use 2-3 drops of essential oil in 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Apply the natural ointment to your bed bug rash 2-3 times a day until all symptoms of bed bug bites have gone.

Tea tree oil is anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce itching and swelling in irritated patches of skin. A review of the medicinal properties of tea tree oil found that it helps reduce histamine-induced inflammation in the skin. This means that tea tree oil is an important ingredient in treating bed bug allergy rashes.16

Lavender essential oil helps to relieve pain, soothe itching, and relax the skin and mind. One scientific study published in 2015 found that lavender oil helps to lessen itching just as good as some popular pharmaceutical drugs for swelling and allergic reactions.17

Calendula oil can help to treat a skin rash caused by bed bugs. The University of Maryland reports that calendula treats skin inflammation and itchiness.18 You can add a few drops of calendula oil to a tablespoon coconut oil to reduce redness in a bed bug rash.

There are many other essential oils that can help you treat the allergic reaction caused by bed bug bites read about them in my article about the best essential oils for allergies.

In most cases of bed bug rashes, the home remedies are all you need to speedily reduce itching, redness, irritation, and blisters. Natural remedies should help to heal the bed bug rash within one week.

If you have a severe allergic reaction to bed bug bites or you notice signs of a bacterial infection, you should see your doctor. Dr. Steven Doerr on eMedicineHealth says that signs you should seek medical advice for bed bug bites are as follows:19

Read these related articles:

Article Sources

Originally posted here:
bed bug rash - Healthy and Natural World

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Do bed bugs only leave one bite?

wikiHow Contributor

No, they can leave more than one bite.

What can I use as a repellent for bed bugs?

wikiHow Contributor

You can use essential oils to repel them. Scents such as lavender, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, lemongrass oil, cedar oil, or peppermint work well. Sprinkle it around your mattress edges and the legs of your bed.

I have a very poor family and can't afford these things to get rid of bed bugs. What can I do?

wikiHow Contributor

They sell tea tree oil at the dollar store, as well as peppermint oil, and you can get lavender and peppermint candles for $1. Start there.

What can I put on my skin to prevent being bitten?

wikiHow Contributor

Unfortunately, there is not much that you can put on your skin. Bedbugs are typically active between 3am and 5am. Anything that you put onto your skin before going to bed would most likely have rubbed off by then. Some people find that wearing perfume or cologne to bed helps repel bedbugs, however.

Do bedbugs live in clothes as well?

wikiHow Contributor

Yes. They will live in your clothes if they are in a dresser that is used frequently. Washing all of your clothes in hot soapy water will kill them.

Do bed bugs bite exposed skin?

wikiHow Contributor

They'll bite through clothes, but mainly they bite skin that's not covered: fingers, wrists, etc.

Do bed bugs bite every night?

wikiHow Contributor

If you have multiples of bedbugs, it is very possible to be bitten every night. If they have already fed, they can stay hidden for up to a week.

When do bed bugs come out at night?

wikiHow Contributor

Bed bugs come out whenever they are hungry. Time does not matter.

What should I do after a bed bug bite?

wikiHow Contributor

Do not scratch, though it may be tempting. Rubbing alcohol, methalated rubs, and hydrocortisone creams are helpful. If you develop a rash, antihistamines will help. If you experience a serious allergic reaction, see a doctor.

Does rubbing alcohol act as a repellent of bed bugs?

wikiHow Contributor

It will kill them if sprayed on them, but it will not repel them.

Ask a Question

Categories: Bed Bug Control

In other languages:

Italiano:Smettere di Farsi Mordere dalle Cimici da Letto,: ,Espaol:hacer que los chinches de cama dejen de morderte de inmediato,Portugus:Acabar com Picadas de Percevejo de Cama Imediatamente,Deutsch:4 Wege um Bettwanzenbisse sofort zu stoppen,Franais:faire cesser immdiatement les piqres de punaises dans un lit,Bahasa Indonesia:Menghentikan Gigitan Kutu Ranjang dengan Segera,Ting Vit:Dit tr rp ging,Nederlands:Snel van bedwantsen afkomen,: ,:

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 894,100 times.

YesNo

See the original post here:
The 4 Best Ways to Stop Bed Bug Bites Immediately - wikiHow

Over 99 percent of all professional pest control companies report treating homes or buildings infested with bed bugs within the past year, which makes bed bug bites extremely common annoyances. (1) And theyre arent going away anytime soon, it appears.

Bed bugs are found in every state in the U.S., just about every country, and in new and old homes alike.The Pest World Organization reports that bed bug occurrences are up dramatically from about 1015 years ago, and experts around the world feel that these bugs have recently undergone a worldwide resurgence for reasons that arent totally understood.(2) Pest control surveys show that the top three places where bed bugs are found include apartments/condominiums, single-family homes and hotels/motels making just about anyone susceptible to bed bug bites without a moments notice.

Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of bed bugs, along with ways to treat bed bug bites, naturally and safely, and it starts with understanding bed bugs and knowing how to identify bed bug bites.

Bed bugs, which canlive on many different surfaces in your home aside from mattresses, and are considered blood-feeding insects that bite humans and other animals to survive. There are many different species of bed bugs found globally, but two of the leading types includeCimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus.

Although their name makes it sound like they only live inside of beds or mattresses, bed bugs can survive in other spaces too, including couches or sofas, luggage, sheets, inside dressers, or in rugs/carpets. Other than homes or motels, places where its common to find bed bugs includeany spacewhere people live or work in tight quarters, especially if the space is cluttered and not cleaned often such asnursing homes, college dorms, corporate offices, schools, day care centers and hospitals.

The most common sign or symptom of bed bug bites is a type of dermatological reaction that causes an itchy, bumpy rash.A small percentage of people develop somewhat serious reactions to bed bugs beyondjust itchy skinrashes, including anemic symptomsor various symptoms of allergies, but for the majority bed bugs are mostly just a nuance, inconvenient and downright gross to encounter. (3)Even though there isnt evidence that bed bugs carry dangerous human pathogens, you still definitely want to avoid them at all costs due to the rash they can cause along with significant psychological distress.

If you do suspect youve been bitten, youre probably wondering how you can get rid of bed bugs in your home and prevent them from returning without the use of harsh chemicals. Prevention of bed bugs and treatment for bed bug bites include using natural bug-repellent solutions in your home, such as essential oils, along with treating skin rashes with natural skin careingredients.

People react to bed bugs differently depending on their tolerance to bites and strength of their immune systems. Rashes caused from bed bug bites can start out as small macular spots and later progress into larger, intensely itchy, dry patches that might erupt as they heal. The good news is that bed bugs themselves are usually not very dangerous, since they tend not to carry harmful bacteria that can cause any lasting infections or viruses in humans. Research shows that some bed bugs carry up to 40 different species of microbes/bacteria, but most (if not all) are harmless.

The most common symptoms of bed bug bites include:

There is also a strong psychological toll associated with bed bugs, since they can cause anxiety, shame and trouble sleeping for many people. (5)

Keep in mind that not everyone reacts to bed bug bites in the same way. Some people experience little to no symptoms from bites and therefore have no idea that theyve even been bitten. Others respond more drastically and can suffer from allergic reactions, pain and fever-like symptoms.

For people with average or strong immune systems, the majority of bed bug species are nonvenomous and relatively harmless. Bed bugs are roughly equivalent to head lice or common mosquito bites, since they cause skin reactions but usually not more.Boosting your immune system can help to reduce allergy/histamine reactions to bug bites.

The reason bed bugs can trigger skin rashes is because their saliva can carry substances that irritate human skin.Bed bug bites usually arent felt and dont hurt while theyre happening because the bugs can first inject a numbing agent into the skin that makes their fangs essentially undetectable.

Although most bites cause minor reactions, including small, red bumps, some people develop more intense hive-like rashes, swelling and painful skin lesions.The most severe reactions occur in people who tend to be allergic to many different types of common bug bites, including mosquitoes or fleas.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that if you have a history of strong allergic reactions to bug bites or notice signs of an infection caused from any bites, its best to see a doctor. (6) Early treatment can help control any skin inflammation from worsening and keep the allergic reaction from causing more serious complications.

Bed bugs are considered by many experts to be one of the most challenging pests to treat, considering theyre both resilient insects and also capable of reproducing quickly. They can survive in many different climates, go very long periods of time without eating, and are small enough to live in tiny places and go easily go undetected. (7)

There are many myths surrounding bed bugs including that they only bite at night, are only found in the summer and can jump across entire rooms.Bed bugs dont just wait until youre sleeping to start biting; theyre actually capable of biting any time of day.Although its a common misconception that bed bugs fly and can move quickly from room to room, they dont actually have wings, and they arent capable of jumping/hopping far either. Instead, they crawl from surface to surface, usually on the search for more food.

Bed bugs arent seasonal pests for the most part, like mosquitoes or ants, for example, and can take up residence in your home or other areas at any point in the year.Although not a seasonal insect that tends to thrive or die off at certain points in the year, surveys show that bed bugs are reported in higher numbers during the summer months. The reason experts believe this is true isbecause people tend to do more traveling during the summer and stay in more hotels/motels. Public transportation use can also increase in the summer months, which raises the risk for bed bugs being transmitted from location to location.

What do bed bugs look like?

Conventional treatment for bed bug bites usually includes:

The Department of Medical Entomology at Westmead Hospital in Australia warns: The misuse of chemicals and other technologies for controlling bed bugs has the potential to have a deleterious impact on human health.

Insecticides, prescription drugs and chemical household cleaners can be toxic and sometimes cause reactions like worsened skin problems, allergic responses and more. Whenever possible, its best to prevent bed bugs come infesting your home in the first place. When a rash occurs, you can work on easing itching naturally and thoroughly cleaning your home to prevent another infestation.

1. Inspect Your Home and Clean Up Clutter

Although its a myth that bed bugs only live in old or dirty homes, its true that the more cluttered a space is the likelier they are to survive and continue reproducing. Clearing away clutter from your home gives them less opportunity to find spaces and surfaces to hide.

If you suspect youve been bitten, try to locate the bugs in your home by investigating your mattress, headboard, carpet, sheets and area around your bed. A clue your skin rash might be due to bed bugs is if you wake up with itchy areas you didnt have before going into bed (since this is where many people get bit since its easy for the bugs to live if they have access to blood frequently). Another risk factor is if you recently bought a new bed, carpet or furniture, especially if any of it waspreviously owned.

Some people notice certain signs that point to bed bugs around their homes, including:

2. Thoroughly Wash Affected Surfaces and Fabrics

Its recommended if you spot bed bugs in your home or develop any signs of bed bug bites that you call a professional service company thats experienced with dealing with them. There are some companies that use organic, natural products to help control bed bugs, but most wont. Ask about what types of options companies in your area offer in regard to the type of insecticides they use. If you do choose to hire a company that uses chemical insecticides, make sure theproducts are safe to use on mattresses that might later come into contact with your skin.

The good news is that you dont necessarily need to throw out your mattress, couch, carpet or clothing if bed bugs have infested them, although many people choose to. Its possible to clean fabrics and surfaces enough to remove bed bugs and their eggs, which is most successful when done using professional cleaning equipment thats powerful.

3. Use Neem Oil

Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide thats derived from seeds of the neem tree.Azadirachtin is the most active component of neem oil that helps repel insects and pests due to its strong smell.The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that neem oil can be safe and effective against bed bugs both in both private homes and other commercial environments.

Not only does it repel bed bugs from settling in your home, but neem oil helps stop them from reproducing if theyre already there. Look fortwo products thatcontain concentrated neem oil and are ready to use: TER-TRU1 (containing 5.5 percent cold-pressed neem oil, which is best for homes) and TER-CX1 (containing 22.0 percent cold-pressed neem oil, which is best for commercial use in large spaces).

4. Apply Diatomaceous Earth

Another natural bug-repelling substance,Diatomaceous earth (DE), is made up of fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms.It usually comes in the form of a white powder and is also used in water filtering, food manufacturing, skin products and farming to naturally eliminate free radicals, viruses, insects, parasites and other harmful organisms.

DE contains silica, which has beenfound in studies to kill insects by removing a portion of the razor-thin, waxy outer coating that helps the insects conserve moisture and survive. It essentially dries them up from inside without the use of chemicals and tends to be more effective than products that rely on abrasion or poisoning. (12)Sprinkle DE powder where needed in your home, rub the powder into fabrics/your carpets with a brush or broom, and then letthe powder sit for about four to 12 hours before vacuuming. Its recommended that you repeat this process once a week for a total of three to four weeks.

5. Help Stop Bed Bug Bite Itching

Skin that has been affected with a rash caused by bed bug bites should be cleaned and treated with mild anti-itch solutions. You can use a natural antihistamine product on your skin to lower swelling, itching and redness. Natural treatments for bites include:

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Bed Bug Bites: Symptoms, Facts & Natural Treatments - Dr. Axe

To say that the times are hard in Nigeria today is to put it mildly. We live in the kind of times that made Thomas Paine write his famous quote: These are the times that try mens souls. This is the famous part but Paine continued: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Indeed.

The first part of the quote describes the times and shows the impact they will have on people, including the gallant soldiers and trusted patriots. The second part shows the reward for patience and perseverance. It indicates that the hard times dont last forever and those who persevere get rewarded. I think it is a constructive way to present a challenge, and that is to me, the main attraction of that famous statement and why I believe my candid advice to my favourite SME should be clothed with ideas embedded in Paines quote. Now listen, my favourite SME.

The present times will try your soul. I know your soul is already in the dock undergoing trial. You should be aware of that. But more important, the trial is not about to end. It is going to be with you for a while. Recessions do not end on a given date. Actually nobody knows when they end until people see the plants begin to give out fresh leaves. Some people may have told you it will soon come to an end. Some very daring ones predicted it will last 18 months. By that calculation we are almost coming ashore. Dont be fooled. It is not only one crisis. It is a chain of crises. If you are a Christian, you may have heard the story of Legion that horde of demons that lived in a certain man. Put simply, the light you see at the end of the tunnel may be the headlamp of an oncoming railway engine. Dont sit and wait for recession to end. The end of this crisis will mark the beginning of another. This is not pessimism. Have survival and expansion plans. What would you be doing in the next three years?

Stop talking about your potentials. Use them. I know you have been through lots of training in the past Owner Manager, Senior Management, Finance for Non-finance Managers, and such. Take the skills out of your bag of potentials. Potentials have made many men, women, children and indeed nations, lose their lives by literally walking into the enemy camp. Read the history of your country and see how it failed to become a giant because it has too much potentials it does not know how to use. Remember the story of a man who attended a fund raising in his community and said he gave his moral support to a project for which funds were being raised. Some people mistook his moral support for the name of a foreign currency and asked him its equivalence in Naira. Nigeria has been showcasing her potentials since independence and has never exploited it. Dont be like her. All your learning in Lagos Business School, Wharton and Harvard will come to naught if you continue to parade unexploited potentials.

Please learn from the ants and use this period, which they call recession, to wean yourself of the rampant economic rent seeking behaviour, to which you have become accustomed. There is a new wind of change blowing across the country. But dont ask me the speed of the wind. The Nigerian Meteorological Services measure wind speed and can tell you if this wind will eventually turn to a hurricane or fizzle out as you probably think it will.

The deafening sound of billions of dollars being recovered from disused pit latrines and bedrooms of maternal cousins of public officials and the fact that nobody goes to jail in Nigeria for big crimes, may be killing you. However, from what I hear, things are about to change but dont hold me to this prospect. At least they did not give us names of those who refunded money to government because it will damage investigation but now they are giving us full names like Yakubu, etc. My point is that the recession is not exactly as terrible you make it look. In many climes, people use the period to rethink and retool their business strategies.

Besides, there are still big time business opportunities out there. My research has actually uncovered one. It is called Whistle Blowing. The time has passed when loots were relooted and common people like you watched in awe. Not anymore. You are now in the loop, not to loot or reloot but to facilitate loot recovery as a business. Once you find aloot and tell us; you get 5 per cent of the loot. With NNPC still in operation and the Yakubus still working free, you could say there are great potentials one last time I let you use the word potential.

I know you are concerned that civil servants may loot your 5 percent of loot and you may end up blackmailed with the threat of being revealed to the Yakubus by those who want to expropriate you. Dont worry. Blow the whistle first. After all, something must kill a man. So a recession is not really the draught we are told it is. It comes with new business opportunities for those that think hard.

Use this low time to exercise your brain more constructively. Am sure you will find that there are cheaper and better ways of doing what you do currently. It is called innovation. Try to make, create or invent something of your own. And for your information, you dont have to reinvent the wheel. You can improve on what has already been done by others. In the legal world of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, your invention is still patentable even if it is an improvement on existing ones. The problem is that you are too focused on trading and have no time to think. I know you stopped thinking because you discovered that your friends who spent their time pursuing public officials ended up wealthy by serving as conduits for all kinds of evil against your country. Please dont be discouraged. President Buhari has come after them. Why do you think they unleashed marabouts, necromancers and poisonous prayers against him?

Let me warn you that Nigeria is not about to change. And this has nothing to do with the zeal of the present proponents of change. Someone may lead change but change will not happen because someone has declared it, no matter how sincere he is. Change only comes when a critical mass of change champions are empanelled and committed. I may concede to Buharis commitment to change but am yet to see yours. Until the 103m people in Nigerias labour force, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, including ministers, directors, managers, clerks and even security men, who are alleged to work more for oil thieves and smugglers than their country, commit to change, it wont happen. Commit.

To close this first instalment of advice to you, let me remind you that the way you dress is the way you are addressed. Try to fix your looks before going to your bank for that financial support. It is time you began to see yourself as a proper company and behave like one. Do you have a bank account? Have you ever met your account officer? Does he understand what you do? Do you have a specific line of business or you wake up every morning, walk through the street looking for what you call business? That is a recipe for conmanship.

Igbo mythology has a story of the bed bug and hot water. What hot water does to bed bug is what recession is doing to business. The bed bugs secrete of survival is in taking advice. Listen to the bed bug.

Read more:
Advice to my favourite SME: Listen to the bed bug (1) - BusinessDay