Before we get to the details of how to deal with bed bug bites, please be aware of the fact that there is no such a thing as bed bug bites treatment.
The topical or systemic antihistamines or cortisone are just for relieving the urge to scratch the bites so that they don’t get worse. And if you don’t do anything the bites will resolve on their own in 1-2 weeks.
There are, however, some home-made remedies to do the same thing; relief the itch so that you can go on with your life not totally distracted with the urge to scratch those bites. In the following few paragraphs you’ll learn some of those home-made remedies, but this is not supposed to be your priority.
Getting rid of the bed bugs is your goal because it is important to prevent repeated bites in the same area to avoid the complications. At the end of this article you will learn more about how to get rid of bed bugs.
1. Baking soda paste:
Add drops of water to a 1:1 mixture of table salt and baking soda just enough to make a paste. Apply the paste to the bites and leave it to dry.
It is important to wash the bites really well with soap and cold water with gentle rubbing. Allow cold water to run on the bites for a minute to significantly reduce the itch. Please also avoid rough rubbing while washing the bites because it will help spread the itch.
2. Zinc and ferric oxide mixture:
Also known as “calamine lotion”. It can be applied with a cotton swap straight to the bite after washing it with soap and cold water. Zinc and ferric oxide mixture in presence of the phenol have an antiseptic effect, so in addition to the relief it also helps stop any infection that might come with the bite.
3. Use a repellent:
The repeated bites in the same area can be problematic. To avoid repeated bites it is important to get rid of the bugs. Until this happens a repellent can help keep the bugs away from your skin.
Now that the itch is soothed it’s time to focus on what’s important: treating your bedroom. The mechanical treatment can do the trick so that you don’t have to get exposed to insecticides while asleep.
This can be done in a weekend. Take everything washable out of the bedroom straight to the laundry in a sealed disposable container or bag. After washing them with hot water dry them also on the hot cycle and place them in new sealed containers or bags.
While the washable items are at the laundry vacuum everything left behind, including the mattresses and pillows that don’t fit in the washing machine, and wrap them in the clear wrap so that the bugs will not find a place to hide.
Keep the clean laundry in the sealed containers and only take out what you will use, and put them in a sealed container after you take them off. Keep the vacuuming going for at least three weeks and keep the laundry ritual above during that period.
