Itchy insect bites usually respond to cold washcloths and over-the-counter ointments.
Some insect bites trigger maddening itchiness, along with redness and swelling of the skin. Most bugs deposit saliva or venom into their victims' bloodstreams, which sets the human autoimmune system into motion, with swollen and prickly skin, according to TheTravelDoctor.co.uk. Scratching aggravates the discomfort and leads to infection and scarring. Mosquitoes and fleas are the most common offenders, and their bites usually require several days to heal. Fever, hives and difficulty breathing always demand immediate medical attention.
Instructions
Examination
1. Inspect your skin as soon as you suspect that you encountered an insect. Try to determine the culprit.
2. Look for an embedded stinger. Rub a plastic knife across your skin and over the stinger to remove it. A stinger releases more venom when you pluck it with your fingers or tweezers.
3. Check for a series of one to 10 raised circular spots with center markings that indicate spider bites. Dampen a washcloth with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and an equal amount of water and hold it over the spots. Spider bites are more prone to infections, according to pediatrician William Sears who maintains the Ask Dr. Sears website.
4. Observe your ear cartilage in a mirror, because bugs are especially drawn to that flesh. Also inspect an infants' legs and diaper areas; these are popular among fleas.
Treatment
5. Apply a cold washcloth to any insect bite.
6. Rub a topical salve like hydrocortisone or calamine directly onto itchy skin. Expect tingling or burning if you rub anti-itch agents over skin that is punctured from scratching.
7. Trim your fingernails. Scratching tears the skin and intensifies the itchiness.
Infection Prevention
8. Wash itchy skin with warm soapy water two or three times a day, to prevent infection, especially with a spider bite.
9. Hold a hot washcloth against the bite mark for 10 minutes.
10. Moisten a cloth with a half-and-half mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Place the damp washcloth onto the site for two minutes and then rinse the area with plain water.
11. Apply ice if you experience pain.
12. Contact a doctor, if these steps do not produce relief after two days, a fever appears, or the itching or swelling restrict your activities. Physicians typically prescribe oral antibiotics or antibiotic ointments.
Tags: bites usually, hydrogen peroxide, insect bites, itchy skin, your skin