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Bed bug rash picture

Insect Bites

Bed Bug Rash Pictures, Bite, Symptoms, Treatment, Raised, on Arms, Skin, Cure



How does bed bug rash look like? Get insights on the bite symptoms, on skin, arms, how to identify and the best treatment for bed bug bite rash.

Bed bugs feed on blood as their only source of nutrition. The only way to make them mature into adults, they must feed once during each of their immature stage. Adult females also need blood in order to produce eggs. However bed bugs do bite humans, they are not known to transmit diseases to people.

Identifying bed bug bites

bed bug rash

bed bug bite rash

Blood spots found on one’s sheets, bites and the presence of bed bug feces and cast skins are some of the indications of a bed bug infestation.

Bites are commonly found on the parts of the body that are more likely to be exposed to bed bugs during sleep the hands, neck, face, shoulders, legs, and arms. In many cases, bed bug bites are often grouped together in a small area and at times may appear in a line or a zigzag pattern.

Bites commonly looks like small, flat or raised areas that may become inflamed, itchy, red or blistered. Bed bug bites reactions are not always occur immediately after you are bitten and may take a few days to begin causing symptoms, although, not everyone reacts to bed bug bites in the same manner.

Why do they bite?

As we all know bed bugs are blood feeders that depend on blood for their food source, so they must consume blood for them to survive. One bed bug can take more than one bite. Once a bed bug inserts its mouthparts and finds a suitable blood vessel, it will begin feeding.



Although, finding the right blood vessel may take more than one injection into the skin. In this case, if a sleeping person moves, a feeding bed bug will probably withdraw its mouthparts and begin its search for a blood meal on another part of the body.

Risks and infections

Scratching bed bug bites and failure to keep the bites clean and disinfected may lead to a secondary infection that can cause further swelling and bleeding. Children, the elderly, and individuals with weak immune systems, especially those who are bedridden, may develop secondary infections that result from bed bug bites.

Bed Bug Rash Pictures

Take a look at our bed bugs slideshow to see photos of bed bugs. Plus, learn where they hide, discover how to identify and treat bed bug rash or bites, and read up on what you can do to prevent a bed bug infestation.

Bed Bug Rash Symptoms

May be you have ever woke up with red marks on your body after a good night’s sleep in your bed. In this case you may be been bitten by a small parasite known as bad bug. Bed bug are small insects with a reddish-brown look, they are capable of biting any amount of exposed human or animal skin and they will feed on its blood. These parasites are about the size of an apple seed and they usually hide in many different areas in your bedroom and home, including:

  • Mattresses
  • Crevices along
  • Bed frames
  • Headboards
  • Under any kind of peeling paint
  • They also hide under carpets near the baseboards
  • Near electrical outlets
  • Upholstered furniture seams and or any other object in or around your bed.

Bed bud rash and bite symptoms

Identifying bed bug bites is difficult.  Bed bud bites usually looks like any other bug bites. While In most people don’t react to bed bugs at all. You can notice bed bug bites by seeing spots that are red, mostly they are darker in the middle area, and the bite is often itchy, but not always. Bites are usually near or on areas of the skin that are directly on the bed sheet.

One common characteristic of a bed bug bite is they are usually in a pattern either in a rough line or in a cluster. This is due to their feeding habits.  They will often bite, pull in blood, move a little, bit, pull in blood, and others.

A large number of people have allergic reactions to bed bug bites. These reactions cause them to develop a rash, normally referred to bed bug rash. Symptoms that can also appear, but are rare are forming hives or blisters.

These allergic reactions are caused by a chemical in the bed bug’s saliva that numbs your skin so you cannot feel the bed bug biting you.

How do bed bugs spread?

In most cases by hitchhiking. Bed bugs are known to be the most hick hikers. They move from one sites to another by travelling on items such as clothing, furniture, luggage bags, boxes, carpets and mostly beddings. These parasites do not care if your environment is clean or dirty, all they need is a warm host and plenty of creaks and crevices to hiding places.

Bed bugs crawl as fast as a lady bug. Bed bugs do not fly or jump, although they may look like it. They just crawl very fast.

Signs of bed bugs

If you have be bugs in your home, you may not see the bugs themselves very often. But what you will see are signs they are around. You may found spots of blood on your beddings, on upholstered furniture and even on couches.

Sometimes, you may see spots of blood near the seams of furniture or bedding. You may also see their exoskeletons. Bed bugs have an outer featured shell that they can shed and leave behind.

You may also see tiny blackish specks on your bed sheets and mattress, which are bed bug excrement. Also you may see eggs. After mating, these female bed bugs lay small white and oval eggs in crack and in crevices. Magnified photographs would show you the eggs clearly, as they are usually difficult to see with your natural eyes.



How to Cure Bed Bug Rash

itchy bed bug rash

itchy bed bug rash

Bed bugs normally infest summer cabins, especially at camps, hiking trails shelters and parks. Mostly, when they are found in an urban home they can be traced back to a visit to one of these facilities.

These parasites are attracted to warmth, which is why they bite us as we sleep. They are also attracted to carbon dioxide, which is what is exhaled by oxygen breathing species.

They commonly reside in dark areas and crevices near the host. Their only food is blood they obtain from the host. Hosts for these bugs are many different species of vertebrates including canaries, poultry, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, mice, bats and unfortunately man.

How they feed

These bugs feed on the host sleeps, generally just before dawn. They will often not seen during the daylight hours unless the infestation is severe.

These parasites will secure itself to the host’s skin using its claws and then insert its beak into the skin of the host. The beak consists of two tubes (styles); one sucks up the host’s blood while other injects saliva (venom) in the wound.

This saliva assists in preventing the host’s blood from coagulating to keep it flowing. It also has an anesthetic to numb the feeding area on the host. This saliva is what causes the itching sensation on the host’s skin.

Feeding based on age

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Adolescents feed for approximately three minutes while and adult may continue to feed on the blood of the host for 10 to 15 minutes.

Amazingly, bed bugs can survive for 18 months without any oxygen and as much as a year without any blood. The bites cause burning, itching and swelling. The degree of symptoms depends on the host’s susceptibility.

Typical bite rash

When these bugs bite an individual, they can develop bed bug rash. These rashes have the ability to cause an extremely irritating itching sensation. The actual rash is not considered to be detrimental to one’s health.

Sometimes a rash is mistaken for bites that are caused by insects commonly found in a household. These insects include fleas, lice, ants and mosquitoes. The truth is that the majority of individuals are not aware they have been fed on by these bugs. Mostly, they assume the rash is just a skin allergy.

However, once you are aware of what to look for, it will be easy for you to recognize. One of the first signs is numerous tiny or raised skin bumps. These bumps will always be in a row or clustered pattern. This is because they commonly feed more than one time at the same area.

Other signs

The other sign is that the bites will occur nightly while sleeping and the rashes will increase daily. These rashes will usually be located on the legs, arms, neck, face and back, which are the most likely areas. The reason these places are most common sites is because these areas are usually exposed during the night.

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These small bumps will normally manifest hours or even days after the bite. These bumps will then begin to itch, especially when you scratch the bumps, the area may become inflamed resulting to severe infections.

The bites or welts are misdiagnosed by many physicians as bites from fleas or even scabies. Only around half of the populace notices the very first bite and makes the correlation to these bloodsucking bugs.

Many reactions to bites are delayed for approximately ten days.  People over the age of 65 either react less or are not usually bitten. In one survey, 42% of individuals over 65 years reported no bites or reactions even though there was an ongoing presence.

Many times medical attention will be necessary for these individuals to eliminate the rash completely.

Bed Bug Rash Treatment

bed bug rash pictures

bed bug rash pictures

Bed bug bites are not a cause for immediate medical attention, and normally disappears completely within a few days to a week at most. They do cause anxiety, stress and most times restless nights which are usually worse than the bites themselves.

Although you can seek a medical advice especially if you are experiencing:

  • You have many red itchy bites and blisters.
  • Your skin becomes red and ooze discharge such as pus.
  • If you have severe itching that is not controlled by over the counter medicines.

In this case, severe allergic reactions may require an injection of an antihistamine or corticosteroid or epinephrine. You have severe swelling, trouble breathing or feel nauseous, seek urgent medical attention.



Another complication usually associated with bed bug bites are skin infections due to scratching. If you are bleeding, very red skin around the bite location that is hot to the touch, or you see pus coming from the bites, you should visit your doctor, and immediately get treated for an infection. In most cases, infections usually require an antibiotic cream. However the best way to avoid more complications is to stop scratching at the bites.

Treating bed bug rash and bites symptoms is not enough. Unless you get rid of the bed bug from your home, you will just continue to get bitten. The most effective way to treat bed bug infestation in your home is to engage a professional exterminator, and one that has experience treating bed bugs. The downside to engaging a professional exterminator is that it can be expensive, and for money just not within their financial means.

The swelling and redness that is associated with a bite rash does not clear very easily. Although, the itching and discomfort can easily be treated with several remedies including natural remedies and medications.

Oral antihistamines and steroid creams can be used in treatment regime. These medications will help to ease the itching that is associated with the rash.

It is very important to keep in mind mot to be tempted to scratch the bites. Scratching the bites only makes the condition worsen and does have the ability to cause a secondary skin infection.

Natural remedies you can use for a bed bug rash

  • Apply lukewarm water to the area that has been bitten as soon as possible. This will help to relieve some of the symptoms.
  • Just by washing the rash regularly with use of antibacterial soap help to keep the bacteria from growing on the rash and resulting to an infection.
  • Apply a mixture of baking soda and salt to the affected areas will also help to relieve inflammation.
  • Soaking in a lukewarm bath after adding powdered oatmeal will provide some relief from the itching sensation and reduce inflammation. A paste can be made out of the powdered oatmeal and applied to the affected location.
  • A paste can be made from water and baking soda. Rub this paste on the area infected with the rash. Let the paste dry and then peel it off. By doing this will help relieve some of the itchiness.

Bed Bug Rash on Arm

These bug bites cab range in severity based on the person being bitten. Some don’t even notice the bite while others swell or even become infected. How to treat bed bug bites? The most popular answer is with baking soda and water to make a paste that you then place on the bite and let dry. Here is exactly how to treat the bites.

  • Make sure to wash the bed bug bites with soap and water. Make a thick sticky paste with the water and baking soda, not too runny and thick enough that it will stay. Let the paste stand until completely dry and then wait an hour or so. Afterwards, gently wash the paste off and pat dry.
  • The gel from aloe plant is good to treat these parasites bites and contains antifungal and antibiotic properties that work great. Simply trim a tip and apply the exposed area to the bite.
  • The most popular suggestion for dealing with bites is using tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is an essential oil derived from steam distillation of the leaves of melaleuca alternifolia. It is the oil from these leaves that are used for medicinal purposes, such as healing cuts, burns, bites, and infections. Tea tree oil is said to have antiseptic and antifungal properties. Also other than treatment for bed bug rash on arm include: acne, lice, thrush, dandruff and many more.

Note: warnings found on the researchers that tea tree oil may alter hormone levels and unexpected breast enlargement in boys. Undiluted oil may irritate skin or cause redness and blisters. Tea tree oil should not be taken internally. Do not use tea tree oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Bed Bug Rash on Skin not raised

The risk of you encountering bed bugs mostly lies is places with high turnover of guests both day and nights time, mostly in places like hospitals, homeless shelter, hotel and motels. The common cause to bed bug infestations may also be linked to insecticide resistance, increases in international travel and recent changes to pest control activities.

These bites are shy and cautious. During the night, they are attracted to the odors and warmth of the closest human being. Believe it or not, they are able to feed for 10 minutes or more non-stop! A person will consume as much as six times its body weight in blood. Although, commonly the individual is unaware that they are being bitten. Once they have completed feeding, they look extremely bloated and have even been indicated as animated blood drops.

Not only can bites create a rash or welts, they also have the ability to spread disease organisms that bring on digestive and nervous disorders. Allergic reactions, particularly in more sensitive individuals can appear. They have been known to carry contributory agents for plague, anthrax, tularemia, typhus, relapsing fever and also yellow fever.

They have been known to carry these diseases; at this point in time, there is no any proof that they actually transmit them. Children residing in homes that are extremely bug-ridden tend to become pale and listless.

In most cases, the rash will appear several hours after the actual bite has occurred. However, the rash may not appear for days. The development of the rash is depending upon the individual’s allergic reaction to the bites. For the most part, the rash will last just a few days and then begins to fade slowly with time.

Unfortunately, the bite rash does have the ability to last a lot longer if the individual has a more intense allergic reaction to the bites. Some conditions will not have any reaction at all. While others especially who have more sensitivity to allergies may develop rashes that cause extreme itching as they are continuously bitten nightly.

Home maintenance tips on bed bug rash

Since these bugs cannot fly and only has the ability to crawl, moving the bed away from the wall would be helpful. To further protect the bed, sprinkle the bed with talcum powder. A vinyl cover placed over the mattress and the box springs will help to eliminate these bloodsuckers.  Leave the vinyl covers on for at least a year.

Dust all the cracks, drawers and electrical outlets with talcum powder. Be sure to tighten, caulk and then screen all possible entry routes. As well, lightly dust these areas with comet or talcum powder.

Steam clean, vacuum the mattresses, or clean with borax to remove bugs and any debris remaining. Caulk all the crevices and cracks and re-glue any wallpaper or borders that are loose or falling down.

Vacuum all drawers and cabinets, this will also deter rodents from nesting in these areas. Consider hiring a pest control company to assist in the elimination process. These bloodsuckers are very annoying and pernicious vermin and with an experienced professional helping, the time necessary to eradicate these pests will be shortened.

Preventing outside the home

  • Keep all vegetation away from the home’s foundation. This includes shrubs as well as weeds.
  • Move all woodpiles and debris away from the home.
  • Eliminate all the rodent pests and garbage outside the home.

Further references:

  1. Bed bug rash: http://www.orkin.com/other/bed-bugs/bedbug-bites/
  2. Bed bug rash treatment: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bedbugs/article_em.htm
  3. Bed bug rash and bite symptoms: http://bedbugtreatmentsite.com/bed-bugs-rash-and-bite-symptoms/
  4. How to cure bed bug rash: http://www.badbedbugs.com/what-do-bed-bug-bites-look-like/
  5. Bed bug rash pictures: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bedbugs/article_em.htm
  6. Bed bug rash on arm: orkin.com/other/bed-bugs/bedbug-bites/

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