This Blog was posted for you By Your San Antonio Pest Control Services – Jenkins Pest and Lawn

The Need and Ways of Bed Bug Treatment

Bed bugs are parasitic brownish small insects that feed on their hosts such as animals, birds, and humans. They are nocturnal in their activities. While you are asleep at night, they suck your blood for about 10 minutes through their stings that are double the weight of their bodies. If bitten by bed bugs, you may have a rash or itching sensation. You may have swelling on your skin also. Therefore, it is essential for you to know about various means of dealing with bed bug treatments. Here are some signs that you have bed bugs:

Blood stains on your bed sheets or pillow covers
Offensive, musty odor
Bed bug fecal spots or egg shells
Dark spots of bed bug excrement.

The Health Aspect of Bed Bug Bites

It is essential to know if the bites of bed bugs are contagious or harmful to your body. In general, they do not cause any serious health problems. Sensitive skin gets rashes and small blisters like inflammation. There may also form swelling. The bites may lead to minor or even severe side effects such as nausea, sickness, allergy, or even mental shock. The most harmful part of bed bug bites is the psychological impact it leaves on the victim of the bite such as anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Therefore, bed bug treatment is a must for trouble-free living.

How to get rid of bed bugs

The first step towards getting rid of bed bugs is to confirm their presence by visually inspecting your bedroom. They are very elusive and hide away at the slightest instance of human presence. In case of a severe infestation, you may need to call a professional exterminator. Other means of preventing bed bug bites are as follow:

Clean your room and any unnecessary clutter. Vacuum the carpets regularly and seal up any cracks in the wooden floors.

Bed bugs die at temperatures above 120 degrees F. Therefore, wash your bedding and clothing in hot water, for at least 20 minutes.

You may kill visible bugs with bed bug spray or by applying powders such as Diatomaceous Earth on upholstered furniture, bed frames, or behind the headboard.

Encase the mattresses, pillows, and bolsters with bedbug-proof covers.

Use thick double-sided tape around the bottom of the bed frame. You can also use professional traps for detecting and preventing bed bug bites.

Your problems related to bed bug bite treatments will be solved to a great extent if you know how to get rid of bed bugs.

Bed Bug Bite Treatments for Your Skin

For immediate relief, wash the affected area with lukewarm water and clean it with anti-bacterial soap. This will minimize irritation and inflammation.

Depending upon the severity of the bite, the treatments for your skin may vary. The most common and effective means of treatment is the application of baking soda with water. First, wash the areas affected by the bug bite with soap and water. Apply a thick and sticky paste of baking soda and after allowing it to dry for an hour, wash it off.

To control the itching, you can dab the rash with a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice or white vinegar. You may also apply concentrated peppermint oil or powdered oatmeal to the affected area. Herbal treatment for bug bites includes black pepper, red pepper, garlic, and black walnut.

Over the Counter Medications

Apply hydrocortisone cream to relieve the itching.

Use Calamine Lotion for drying the rash and protecting the skin during the period of its healing.

Naproxen or Ibuprofen or an antihistamine such as Benadryl is used for reducing the swelling.

A topical anesthetic that contains pramoxine may also be used.