Painful or itchy patches on your skin can be insect bites, but you could also have a rash or other skin condition. If you're concerned about bed bugs, you can check your bed and linens for signs of bed bugs, or contact a doctor who can diagnose.
Appreciation - I know that
Despite the name, bed bugs are not only found in beds. They are also commonly found in sofas, chair cushions, and furniture columns.
If you find red, itchy patches on your skin, you may be concerned that you are dealing with bed bugs.
However, if you don't find evidence of the bedbugs in your home, the bites can be difficult to identify. You can resemble othersinsect bitesor various skin diseases.
There is no test that can specifically diagnose a bed bug bite, but a doctor can help you identify them and rule out other conditions, such as:Urticariaor onefungal infection.
Read on to learn howdetect a bed bug biteand how to distinguish them from other insect bites and skin conditions.
A note on skin color
Bug bites and rashes can look different on different skin types. Generally, they are pink or purple on dark skin and red on light skin.
Being bitten at night but no sign of bed bugs
(Video) Signs of Bed Bug Bites - Health Checks
Being bitten at night but no sign of bed bugs
There are over 90 species of bed bugs, but only two species bite humans.
Most bed bugs are reddish brown with a flat, oval body. They are usually about half a centimeter long, have six legs and no visible wings.
Detecting bed bug bites in humans
bed bug bitestend to look like other insect bites. The bites are very itchy and less than a quarter inch in diameter. Bites often appear red on white skin. On dark skin they can appear light pink or purple, and the longer they stay on the skin they turn dark brown.
However, they can also develop into large welts (itchy, fluid-filled bumps) that can be larger than 2 inches.
Bed bug bites usually appear on parts of the body that are exposed during sleep, such as:
- Face
- The neck
- Waffen
- hands
- feet
Bite marks usually appear in a “breakfast, lunch, dinner” pattern—a line or zigzag of three or more bites.
Bed bug bites can be similar to many other types of insect bites. The following bugs are known to be active at night.
be crazy
Many spider species are more active at night than during the day. Getting bitten by a spider while you're sleeping is pretty unusual. Spiders generally only bite when they feel threatened.
Most species of spiders have poisonous venom. Most spiders do not have venom strong enough to seriously harm humans, causing only minor injuries.
spider bitescan cause the following symptoms:
- swelling
- red or purple welts
- itch
- skin irritation
- Blow
Unlike bed bugs, spiders do not feed on blood. Spider bites tend to be isolated, while bed bug bites are often grouped together.
mosquitoes
Mosquitoes penetrate the skin with their long, tubular mouths. Many mosquito species are more active at dusk and at night than during the day.
Althoughmosquito bitesare not usually serious, mosquitoes can transmit deadly diseases such as:
- Malaria
- West-Nil-Virus
- Dengue
Mosquito bites leave an itch that looks like a pimple. It usually goes away in a few days.
Althoughmosquito and bug bitesAlthough they may look similar, mosquito bites tend to occur in a random pattern and are larger than bed bug bites. Bed bug bites are more likely to appear in a straight line or in a zigzag pattern.
mites
Mites are small, insect-like creatures that typically feed on animals like birds and rodents.mite biteSymptoms can vary but usually include:
- a rash
- hard or inflamed bumps that are red on fair skin or dark purple or brown on dark skin.
- itch
- swollen skin
Mite bites are very small and do not cause a noticeable puncture like most other types of insect bites.
fleas
Your chances of being bitten by a flea are higher if you have pets or sleep with them in your bed.
People often confuseFlohbissefor bed bug bites. Both types of bites are usually itchy and come in lines or clusters. Fleas usually target your:
- feet
- Legs
- armpits
- elbow
- Knee
If you notice bites on your upper body or face, they are most likely bed bug bites.
Some common insects that bite humans are:
- Lice. these insectsThey usually live in the hair on the head and bite the scalp. Symptoms of lice bites include extreme itching and the presence of sores.
- Sarna.These are asmall mite speciesspread by sharing clothing or bedding. Scabies usually causes a rash and intense itching that is worse at night.
- ticks. tickstend to bite warm, moist parts of the body, such as the armpits or groin. Ticks can remain on the skin for more than a week after the bite.
- Chigger. Chiggerare members of the arachnid family. They live in tall weeds and grass, berry beds and wooded areas. Only larvae bite people. They tend to choose warm, moist areas of the body. When the chigger falls off, bumps are left that appear reddish on fair skin and pink or purple on darker skin. You may notice a bright red dot in the center. The bumps can look like welts, blisters, pimples, or hives.
Several types of skin problems can resemble bed bug bites.
Urticaria
Hives are red bumps or welts that form on the skin due to aallergic reaction. The bumps are usually raised and extremely itchy. They can be red or skin-colored.
If the patches of skin enlarge or quickly spread to another part of the body, they could be hives.
yeast infection
Yeast infections usually affect the moist parts of the body, such as:
- your feet
- your genitals
- under your breasts
A fungal infection can cause an allergic reaction, resulting in an itchy, bumpy rash on another part of your body.
successes
Miliaria, better known assprout, is a common skin condition caused by inflammation or blockage of a sweat duct.
It's more common in newborns and people living in warm tropical climates. Symptoms can vary but usually involve red, itchy bumps.
Herpetiformis-Dermatitis
Dermatitis hepetiformis is a rare autoimmune skin disease. It causes itchy blisters and redness on fair skin and a purplish tinge on dark skin.
Ömajorityof people with dermatitis also haveceliac disease.
The condition is most common with:
- Knee
- elbow
- buttocks
- scalp
- lower back
The easiest way to tell if your bites are from bed bugs is to find evidence of them around your home. Signs of bed bugs are:
- reddish or rust-colored stains on your bedding or mattress from squashed bugs
- small dark patches of insect droppings
- Blood stains on your bedding or upholstery
- Find eggs about 1 millimeter in size
Where bed bugs hide
Bed bugs are most active at night when they are feeding. During the day they like to hide in narrow crevices. Some places where they usually hide are:
- Sewing chairs and sofas
- between pillows and in the folds of the curtains
- on drawer edges
- in sockets
- under loose wallpaper
- in the corner of the wall and ceiling
- in small cracks in your bed or furniture
When to call a doctor
If you noticed your bites after a trip, it may not be possible to check for bed bugs. In that case, you might want to call a doctor. A doctor can visually identify bites or rule out other possible skin conditions.
It's also a good idea to see a doctor if:
- you get a fever
- Your bites will become swollen
- your bite blister
Bed bug bites can look like other insect bites or skin problems. The best way to determine if you are dealing with bed bugs is to look for evidence of the bed bugs in your home.
If you think your bites might be bed bugs but you can't find evidence of them around your home, see a doctor.