PICTURES OF BED BUG BITES

Photos of Bed Bug Bites

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Here are several photos to give you an idea of what bed bug bites may look like. The reactions vary in seriousness, but this is a good place to start if you suspect you have bed bug bites. If you’re experiencing a severe allergic reaction to your suspected bites we recommend seeking medical attention.

What do Bed Bug Bites Look Like

Bed bug bites occur most frequently while you’re asleep. As bed bugs bite they inject their victims with an anesthetic (as well as an anticoagulant), numbing the area and making it very rare for someone to wake up when bitten. Bites normally take a day or two to appear, although depending on your individual reaction they may be more visible sooner.

The appearance of bed bug bites will also vary from person to person. Some people never see their bites appear at all; we’ve seen estimates as high as 30% for those who don’t react. Those who do get visible bites will see a degree of responses from a tiny pin prick to a mosquito bite, rash, or very inflamed red blotches if you’re very allergic.

Most people will find bed bug bites to be small and very itchy. These bites are often mistaken for something else such as eczema. It can be hard to diagnose bed bug bites due to this, especially if someone inflames their skin further by scratching the area. There are some signs that point more strongly to bed bugs over other types of bugs. The number one thing to look out for is a line of bites going straight up your body: bed bugs commonly bite in this pattern as they bite you at the crease where your body meets the bed sheets. It’s very rare to find a single bite like you would with spiders or mosquitoes, and much more common to find clusters and lines. It’s also rare for bugs to bite your face. They most frequently bite your lower body, but anywhere can be bitten.

Is it a Bed Bug Bite?

Diagnosing bed bug bites can be hard for medical professionals. We often hear of doctors assuming a variety of skin conditions before bed bugs – especially doctors who haven’t encountered patients with bed bug bites before. While there is no specific test to determine whether bites are from bed bugs there are tests that can show whether or not it’s an insect bite. This is useful for ruling out issues like eczema or allergic reactions, but not for determining that any specific insect bite is a bed bug. To be sure you’ll want to check for other signs of bed bug infestation, such as the bugs themselves, moltings, and the characteristic staining of their blood meal feces.