After A Bee Sting – What To Do Right Away?

After a Bee Sting When it comes to treating bee stings, many people tend to have their own theories of how best to go about it. Some believe that applying vinegar to the sting is the best way to treat bee stings. Some others say it is baking soda. 

 

But when you test these theories against scientific truths, they crumble like a sandcastle. They are just as effective as trying to break down a wall with a feather. For example, the high alkalinity of baking soda could cause damage to your skin, and the acidity of the vinegar is not recommended for use on the skin.

 

But don’t lose all hope. There are still a lot of ways you could treat a bee sting. Ways that have scientific sources, if I may add. And treating your bee stings in these ways could help reduce the pain, the welling, and the redness. 

 

Even the itching would be significantly reduced. And for those that have allergies to bee stings, this could save their lives. The best part is that they are also home remedies! So here we go.

Treating Bee Stings At Home

A lot of times, bee stings can be treated at home without complications. Even mild bee sting allergies do not deserve a cause for alarm. So, here are home treatments for bee stings:

1. Remove the Stinger

Bees leave something in their victims after they sting them: their stingers. Although a bee dies after stinging its victim, the stinger usually still contains a venom sack that continues to pump its content into the victim. 

 

To do this, make use of a flat, dull-edged object, and it should be done as soon as possible. A credit card or a butter knife would do. 

 

Also, you don’t want to use something like tweezers that could squeeze more venom into the victim and make matters worse.

2. Ice the spot

Placing ice on the spot could help to reduce the pain. It makes that part of the skin numb so that you don’t feel much pain. You can apply the ice for 20 minutes in 40 minutes intervals. 

 

If you feel you need lesser intervals to cope with the pain, however, go for it. Just know that the ice is not meant to take away the pain completely. 

 

Also, put the ice in a piece of towel or cloth so that you wouldn’t freeze your skin off.

3. Use an Antihistamine

An antihistamine would help with the swelling and the itching. Diphenhydramine or loratadine should do the trick. 

 

However, kids and pregnant women should not take antihistamines without first consulting their doctor.

4. Take Painkillers If You Need To

The pain can get so much that you may need some painkillers to cope with it. In this case, over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, could be of help.

5. Elevate the Stung Area

If the sting is on a part that you could possibly be elevated, do it. The swelling that results from bee sting could be really scary. 

 

A bee sting on the hand could bloat the hand to twice its normal size. Elevating this area will reduce the swelling.

Bee Stings In Someone With Insect Sting Allergies

Before you administer these treatments on someone, look out for these symptoms of bee sting allergies:

 

• Dizziness or tingling sensations
• Hives and itching
• Swelling tongue or lips
• Difficult breathing
• Loss of consciousness

 

If you spot any of these symptoms, immediate medical attention is needed. Allergies to bee sting are not a once in a lifetime phenomenon. That means that someone with this allergy would be exposed to risk as long as they are stung. 

 

And this is why immediate medical attention is required for such people. Failure to do so could lead to fatal consequences. Those that are having it for the first time also need urgent medical attention, but first time bee allergies are unlikely to be fatal.

 

Also, people who are allergic to bee stings should always have an epinephrine auto-injector on them. This way, they can easily inject themselves when they notice that they are reacting to a bee sting. 

 

The auto-injector works in such a way that you only need to press it against your skin and the device injects you automatically. 

Other Home Remedies For Bee Stings

1. Essential Oils

Some of the most popular oils have anti fungal, antibacterial, or antiseptic properties. These oils include witch hazel, thyme oil, tea tree oil, rosemary oil, and lavender oil.

 

However, be sure you are not allergic to essential oils before you apply them to your skin. You don’t want to complicate your issues.

1. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera moisturizes the skin. When you apply it on the sting, it helps to reduce the pain and itching. It could also prevent infections although the risks of having an infection on a bee sting are quite low.

Conclusion

There really is no cause for alarm when you are stung by a bee, especially if you don’t have bee sting allergies. 

However, if you have a history of such allergy, please seek immediate medical help. If you’re finding the bees in large numbers around you very often, remove them safely and in a bee-friendly way. Never use repellents and toxins on the already fragile bee population.