Insect bites and stings

The main symptoms of an insect bite or sting are: pain where you were bitten or stung a small, swollen lump on the skin The lump may look red. It may be more difficult to see on black or brown skin, but you should be able to feel it. There may be a mark on your skin where you were bitten or stung. Credit: LOUISE MURRAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/263861/view Sometimes you may have lots of bites grouped together in a small area. Credit: Jim W. Grace/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/618964/view You may have a mild allergic reaction, where the skin becomes itchy and raised around the bite or sting. Credit: Azhari Fotolestari https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mosquito-bites-on-human-774637225 The area may become more swollen and painful if the bite or sting gets infected. Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/93800/view

You can often treat an insect bite or sting without seeing a GP. Removing stingers, ticks or caterpillars If anything is left on or in your skin, the first thing you need to do is remove it carefully. How to remove a bee, wasp or hornet stinger Brush or scrape the stinger sideways with your fingernail or the edge of a bank card. Do not use tweezers to pull out a stinger as you could squeeze poison out of it. Wash the area with soap and water. How to remove a tick Using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool (if you have one), grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze the tick or leave any of its mouth in your skin. Dispose of it when you've removed it. Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water. Credit: Shotshop GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo Image no longer available for purchase but license expires: 09th May 2028 How to remove caterpillar hairs Gently remove the caterpillar using tweezers or a pen. Try not to disturb it as it'll release more hairs. Rinse your skin with running water and allow it to air dry. Use sticky tape on the skin to pick up any remaining hairs. Take off any jewellery in case your skin becomes swollen. Take off your clothes and wash them at a high temperature. Easing your symptoms If there's nothing in your skin, or you've removed it, wash your skin with soap and water to help lower the chance of infection. The bite or sting should get better in a few days. There are some things you can do to ease your symptoms. Do put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a clean cloth soaked in cold water, on the bite or sting for at least 20 minutes, if it's swollen keep the area raised if you can take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful use antihistamines to relieve any itching (but do not use antihistamine cream if you had caterpillar hairs on your skin) use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling Don’t do not scratch the bite or sting, as it could get infected do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda to treat the bite or sting