In most cases you don’t treat flea bites on humans, but there are some things you should be aware of. It’s possible to develop an allergy after a flea bite, or get infections where the flea has bitten. Infection occurs when you scratch in and around the affected area. There is a lot of bacteria hiding under the fingernails, which goes directly into the open wound. So no scratching, although it can be difficult not to.
As a rule, fleas bite people around the ankles or at least in the lower parts of the legs. Flea bites on humans can also be seen on the arms, after you have held your pet. The reason why the bugs attack the legs is that they live in carpets and whatever else is close to the floor. Fleas have absolutely no problems getting to you as they can easily jump over half a meter. See what their bites look like.
Do flea bites on humans itch?
The short answer is YES. Don’t worry though, if there are no apparent signs other than itching, they usually disappear by themselves. What makes flea bites itch isn’t the actual bite itself, it’s the flea saliva, which it injects into your body when it bites. It contains a substance which helps it to eat without being disrupted. If you or your pet has already been bitten by a flea once before, it’s possible to get an allergic reaction to the saliva.
Flea bites on humans most often occur in two to three groups or clusters of small red spots with redness around them. Slightly depending on how your body react to the bites (and how well you refrain from scratching the wounds), the reddish look last anywhere from a few hours up to several days.
How to treat the symptoms
If you can refrain from scratching yourself after you’ve been bitten by a flea, you’re safe against further infections.
These products help to effectively relieve the itching, should you be unfortunate enough to be bitten:
Be careful not to scrub too hard, as you may risk making an even bigger hole in the wound. Ice or cold water soothes itching for a period and prevents swelling and inflammation. You should also clean the infected area with antiseptic soap, which prevents your body from being invaded by all sorts of nasty bacteria. If you’d rather drink some antihistamine it might help also, but you should contact your doctor or pharmacist before you do that.
Allergic reactions from flea bites on humans
Now it gets serious. Some people are more sensitive to flea bites than others. In the worst cases of flea bites on humans, people have reacted dangerously to the bites and have gone into anaphylactic shock. However, this occurs very rarely and if you’re still reading this, luckily you aren’t hit that hard.
Other symptoms of allergic reactions from flea bites on humans:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the lips or tongue
- Chest pain
Flea bite infection
If you or anyone around you experience any of the above symptoms, you should call an ambulance as soon as possible. Be sure not to confuse an infected bite with an allergic reaction, and cause panic for no reason. The infections from flea bites on humans typically have the following symptoms:
- Swollen glands
- Pain in the area
The above symptoms should also be discussed with the doctor, but the situation isn’t as urgent as the allergic reaction.
Advice on flea bites
If you have followed the above advice to keep the area clean and make use of antihistamines shortly after you’ve been bitten, the itching will disappear after a few days. Flea bites on humans are likely to leave some marks, but don’t worry though, as they disappear on their own. They leave no scars and will be gone after a few weeks. If you want to get rid of the marks faster, you can follow the advice below.
IMPORTANT! This treatment should only be used for flea bites on humans, when it no longer itches.
Use a mild exfoliant for the face and apply a little moisturizer on the bite. Repeat the procedure and be very careful, as it can irritate the bite. Also make sure to use some sunscreen every time you go outside. The new skin is very sensitive to light. It’ll probably be darker than the rest of the body when exposed to sunlight.
Fleas on humans can be as much a nuisance as fleas on animals, if you don’t know how to handle them. Learn how to get rid of fleas once and for all.