How to Identify Bed Bug Bites

We often hear about bed bugs but few people are aware of their bites. In fact, you can’t identify bed bug bites unless they’re present. Note the characteristic insect bites or red spots on the skin. To confirm it’s a bed bug bite, you have to look for signs that there really are bedbugs where you sleep. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Check the bite

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Look closely at the bite. Look for red, raised, pin-shaped nodules about 0.2-0.5 cm in diameter. You may also notice hives or blisters that are noticeably redder than the surrounding skin. In rarer and more severe cases, blisters larger than 0.5 cm may also appear on the bite site. ^{[2] X Research Source}

1 cm is equal to 0.4 inch.

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Look for new bed bug bites when you wake up. If you notice new bites or itchy blisters when you wake up, you probably have bed bugs. Watch for spots that resemble mosquito bites or flea bites – bed bug bites are usually red and slightly swollen, itchy and uncomfortable similar to other insect bites. Find a sequence of bites that appear in random rows or clusters. This phenomenon is because bed bugs often bite many times during the night. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If new bites appear during the day, the culprit is probably not bed bugs.

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Notice where you were bitten. Look for open skin bites while you sleep. You should also check underneath loose clothing. Note that bed bugs don’t usually bite on the soles of the feet, so bites on the soles of the feet are less likely to be caused by bed bugs. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Watch for signs of an allergic reaction. If you’re allergic to bed bugs, you may find yourself developing hives or a rash similar to eczema or a fungal infection. You should also keep an eye on the bites to see if the bites become larger, painful, or even oozing pus. Those are common signs of an allergy to bed bug bites. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

Note that it can take up to 2 weeks for the body to fully respond to a bed bug bite.
Consult your doctor if you have a severe reaction to the bite.

Check the bed

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Look for bed bugs that live in bed. Look for flat, reddish-brown, wingless beetles about 0.1-0.7 cm in size. Check the folds of mattresses and bed sheets for bed bugs. Look for the aphid’s outer shell to shed. Look for either tiny white bed bug eggs or eggshells, only about 0.1cm wide, or bedbug larvae that are the same size as the eggs. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Remember that 0.4 cm is equal to 1/10 of an inch.

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Check bed sheets. Look for sepia or rust-colored stains on the sheets. These stains can be caused by crushed bed bugs or their droppings. Try rubbing on the red or dark spots you see on your bed. If they are smeared or spread, it could be bed bug droppings. ^{[7] X Trusted Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Go to source}

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Consider the bed frame. Look for signs of bed bugs on the bed frame and the space between the bed frame and the wall. You also need to look for bed bugs around the headboard. Check for seams, seams, and labels on bed sheets, mattress and mattress springs. Be sure to check the inside of the pillowcase and the decorative bed pillow if there is one. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Assess the condition of the bed. In less severe cases, bed bugs can still be present even if you can’t see them with the naked eye. Consider both the age of the mattress and the cleanliness of the sheets. If staying in a hotel, check to see if the mattress is covered with plastic. Otherwise, the risk of bed bugs is much higher.

Look for other signs of bed bugs

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Look for signs of bed bug infestation in other furniture. Look under the seat cushion, look closely at the seams on the seat and sofa. Check all the seams of the drawers.

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Check out other spaces. Look for bed bugs under peeling wallpaper and pictures hanging on the walls. Look closely at electrical outlets and junctions of walls and ceilings, walls and floors. You should also look for bed bugs in the folds of curtains.

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Smell for suspected bed bugs. Look for a slightly sweet, musty, odor that closely resembles coriander or bugs. If the area in question smells like a damp old house or any of the smells just described, it’s possible that bed bugs are present. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Steps

Check the bite

Check the bed

Look for other signs of bed bugs

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