Bees are useful animals, but the sting is anything but. It hurts and itches, but at worst can also cause allergic shock in the sufferer. However, there are some good ways to treat the bee sting. As little as possible venom should remain in the wound, because then the pain is also less and the sting subsides all the faster.
What happens when a bee has stung?
A bee sting can hurt for a short time and cause swelling. Pictured: sting of a bee in the buttocks. The initial reaction is usually the same for a bee sting: a sharp, very uncomfortable pain is felt fairly quickly that lasts for many hours. The area also usually swells and a reddish tinge appears. Usually, various home remedies and preparations can provide relief after a bee sting
However, in addition to the pain and itching, a bee sting can also have worse consequences, so that sometimes even medical help is required, for example in the case of an allergic reaction. It is important not to scratch after the sting to avoid a secondary wound infection. This can lead to ulcerations that are difficult to heal and even to blood poisoning. In this case, home remedies are no longer sufficient, so a doctor must be notified.
What to do immediately after the sting?
A bee sting is very painful and should be treated as soon as possible, because with the right immediate measures it is possible to minimize the manifestation of symptoms. In this regard, the following procedure should be followed:
- Remove sting
- Clean place
- Franzbranntwein drip on it
- Cool puncture site, for example with an ice pad, cold pack, ice cubes.
Other options are, for example, put ribwort on the puncture site, ammonia, tea tree oil or tiger balm on it, or cover the site with an onion. When removing the sting, care must be taken not to squeeze the venom sac or more venom will enter the area. Fine tweezers or a tick card are good for pulling it out.
6 Tips to treat a bee sting.
1. apply ice
After the sting has been removed, the puncture site should be cooled immediately. Ice cubes, for example, are ideal for this purpose. The blood vessels contract due to the cold, so the blood flow with the bee venom is slowed down and a larger swelling is prevented. The cooling also has a pain-relieving effect. If the discomfort returns later, cooling can be applied again. However, ice cold things should never be placed directly on the skin. 2. apply honey to the sting
Honey is an alternative home remedy that can be smeared on the wound. It is said to draw out the poison. It will also reduce the pain for a short time. 3rd home remedy: vinegar, baking soda and toothpaste.
Vinegar lends itself to neutralizing the bee’s acidic venom because it reacts alkaline. For this purpose, a teaspoon of vinegar is diluted in a glass of water. Then this liquid is dripped on a cotton ball and rubbed on the puncture site. Baking soda can also be used to relieve the pain and redness caused by a bee sting. For this purpose, a paste is prepared from the baking soda and water, which is spread on the spot and allowed to dry. After washing it off, this process can be repeated if necessary. Toothpaste is another remedy for a bee sting. It is dabbed on the area and after a few minutes the symptoms subside. After about five hours or when the symptoms reappear, the toothpaste can be applied again. 4. hydrocortisone cream
Hydrocortisone is an active ingredient that belongs to the group of glucocorticoids. Hydrocortisone cream has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-itch properties, so it is good for a bee sting. The remedy can be applied thinly once or twice a day for two weeks. 5. antihistamine cream
Antihistamines have also proven to be optimal for external application in case of a bee sting. This is because they are designed to block histamine receptors and thus prevent itching, redness and inflammation. Various cooling gels with the histamine-inhibiting ingredients are available in pharmacies.6. raw potato
The pain of the bee sting can also be relieved by placing a slice of raw potato on the sting site. This provides relief after the sting and contributes to faster healing. No matter which remedy is resorted to, the basic rule is that the quicker you react after the bee sting and treat the sting site, the quicker the discomfort will subside.
Conclusion: what to do in case of an allergic reaction?
The allergic reaction after a bee sting is one of the serious consequences. It occurs due to sensitization resulting from a previous insect sting. Symptoms vary in severity between allergy sufferers. While some sufferers only notice a reaction at the site of the sting, others are already in acute danger of death from a single sting. An allergy sufferer must see a doctor after a bee sting. Usually the skin is very red and swollen. In the following days, wheals or extensive skin irritations may also occur. If the allergy sufferer reacts to the bee sting with nausea, vomiting, blood pressure changes in a particularly severe form or shortness of breath, an emergency doctor must be called immediately, as anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening situation.
