The bees are useful animals, but the sting is anything but that. It hurts and itches, but in the worst case can also trigger an allergic shock in the person concerned. But there are some great ways around that Treat bee sting. As little poison as possible should remain in the wound, because then the pain will also be less and the sting will subside all the faster.
What happens when a bee stings?
The first reaction is usually the same with a bee sting: a sharp, very unpleasant pain is felt fairly quickly that lasts for many hours. The area also usually swells and turns reddish in color. Usually various home remedies and preparations can be one Relief after a bee sting procure
In addition to pain and itching, a bee sting can also have worse consequences, so that sometimes medical help is required, for example in the event of an allergic reaction. It is important not to scratch after the sting to avoid secondary wound infection. This can lead to ulcerations that are difficult to heal and even to blood poisoning. In this case, the home remedies are no longer sufficient, so that a doctor must be called.
What to do immediately after the stitch
A bee sting is very painful and should be treated as quickly as possible, because with the right immediate measures it is possible to keep the severity of the symptoms as low as possible. You should proceed as follows:
- Remove the sting
- Clean spot
- Drizzle with rubbing alcohol
- Cool the puncture site, for example with an ice pad, cold pack, ice cubes
Other options include, for example, placing ribwort on the puncture site, smearing ammonia, tea tree oil or tiger balm on it or covering the area with an onion. When removing the stinger, care must be taken not to squeeze the poisonous bladder, otherwise more poison will get into the area. Fine tweezers or a tick card are ideal for pulling out.
6 tips to treat a bee sting
1. Put on ice
After the stinger is removed, the puncture site should be cooled immediately. Ice cubes, for example, are ideal for this. The blood vessels contract due to the cold, slowing the blood flow with the bee venom and preventing any major swelling. The cooling also has a pain-relieving effect. If the symptoms reappear later, you can cool down again. However, ice cold things should never be placed directly on the skin.
2. Apply honey to the stab site
The honey is an alternative home remedy that can be smeared on the wound. He should pull the poison out. The pain is also reduced for a short time.
3. Home remedies: vinegar, baking soda and toothpaste
Vinegar is a good way to neutralize the acidic poison of the bee, because it has an alkaline reaction. For this, a teaspoon of vinegar is diluted in a glass of water. Then this liquid is dripped onto a cotton ball and rubbed onto the puncture site.
The pain and redness caused by a bee sting can also be relieved with baking soda. For this purpose, a paste is prepared from the baking powder and water, which is spread on the spot and left to dry. After washing off, this process can be repeated if necessary.
Toothpaste is another remedy for a bee sting. It will be dabbed on the spot and after a few minutes the symptoms will subside. The toothpaste can be reapplied after about five hours or when symptoms recur.
4. Hydrocortisone cream
Hydrocortisone is an active ingredient that belongs to the group of glucocorticoids.The hydrocortisone cream has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antipruritic properties and is therefore suitable for a bee sting. The agent can be applied thinly once or twice a day for two weeks.
5. Antihistamine cream
Antihistamines have also proven to be ideal for external use in the event of a bee sting. The reason for this is that they block the histamine receptors, thus preventing the itching, redness, and inflammation. Various cooling gels with the histamine-inhibiting ingredients are available in the pharmacy.
6. Raw potato
The pain from the bee sting can also be relieved by placing a slice of the raw potato on the puncture site. This provides relief after the sting and contributes to faster healing. Regardless of which remedy is used, the following generally applies: the faster the bee reacts to the sting and the puncture site is treated, the faster the symptoms will subside.
Conclusion: what to do if you have an allergic reaction?
The allergic reaction after a bee sting is one of the most serious consequences. It arises due to sensitization resulting from an earlier insect bite. The symptoms vary in severity between allergy sufferers. While some sufferers only notice a reaction at the puncture site, others are in acute danger of death from a single prick.
An allergy sufferer must definitely consult a doctor after a bee sting. Usually the skin is very red and swollen. In the following days, wheals or extensive skin irritations can also occur. If the allergy sufferer reacts to the bee sting with nausea, vomiting, changes in blood pressure in a particularly severe form or with shortness of breath, an emergency doctor must be called immediately, as anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening situation.
