Treatment for moderate reactionsIf you can, remove the stinger as soon as possible, such as by scraping it off with a fingernail. ... Wash the affected area with soap and water.Apply a cold compress.Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed. ... If the sting is on an arm or leg, elevate it.More items...•
Wash the sting site with soap and water. Placing hydrocortisone cream on the sting can help relieve redness, itching, and swelling. If it's been more than 10 years since your last tetanus booster, get a booster within the next few days. Most insect stings require no additional medical care.
For most people, a bee sting prompts an allergic reaction that results in redness, pain, swelling and itching that subsides within a day or so. Some have a larger reaction with symptoms lasting a week. A small percentage of people will have a severe, life-threatening reaction and need immediate medical attention.
Apply a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice to the area of the bite or sting for 10 to 20 minutes. This helps reduce pain and swelling. If the injury is on an arm or leg, raise it. Apply to the affected area calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or 0.5% or 1% hydrocortisone cream.
Skin reactions, including hives and itching and flushed or pale skin. Difficulty breathing. Swelling of the throat and tongue. A weak, rapid pulse.
Local reaction treatment — To reduce pain and swelling after an insect sting, you can try the following: Apply a cold compress (a cold, damp washcloth or damp cloth wrapped around an ice pack) to the area. If you develop itching, you can take a nonprescription antihistamine, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec).
Usually, bee stings don't cause a serious reaction. However, if you're allergic to bee stings or have had several bee stings, you may experience a severe reaction such as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis to a bee sting requires immediate medical attention.
If the insect's stinger is still embedded in their skin, remove it by gently scraping a flat-edged object, such as a credit card, across their skin. Avoid using tweezers to remove the stinger, since squeezing it may release more venom. Wash the area of the bite with soap and water.
A fast, thorough removal means you should experience less pain and other symptoms. Simply scraping the stinger out with a fingernail, credit card, or other straight edge usually does the job. If you need tweezers, be careful not to cause more pain by gouging the skin.
In some cases, bodies were even preserved in honey. Some people used to believe a bee sting could prevent, or cure, rheumatism. Meanwhile, dreaming about a bee sting can show you're overcoming a painful event in your past. Dreaming about bees without being stung is a sign of good luck, wealth, and hard work!