Treat flea bites quickly, some useful tips you should know

Getting rid of fleas is not an easy task if you have pets in your house. What about treating flea bites? If you have been bitten by fleas, you could find it itchy and even infested. So, how to treat flea bites fast? Follow us to find the answer.
About flea bites

Fleas are completely mutated parasites. Flea’s life cycle is about 20 to 35 days depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment. They grow in hot and humid conditions (from 21 degree Celsius to 35 degree Celsius). In unfavorable conditions when the temperature is suddenly low, fleas stop growing and persist for several months to a year.

The life cycle of fleas has three stages: the larval stage, pupa stage and maturity stage. The special feature of female fleas is that they are just able to lay eggs after sucking blood. After each suck, each female flea lays 2-20 eggs. Depending on the environment, adult fleas can stay in the cocoon for up to 5 months to wait for the host animal. They recognize the presence of a suitable host by sensing heat, the host’s body odor, airflow, and the surrounding environment. When a suitable host is detected, they immediately flee out of the cocoon and reach the host.

The flea bite is very typical with small swollen red bite marks, unlike mosquito bites. When being bitten by fleas, you can see a red halo around the center of the bite. Bites are into groups of three or four or aligned. Flea bites often appear around the ankle or foot. They are also common around the waist, armpit, in the folds of the elbows and knees. There are some symptoms of the flea bite. They are very itchy and the area around the bite can be painful. You may have a rash. In addition, itching can lead to infection. You often feel immediately when being bitten by the flea. A flea bites two or three times in the same area. The bite does not actually hurt. It is an itchy sensation caused by a body reaction that causes discomfort.
Babies are more likely to get bitten by fleas, especially when they are playing on floors, carpeted areas or on small rugs.

Flea bites treatment

Wash the areas with soapy water

As soon as you recognize the bite, wash it with soapy waters. After that, use ice pack onto bites to soothe swelling. In case you do not have the ice pack, take some ice cubes in a thin towel. Apply the ice onto the skin for around 10 minutes. You should repeat it twice in an hour. It is not supposed to apply the ice directly on the skin because it can hurt. Do not scratch it and the bite surrounding area to avoid damaging the skin and infection.

Use aloe vera gel

Aloe Vera is a very popular natural remedy for flea bites. The enzyme carboxypeptidase and bradykinesia in the aloe vera can help reduce the itching and swelling. All you need to do is to cut the aloe vera leaf and apply the gel on the area. You can use the commercially bottled aloe vera gel instead.

Use baking soda

Another treatment we want to suggest is to use baking soda. Baking soda can soothe the bite and avoid the infection due to its naturally neutralize ingredient. Mix one spoon of baking soda with water then applies on the bite for 5 -10 minutes. Rinse with water and dry with an antiseptic towel.

Green tea

You can use green tea to treat the flea bites. It can soothe the wound, reduce the swelling and boost the recovery. You can use the mixture of green tea and salt. In green tea, there are many phenols which have the effect on inflammation and destruction of harmful bacteria while salt has NaCl, which is soldered, capable of heat detoxification, antiseptic and inflammatory. Mix green tea with salt at 10:1 ratio and boil. Wait until the water cools down, use a scouring towel to clean the bite area or bathe directly for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can apply the used tea bag in the burn area.

Use the coconut copra

Grind a coconut in a blender and use the powder to treat flea bites. You can apply directly the dough onto the bite, cover with a towel and wait for one hour. After that, rinse with clean water. Repeat the cycle two or three times, then you will see the result.

Use lotions which contain hydrocortisone or Calamine

These lotions can reduce the itching and heal the bites faster, which are available in pharmacies. Both are OTC (over-the-counter) and safe when followed the direction of the manufacturer. In case the itching gets more severe, you can consider other OTC drugs such as Diphenhydramine, Tripelennamine hydrochloride (oral drug) and Hydroxyzine. If you have tried all of them and do not find it work, you had better see your doctor.

Applying these our above tips can help you find the most effective way to deal with flea bites. Maybe the prevention like treating fleas on your pets and in your house is the easiest way to avoid the flea bites. Hope that this article is useful for you!