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What Can Treat Wasps & Bee Stings?

Bee stings are quite common during the summer months and are not of great concern if you are not allergic to bees. Symptoms of a bee sting may include a sudden stinging or burning pain. You may notice that your skin swells and becomes red at the sting site, with a small white spot where the stinger pierced your skin. Treatment for a bee sting will depend upon your reaction.

  1. Mild Reaction

    • If you are only stung by one bee and display a mild reaction, including slight redness and swelling that goes away after several hours, then you can treat yourself at home. Remove the stinger using tweezers or a laminated card; scrape a credit card over the area to remove the stinger. Next, clean the affected area with soap and water. Apply ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling and pain. Keep ice or a compress on for 20 minutes once every hour. An antibiotic ointment may be applied.

    Large Local Reaction

    • Mayo Clinic estimates that 10 percent of individuals will have a large local reaction to a bee sting. Symptoms will be similar to a normal bee sting reaction, but swelling may increase, the affected area will become very red and your sting may take up to 10 days to fully heal. A large local reaction does not necessarily mean that you have an allergy to bees, but if you are concerned, visit your doctor. Remove the stinger, wash and ice the wound and apply ice. To relieve mild itching, apply hydrocortizone cream as directed. You may also take an antihistamine medication to relieve your symptoms.

    Severe Reaction

    • Individuals who are allergic to bees will display severe symptoms when stung. These symptoms may include hives all over the body, pale skin, difficulty breathing, a weak or very fast heart rate, dizziness as well as stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea and other signs of anaphylactic shock, which is a life threatening condition. Seek medical care immediately if you begin to suffer from any of these symptoms, and use an epinephrine autoinjector, or EpiPen, if you have been prescribed one by your doctor.

    Home Remedies

    • Though their efficacy is unproven by medical researchers, Mayo Clinic notes two common home remedies that may provide relief for a mild reaction to a bee sting. Get an aspirin pill slightly wet and rub onto the bee sting. Alternatively, mix baking soda and a small amount of water into a paste and apply to the bee sting for several minutes. Meat tenderizer mixed into a paste with water may also be effective.

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