Skin Care for a Wasp Sting

Getting stung by a wasp while hiking, gardening or engaging in other outdoor activities will put a damper on anyone’s day. It is next to impossible to completely protect against such stings, although being aware of your environment can help. Open soda bottles and trash cans are magnets for wasps. Fortunately, first aid treatment is relatively simple and doesn’t require anything that most people don’t have readily on hand in a standard first aid kit.

Things You'll Need

• Soap and water
• Hydrocortisone cream or baking soda
• Ice pack

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash the site of the sting with soap and cool water. Apply a dab of hydrocortisone cream or a paste of baking soda and water. Reapply as needed every few hours until the symptoms are gone.

• 2

  Apply an ice pack to the sting for some relief from the pain. Place a layer of cloth between the skin and the ice to keep the skin from freezing. Keep the ice on the sting for up to 20 minutes.

• 3

  Relieve itching with an antihistamine such as Benadryl or Claritin. Relieve the pain with ibuprofen or acetaminophen.