Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow to Remove the StingerStep 2: Treat Local ReactionsSymptoms of a Serious ReactionHome RemediesPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How to Remove the Stinger
Step 2: Treat Local Reactions
Symptoms of a Serious Reaction
Home Remedies
Prevention
Removing the stinger is the first step in bee sting self-care, since venom can continue entering the body as long as it’s in place. Once the stinger is taken out, you’ll need to clean and treat the area, and keep an eye out for any warning signs of an allergy.
Bee stings can causeanaphylaxis, alife-threatening allergic reaction. But most stings are not severe and can be treated at home.
Verywell / JR Bee
What to Do After a Bee Sting
Step 1: Take Out the Stinger
Pull the skin around the stinger taut, and then scrape your fingernail or the edge of a credit card across the area to remove it.Speed is more important than the tool, because symptoms will continue and potentially get worse untilthe stinger is removed.
Bee stings almost always cause redness, swelling, and pain (local reactions)—even in people who are not allergic.To minimize these symptoms:
The initial pain and burning from a bee sting usually last about one to two hours, but swelling can increase for up to 48 hours depending on where a person was stung. An allergic reaction to insect stings can take longer to clear up—in some cases, up to 10 days.
Step 3: Watch for Warning Signs
You can still have a severe reaction even if you’ve been stung before and didn’t react. You may also get stung and not show any signs ofanaphylaxisright away.
Keep checking yourself, or the person who was stung, for the next couple of hours. Call 911 if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, such as the ones below.
If you have any of these symptoms after a bee sting—or even a couple hours afterward—use anepinephrineauto-injector(EpiPen) if available and call 911:
Additionally, if the person who was stung has a known bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket allergy; or, has been stung 10 or more times, get medical help immediately.
Emergency treatment for a severe reaction to a bee sting may include epinephrine, a drug that stops the body’s allergic response;CPR; oxygen; and intravenous anti-inflammatory medications.
Do Home Remedies Work?
How to Prevent Bee Stings
Here are a few ways to make yourself less attractive to stinging insects:
Summary
For many people, a bee sting can safely be treated with self-care at home. However, it’s important to know the signs of a severe reaction to a sting because it can be life-threatening.
If you have a known allergy to insect stings, you should always carry an EpiPen and know how to use it. You should also take preventive measures—such as covering beverage openings and avoiding sweet-smelling personal care products—to keep stinging insects away from you.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee JA, Singletary E, Charlton N.Methods of honey bee stinger removal: A systematic review of the literature.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8078. doi:10.7759/cureus.8078Lee JA, Singletary E, Charlton N.Methods of honey bee stinger removal: A systematic review of the literature.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8078. doi:10.7759/cureus.8078Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bees, wasps, and hornets.Cedars-Sinai.How to treat a bee sting.University of Michigan Health.Allergies to insect stings.Saikaly SK, Khachemoune A.Honey and wound healing: An update.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0247-8Balit CR, Isbister GK, Buckley NA.Randomized controlled trial of topical aspirin in the treatment of bee and wasp stings.J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003;41(6):801-808. doi:10.1081/clt-120025345Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bees, wasps, and hornets.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lee JA, Singletary E, Charlton N.Methods of honey bee stinger removal: A systematic review of the literature.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8078. doi:10.7759/cureus.8078Lee JA, Singletary E, Charlton N.Methods of honey bee stinger removal: A systematic review of the literature.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8078. doi:10.7759/cureus.8078Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bees, wasps, and hornets.Cedars-Sinai.How to treat a bee sting.University of Michigan Health.Allergies to insect stings.Saikaly SK, Khachemoune A.Honey and wound healing: An update.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0247-8Balit CR, Isbister GK, Buckley NA.Randomized controlled trial of topical aspirin in the treatment of bee and wasp stings.J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003;41(6):801-808. doi:10.1081/clt-120025345Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bees, wasps, and hornets.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lee JA, Singletary E, Charlton N.Methods of honey bee stinger removal: A systematic review of the literature.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8078. doi:10.7759/cureus.8078Lee JA, Singletary E, Charlton N.Methods of honey bee stinger removal: A systematic review of the literature.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8078. doi:10.7759/cureus.8078Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bees, wasps, and hornets.Cedars-Sinai.How to treat a bee sting.University of Michigan Health.Allergies to insect stings.Saikaly SK, Khachemoune A.Honey and wound healing: An update.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0247-8Balit CR, Isbister GK, Buckley NA.Randomized controlled trial of topical aspirin in the treatment of bee and wasp stings.J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003;41(6):801-808. doi:10.1081/clt-120025345Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bees, wasps, and hornets.
Lee JA, Singletary E, Charlton N.Methods of honey bee stinger removal: A systematic review of the literature.Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8078. doi:10.7759/cureus.8078
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bees, wasps, and hornets.
Cedars-Sinai.How to treat a bee sting.
University of Michigan Health.Allergies to insect stings.
Saikaly SK, Khachemoune A.Honey and wound healing: An update.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0247-8
Balit CR, Isbister GK, Buckley NA.Randomized controlled trial of topical aspirin in the treatment of bee and wasp stings.J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003;41(6):801-808. doi:10.1081/clt-120025345
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