Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBest MethodsNormal vs. Serious ReactionsTreatmentWhat Stung Me?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Best Methods
Normal vs. Serious Reactions
Treatment
What Stung Me?
Pain and other symptoms of a bee sting can worsen if you don’t get the stinger out quickly. The longer the stinger stays in your skin, the more venom it releases, adding to your pain and swelling. This can also increase the chances of an allergic reaction.
This article will go over how to remove a bee stinger and how to treat the sting. You will also learn the normal reactions to a bee sting and the signs of a more serious reaction that needs emergency medical care.
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What’s the Best Way to Remove a Bee Stinger?
There’s some disagreement about the best way to remove a bee stinger. Some people say you have to scrape it to avoid squeezing more venom into the body. Others say it’s okay to “grab and pull” on the stinger to get it out.
Most medical sources agree that removing the stinger as fast as you can is more important than how you do it. However, scraping your nail across the stinger, or taking care not to pinch the stinger when you pull it out may prevent squeezing more venom into the skin.
What happens if you don’t remove a bee stinger?You will likely experience worsening bee sting symptoms. Not taking the stinger out can also lead to an infection and increase your risk of an allergic reaction.
What happens if you don’t remove a bee stinger?
You will likely experience worsening bee sting symptoms. Not taking the stinger out can also lead to an infection and increase your risk of an allergic reaction.
Look at the Sting
After you get stung, look at the sting closely. It’s normal to have a red bump with a black dot in the center. If there’s a small, dark strand sticking out, it’s likely the stinger. You might see a bulbous tip on the top of the strand, which is the venom sac.
What Is a Bee Stinger Called?A honey bee’s stinger is an ovipositor. It’s part of a female bee’s reproductive system. The queen bee lays eggs through her ovipositor and can also sting with it. Female worker bees do not lay eggs, so they can only use their ovipositor to sting.A stinger is also a bee’s “last line of defense.” Once it’s used, the bee dies.
What Is a Bee Stinger Called?
A honey bee’s stinger is an ovipositor. It’s part of a female bee’s reproductive system. The queen bee lays eggs through her ovipositor and can also sting with it. Female worker bees do not lay eggs, so they can only use their ovipositor to sting.A stinger is also a bee’s “last line of defense.” Once it’s used, the bee dies.
A honey bee’s stinger is an ovipositor. It’s part of a female bee’s reproductive system. The queen bee lays eggs through her ovipositor and can also sting with it. Female worker bees do not lay eggs, so they can only use their ovipositor to sting.
A stinger is also a bee’s “last line of defense.” Once it’s used, the bee dies.
If you don’t see the stinger, you might worry that it’s stuck under your skin. However, this is not likely because the barbed shape of the stinger makes it hard for it to get through the skin. The place where you got stung may also keep hurting or itch if you didn’t get the stinger out.
Do Insect Stings Cause Allergic Reactions?
Pull the Skin Tight
If you see the stinger, pull the skin around it right so you can get a better look. A taut surface also will make it easier to remove the stinger.
Scrape or Pull the Stinger
Once you’ve found the stinger, try scraping it off with your fingernail or the edge of a credit card. Avoid using tweezers to remove a stinger, as squeezing it can cause more venom to release into your skin.
What If I Can’t Get the Stinger Out?If part or all of a stinger gets stuck under your skin, it will probably work its way out in a few days, like a splinter would. If the swelling does not go down, you’ll need to see a provider and make sure it’s not infected.
What If I Can’t Get the Stinger Out?
If part or all of a stinger gets stuck under your skin, it will probably work its way out in a few days, like a splinter would. If the swelling does not go down, you’ll need to see a provider and make sure it’s not infected.
Some people say that home remedies like baking soda and water or bentonite clay may help draw out a bee stinger, but these aren’t proven.
Normal Reactions to Bee Stings
While unpleasant, these symptoms are normal. However, there are also signs of a potentially serious, even life-threatening, reaction to a bee sting that you should watch for.
What If I’m Stung More Than Once?If you get multiple stings, you’ll have more venom pumped into your body. This makes it more likely that you’ll have a serious reaction.If you are stung more than once and have these symptoms, you need to seek medical care right away:Faintness or dizzinessNauseaSeizures
What If I’m Stung More Than Once?
If you get multiple stings, you’ll have more venom pumped into your body. This makes it more likely that you’ll have a serious reaction.If you are stung more than once and have these symptoms, you need to seek medical care right away:Faintness or dizzinessNauseaSeizures
If you get multiple stings, you’ll have more venom pumped into your body. This makes it more likely that you’ll have a serious reaction.
If you are stung more than once and have these symptoms, you need to seek medical care right away:
What to Do If You’re Having an Allergic Reaction to a Bee Sting
Signs of a Serious Reactions to a Bee Sting
Signs of a serious reaction to a bee sting include:
Usually, you won’t know if you’re allergic to bee stings until you get stung and have a reaction. Once you learn that you’re allergic to bee stings, you should always carry an EpiPen (epinephrine). If you are stung, an EpiPen could save your life.
How To Treat a Bee Sting
Once the stinger is out and you know you’re not having a severe reaction, here are the next steps for treating the bee sting:
How to Treat Bee Stings
Home Remedies for Bee Stings
How Can I Tell What Stung Me?
While honey bees, bumblebees, wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets all come from the same family of insects (hymenoptera), and they all sting, only honey bees leave a stinger behind.
The stings from these insects are similar. Unless there’s a stinger left behind, you may not know which one stung you.
Which is worse, a bee sting or wasp sting?It depends on how your body reacts to the sting. Both stings releasevenom that causes swelling and pain, and both can cause severe reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Which is worse, a bee sting or wasp sting?
It depends on how your body reacts to the sting. Both stings releasevenom that causes swelling and pain, and both can cause severe reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Since most of these insects do not lose their stinger when they sting, they can sting you more than once. Some wasps can bite as well as sing, and their bite can be very painful.
How to Figure Out What Stung or Bit You
Summary
Once the stinger is out (or if there is no stinger), you can start treating the sting. Keep the area clean and take OTC pain relievers if it hurts. If the swelling isn’t getting better in a few days, have your provider take a look at it.
Can Insect Stings Cause Bruises?
7 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.National Library of Medicine.Stinger removal.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.8078Schmidt JO.Decision making in honeybees: a time to live, a time to die?Insectes Sociaux. 2020;67(2):337-44. doi:10.1007/s00040-020-00759-4American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a bee sting.National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Bee stings: Is it an allergic reaction?Saikaly SK, Khachemoune A.Honey and wound healing: An update.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0247-8American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Insect sting allergy.
7 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.National Library of Medicine.Stinger removal.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.8078Schmidt JO.Decision making in honeybees: a time to live, a time to die?Insectes Sociaux. 2020;67(2):337-44. doi:10.1007/s00040-020-00759-4American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a bee sting.National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Bee stings: Is it an allergic reaction?Saikaly SK, Khachemoune A.Honey and wound healing: An update.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0247-8American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Insect sting allergy.
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.
National Library of Medicine.Stinger removal.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.8078Schmidt JO.Decision making in honeybees: a time to live, a time to die?Insectes Sociaux. 2020;67(2):337-44. doi:10.1007/s00040-020-00759-4American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a bee sting.National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Bee stings: Is it an allergic reaction?Saikaly SK, Khachemoune A.Honey and wound healing: An update.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017;18(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0247-8American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Insect sting allergy.
National Library of Medicine.Stinger removal.
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
Schmidt JO.Decision making in honeybees: a time to live, a time to die?Insectes Sociaux. 2020;67(2):337-44. doi:10.1007/s00040-020-00759-4
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat a bee sting.
National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Bee stings: Is it an allergic reaction?
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
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Insect sting allergy.
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