Flea bites are bothersome and uncomfortable, but it reaches a whole new level when they come for our loved ones. When a flea targets our pets or kids, it becomes personal. So while you are figuring out the scope of the problem and how to help it go away, here is how long you can expect to deal with the discomfort.
Why Do Fleas Bite?
Before delving into when you can expect your flea bite to go away, we should first establish why fleas do what they do. Unlike a kid going down a slide, fleas do not just bite us and our pets for fun. Instead, they do it because they have to survive. Fleas sustain themselves with blood from mammals.
Once the fleas you are involuntarily housing are well fed, they are ready to breed. An adult female flea is capable of laying approximately 40 eggs per day.
Like dirty loads of laundry, they multiply quickly. If the issue is not gotten under control quickly, these pests can easily wreak itchy havoc around your home.
Do Fleas Bite Humans?
When many of us think of fleas, we automatically think of their impact on our furry friends. Fleas are a nuisance that no dog, cat, or pet parent wants to deal with. Generally, people want to get rid of their pet’s fleas to ease the animal’s discomfort. Well, that, and that having these little pests around is just plain icky.
What people might not realize, though, is that fleas are more than happy to consume human blood too. While fleas might prefer to use fuzzier creatures as their hosts, they are perfectly capable of biting people. In fact, fleas often make a home in our mattresses, carpets, and upholstered furniture.
People might think that they can’t get a flea infestation simply because they don’t have any pets. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Fleas can come from a variety of sources, so even if you do not have an animal companion, you might still find fleas hitching a ride in your home.
These environments offer a warm place for fleas to lay their eggs. Not only that but living in a mattress also gives them a lovely opportunity to come out and bite people at night.
Fleas can jump from your pet to you to all sorts of furniture around the house. If you see fleas in one area of your home, it is reasonable to assume that they have traveled all over the place.
What Does a Flea Bite Feel Like?
You are unlikely to feel the exact moment that a flea bites you, but you will probably feel the resulting discomfort for days to come. A flea bite is unpleasantly itchy, but the area around the bite can also feel sore.
Fleas have a tendency to go for humans’ feet and ankles, which distinguishes them from other pesky creatures like bed bugs or bees.
Why Are Flea Bites Itchy?
Like mosquito bites, flea bites are itchy because of our response to the bugs’ saliva. When fleas bite us, they deposit saliva into our bloodstreams. Our body immediately recognizes flea saliva as a foreign substance, so it gets to work eliminating the perceived threat.
The body does this by sending histamines to the affected area. It is the histamines that cause an itching and swelling response. Ultimately, it’s not so much the bite that causes the reaction but the saliva the fleas leave behind.
Why Do Some People Experience More Itchiness With Flea Bites Than Others?
Even in the same household, people might experience dramatically different reactions to flea bites. Some family members could find themselves itching long into the night, while others are largely unaffected. To better understand this phenomenon, it is helpful to think of a flea bite as an allergy.
The body is allergic to flea saliva, which is why it attempts to remove the substance. Some people’s bodies will react more strongly than others, indicating a more severe allergy to flea bites.
Those with a more severe allergy will experience longer and more uncomfortable symptoms since their body releases more histamines to combat the threat.
What Do Flea Bites Look Like?
A flea bite looks different than a mosquito or bed bug bite. Flea bites are small, red bumps that generally occur around the feet or ankles.
Meanwhile, a mosquito bite is a larger raised area and likely is not as red. A bed bug bite is also a small, red spot. Bed bugs tend to opt for the upper areas of the body rather than the lower.
Flea bites often appear in either a straight line or with many in a small area. A discolored ring can also appear around the bite, depending on your body’s reaction to the foreign substance.
When Will a Flea Bite Go Away?
At last, we have reached the crux of this article. If you are someone who experiences intense itchiness as a result of flea saliva, you will inevitably wonder when your discomfort will end. Of course, this timetable will depend on your exact definition of “go away.”
You are likely to notice the redness fading within the first week after being bitten. However, you might still experience some itchiness and lingering sensitivity for a little while after. This sensitivity can extend even further if you ignore our tip from earlier and scratch at the bite.
We understand that it can be challenging to resist a good scratch at times, but it really is crucial to abstain as much as possible. Otherwise, you could end up accidentally breaking the skin. Once you have done that, the wound could become infected, and the bite will take much longer to scab over and eventually heal.
People will also experience different timetables depending on how allergic they are to flea bites and saliva. Those with more severe allergies could develop a rash or welts, while those with minimal allergies might not feel a thing. People with moderate flea allergies will likely see their symptoms lessen between one and two days after being bitten.
How Can You Make Flea Bites Go Away Faster?
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to make your flea bite disappear faster. In the meantime, all that you can do is try not to make it worse and treat the symptoms as they appear. If you begin to experience a more severe reaction, it is time to see a doctor or go to the hospital.
Some of these possible symptoms include:
- A large rash or full body hives
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
- Swelling around the body (like the face)
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Try Not To Scratch
Making sure that you scratch as little as possible is crucial to having your flea bite heal quickly and thoroughly. Scratching might feel good at the moment, but it can have a variety of unintended consequences. Aggressive or frequent scratching can result in opening the wound, which is the last thing you want to do.
Opening the wound makes the bite take longer to heal and can also expose you to infection and other complications. It can also make the itchiness worse, which is entirely counterproductive. Instead of scratching, you should look into more productive ways to help you feel better and reduce the urge to itch.
How To Ease Discomfort From Itchiness
Treating the itchiness from a flea bite is much like treating the itchiness you feel from a mosquito bite. Your options are often either to just wait it out or to turn to a barrage of harsh chemicals. Luckily, more natural options will still help both you and your kids be itch-free before you know it.
The MagicPatch Itch Relief Patches from The Natural Patch Co. utilize the powers of Grid-Relief Technology to promote drainage, making your whole family feel better fast. This technology creates a micro-lift in the skin, which helps your body release the biochemicals and histamines that created the uncomfortable sensation in the first place. Just put a patch over a bite as soon as you notice it, and let the sticker work its magic.
If Grid-Relief Technology does not do it for you, or if you want to put itchiness to bed for good, we have another option. AllergyPatch Allergy Relief Stickers are another all-natural alternative to other itch-relievers that contain harsh chemicals. These patches use a powerful blend of essential oils, including lemon, grapefruit, black spruce, and peppermint.
Together, these oils work to relieve the most common allergy symptoms like itchiness, sneezing, and watery eyes. Just stick patches onto your and your kids’ clothes to let them get to work while you relax.
Get Fleas To Flee
Once you notice a flea or flea bite, you can rest assured that more are waiting in the wings. At that point, you must spring into action as quickly as possible. Every moment that you are not thoroughly cleaning your pets, clothes, and furniture is a moment that fleas could be multiplying.
While experiencing itchiness and discomfort, you can absolutely pursue a natural means of feeling better. Ultimately, the only real way to address the problem is to get rid of the fleas once and for all.
Sources:
Understanding the Flea Life Cycle | PetMD
Everything You Need To Know About Fleabites | Healthline
Answers to Your Questions About Flea Infestation | Healthline
