A bee loses its stinger because of the barbed end. As this digs into the skin, it can be difficult to remove. While it’s commonly thought the best way to remove a stinger is to scrap it off, studies have found that it’s the speed of removal, not the method, that matters. If y...
If thebee stingeris still present, remove it immediately. Gently scrape the skin with a credit card, your thumbnail, or a blunt knife. Don’t pull out the stinger or pinch the stinger with your fingers or tweezers. This will only release more venom into the skin. After the stinger is e...
If your bee sting has caused a local reaction, there’s no need to seek medical care – you can treat it at home. You’ll first need to remove the stinger, if it’s there, and then focus on treating the sting. If you’re unsure of what to do at any step of the way, you can...
If thebee stingeris still present, remove it immediately. Gently scrape the skin with a credit card, your thumbnail, or a blunt knife. Don’t pull out the stinger or pinch the stinger with your fingers or tweezers. This will only release more venom into the skin. After the stinger is e...
Many people can simply ice the area to soothe pain, remove the stinger if it has stayed in the skin, and take an over-the-counterantihistaminelike diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to help with itching. “After a half hour, you can go on with your business,” saysHoward Russell, an insect and...
How do I treat bee, wasp, and otherinsect stings? Here’s what to do: If the insect has left behind a stinger, remove it from the skin so less of the venom gets into your body. You can scrape out the stinger with the edge of a credit card or the dull edge of a knife. Don’...
Remove stingers or ticks:Keep out additional toxins by removing a bee stinger as quickly as possible; with ticks, use fine-tip tweezers to gently dislodge the mouth. Clean the wound:Use antiseptic soap. Use a cold compress or ice:To reduce swelling, and relieve pain and itching. ...
If bitten by a bee, simply remove the stinger from the skin, clean the site, and apply ice. You can also take and oral antihistamine for itching, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief. In case of severe anaphylactic reaction, call for emergency care or use epinephrine (EpiPen) if...
How do I treat bee, wasp, and otherinsect stings? Here’s what to do: If the insect has left behind a stinger, remove it from the skin so less of the venom gets into your body. You can scrape out the stinger with the edge of a credit card or the dull edge of a knife. Don’...
If you’re worried, leave it in and take them to the vet so they can remove it for you. If the stinger is out, bathe the area with an alkali such as baking soda dissolved in cold water for bee or insect stings, or use lemon juice or vinegar for wasp stings instead. If you’re...