How to Treat a Bee Sting

Bees are moneymakers for some people, but for others they are pure terror because of their feared stings. Bee stings can be annoying and painful, but they rarely cause any problems. The exception is if you are allergic to the venom, and then they can be fatal.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Antibacterial Soaps
• Tweezers
• Baking Soda
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Calamine Lotions
• Cold Compresses
• Insect Repellents

1. Remove the stinger as soon as possible. Use your fingers, tweezers - whatever works best.

2. Wash the site with soap and water, or clean it with alcohol.

3. Put ice or a cool, wet compress on the inflamed area.

4. Soothe the inflammation with a paste made from baking soda and water. Apply calamine lotion to help relieve itching and pain.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many home remedies for bee stings. They include sprinkling meat tenderizer on the sting area, using a slice of raw onion and using papaya slices.
• If you have a history of severe reactions to bee stings, or if you start feeling lightheaded, break out in hives, have nausea or vomiting, begin coughing and wheezing, or have other respiratory problems, seek medical attention immediately. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[hyperband]

on 8/2/2009 When removing a stinger. Never use tweezers fingers or anything that will compress the end of the stinger as a venom sack is still attached to it. This will cause the venom left in the sack to be injected into the wound. The proper way to remove a stinger is with a card or other flat riged thin object. Scrape the stinger off the skin.

[paintslinger]

on 7/29/2009 apis mel, a homeopathic remedy is great for bee stings.

[hockeygrl]

on 7/28/2009 What works great for me and my kids is applying toothpaste, it doesn't matter what kind they ALL work my kids are up and ready to play in seconds!

[capricorngirltx]

on 7/27/2009 I also used tobacco from a cigarette. I packed it on with water to hold it on the area that was stung and the stinger came out and it took the pain away within minutes.

[buttknuck]

on 7/27/2009 I know for a fact that the application of mud (made with juice, water, coffee or any other liquid available) will cool and dry the sting almost as fast as it dries and will remove the stinger most of the time as well. Very helpful when you are deep in the woods and not prepared to be stung