Bee stings can be painful due to the venom they inject into the skin. If you have been stung by these insects, you must try to remove the sting as soon as possible, before all the contents of the poison sac can penetrate the skin within a few seconds. There are two ways to do this, read on to find out more.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Remove the Sting
Step 1. Act quickly
If you can get the sting out before all the poison in the pouch enters your body, you can minimize its effects.
- The poison enters through the skin within seconds, so you have to be as quick as possible as soon as you realize you have been stung.
- When you remove the stinger, be careful not to squeeze the poison sac at the end of the stinger, otherwise you increase the amount of toxins entering the body.
Step 2. Scrape the stinger
Scratch it off until you can peel it off the skin. You should be able to see the poison sac at the end of the sting itself. Remove it without crushing it; otherwise, you may be introducing even more poison into the body. For this method, the best thing to use is a straight-edged object. Here are some useful elements in this regard:
- The back of a pocket knife. If you need to remove the stinger from another person, use the knife only if the person trusts you enough and knows you won't hurt him. Do not practice this method on children, as their movements can be unpredictable.
- The edge of a card, such as a credit card. This is a safe method when used on children, as there is no risk of cutting their skin.
Step 3. Pull out the stinger
Use tweezers or a nail clipper. Grab the stinger as close to the skin as possible. Try to lock it under the poison pouch so you don't risk squeezing other toxins into your skin. Remove it by applying slow but steady traction.
- Keep in mind that the stinger may be hooked and therefore cause pain during extraction.
- Do not yank it during this operation, otherwise you increase the risk that it can break; in this case, it would become smaller and it would be more difficult to remove the fragment left in the skin.
Step 4. Don't worry if you don't find the sting
If you have been stung by a wasp or hornet you cannot find it, as these insects do not leave it in their victim's skin.
Be aware that if you are attacked by a wasp or hornet, these insects may sting you repeatedly. If so, keep calm, but leave the area quickly to avoid being attacked again
Part 2 of 2: Treating the Sting
Step 1. Wash the affected area
After removing the stinger, wash your skin with soap and water. This way, you clean the sting site and reduce the chances of contaminating the skin with bacteria or dirt.
- Keep the affected skin under running water for a few seconds to rinse it thoroughly and remove any residue and dust.
- Gently scrub the area to be treated with a mild soap and then rinse thoroughly.
- Finally, pat dry.
Step 2. Reduce swelling with an ice pack
Apply the compress neatly wrapped in a clean towel to the stinger. Keep it on the sting area for 10 minutes, then remove it for another 10 minutes to allow the tissues to return to body temperature before applying it again.
- If you have circulatory problems, apply ice for a shorter period to reduce the risk of frostbite.
- If you don't have an ice pack on hand, a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel works just as well.
- Do not place the ice pack directly on the skin, to avoid injury from cold.
Step 3. Reduce pain with over-the-counter pain medications
Consult your doctor before taking them if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, need to treat a sting on a baby, or are taking other medications that may interact. Never give aspirin to children or young people. Always follow the instructions on the leaflet regarding the dosage. Among the possible drugs useful for your case are:
- Paracetamol;
- Ibuprofen.
Step 4. Control itching and swelling with a topical cream or spray
The severity of the edema in the affected area is a completely subjective factor, which varies from person to person. Also, for some people it may be painful at first, while for others, itching only arises later. Among the possible treatments consider:
- 1% hydrocortisone cream;
- Calamine lotion;
- Antihistamine for oral use based on diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorphenamine (Trimeton).
Step 5. Pay attention to the signs of anaphylactic shock
If you know you are allergic to bee stings, you should have already obtained your prescription for the emergency epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen). Use it according to the directions of your doctor and the manufacturer of the drug. If you have used the epinephrine injector or are about to have anaphylactic shock, call emergency services immediately. Symptoms include:
- Itchy skin
- Red rashes
- Swelling of the eyes, lips, hands or feet
- Feeling of a closed throat or swelling of the mouth, throat and tongue
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty in breathing
- Abdominal pain;
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of consciousness.
