Bed bugs usually cause a series of bites in a row and prefer exposed areas of the skin, such as the face, neck, arms and hands. Bed bugs feed for around 5 to 10 minutes and you will likely not notice that they are biting you until after some time, when your bites start to itch.
Occasionally, the reaction to the bed bug bites can take up to 10 days to appear.
Reactions to bed bug bites can vary. Some people have few or no symptoms, while others experience a more intense, itchy reaction. You will most likely have multiple bites on the body, small (2 to 5 mm) and reddish, with a darker spot in the center. Multiple bites that form a line are very common. Without treatment, they usually take three to six weeks to disappear. If there is an infestation of bed bugs, you may have many bed bug bites across the body.
Although they do not transmit diseases, the bed bug bites can be detrimental to mental health. People living in bed bug infested places often experience significant levels of stress and anxiety, generated by itching and the fact that they know that the bed bugs are biting them in their own beds whilst asleep.
Maintaining good hygiene practices and avoiding excessive scratching will help the bed bug bites to go away on their own and quicker. This will also prevent them from getting infected.
Bed bug bites should go away on their own, even without treatment. However, if the itching is causing bother, taking antihistamines or using camomile lotions can help to soothe the bites. If you are concerned, then you should seek the advice of a medical professional.