How To Treat Flea Bites At Your Home

Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, having your home infested by fleas can be a stressful time. These little critters can wreak havoc on your home and cause a lot of unnecessary grief for you and your family. It can be difficult, however, to determine whether a couple bites are from a flea infestation or a typical bug bite. Learn the signs of a flea infestation, how to treat them and what you can do to prevent them in the future.

Fleas are minuscule, parasitic insects that feed off a host’s blood. The most common flea found in the United States is called the Ctenocephalides felis, which feeds off domestic pets such as cats and dogs. A fully grown flea is quite small, ranging from 1 to 2 mm long, and is classified by a mahogany color. Because of its small size, fleas can easily burrow into the dense hair of its host, making it difficult to spot with a simple inspection.

In general, when a flea finds a host, it typically spends its entire life cycle on its host, meaning cross-infestation is uncommon unless the host becomes uninhabitable or the host shares close sleeping quarters with another viable host. Because fleas depend on almost constant feeding from their host, if they become separated, they usually die from starvation within hours.

Fleas depend on their host to survive the life cycle, which consists of the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. Most hosts contain a mixture of about 50 percent eggs, 35 percent larvae, 10 percent pupae, and only a small fraction – about 5 percent – are adults. Because so few fleas survive until adulthood, it’s vital for them to lay eggs at a continuous rate. Only after an adult flea has consumed blood can it begin to produce eggs, typically at a rate of one every hour until it dies or is consumed by its host. Once an egg is laid, it typically takes anywhere between three and seven weeks for it to hatch. The larvae also depend on blood particles to grow, which typically takes the form of the fecal matter shed by grown fleas after ingesting blood from its host. Because of its need for blood from the egg to adult stage, a viable host with a steady supply of blood is vital for fleas to survive.

How To Spot Flea Bites

Despite a flea’s need to stay attached to its host throughout the life cycle, fleas can also briefly attach themselves to humans and feed off their blood. When a flea bites a human it usually results in a series of clusters containing two to three small, red spots with a halo around them. Because of their proximity to the ground where fleas tend to jump from their host, people most often get flea bites on their feet and around their ankles and lower calves. Flea bites are typically characterized by itching, rashes, hives and swelling around the site of the bite. In more extreme cases, people have been known to have anaphylaxis which may require hospitalization.

Insect bites on people are common, especially during the summertime when the weather is conducive to insect breeding and growth. When a person notices a bite, it can be difficult at first to determine whether it’s from a flea, mosquito, spider, or in some cases a bed bug.

Mosquito Bites

Mosquitos are much bigger than fleas, and because of their noticeable size, they’re usually much easier to spot than a flea while they’re feeding. Whereas flea bites are typically clustered together in small bites, mosquito bites are generally much larger and isolated and are characterized by a single large bump. Unlike flea bites, mosquitoes will feed wherever there is exposed skin, meaning bites could appear anywhere from the face and torso to the lower extremities such as legs and feet. Mosquito bites generally hurt or itch immediately after the mosquito is finished feeding, and swelling occurs right away.

Spider Bites

Spider bites are often easy to distinguish from flea bites due to their size. In general, spider bites are single bumps accompanied by itching and swelling around the site of the bite. While still rare, it’s more common for people to have extreme reactions to spider bites than flea bites. Some symptoms that may require immediate medical attention include difficulty breathing, headache, nausea or vomiting, fever, chills or anaphylaxis.

Bed Bugs

Like fleas, bed bugs also depend on blood to survive. Bed bugs are also similar in appearance to fleas due to their small size and reddish-brown coloring. Whereas fleas tend to bite the lower half of your body’s extremities because of their proximity to the ground, bed bugs tend to feed on the upper half of the body, including the arms, neck and face. Bed bugs are often harder to spot than fleas because they prefer the dark and therefore hide during the day. Because they’re attracted to body heat, they come out at night when you’re asleep to feed. Unlike fleas, bed bugs don’t attach themselves to a host and most often tend to hide in mattresses, bed frames and box springs, earning them their name. To spot a bed bug bite, look for bites that are small with a dark red spot in the middle of the raised part of your skin. Bites can be in clusters, like flea bites, or they can also appear in a line, and they often worsen when scratched.

One of the biggest telltale signs that you have a flea infestation is that you’ll notice your pets are scratching, biting or licking themselves more than usual. If this is the case, you can use a flea comb to check your pet's fur for fleas and flea feces. Remember, fleas can be hard to spot from the surface, so you’ll want to comb through their fur thoroughly. If you do spot fleas on your pet, it can be safe to assume that your entire home is now infested. After invading your pet, it doesn’t take very long for them to spread throughout your home, especially if you have carpets, upholstered furniture or heavy draperies.

In most cases, flea bites can be easy to treat, depending on the level of infestation. Most people don’t experience symptoms of flea bites that require medication, but there can be some instances where the bites can create discomfort that may make you want to seek treatment.

There are a variety of over-the-counter treatments you can try to alleviate the discomfort caused by flea bites. When looking for a topical treatment, you want something that contains either hydrocortisone, which is often found in Cortaid and Cortisone, or diphenhydramine, which you can find in Benadryl anti-itch creams. These topical treatments should provide lasting relief from the flea bites while your skin heals. If, however, you find that the itching is more severe, you can also combine topical treatment with oral antihistamines such as Benadryl to help ease the pain.

If you prefer a more natural treatment for flea bites, there are several remedies you can try to help soothe itching and provide relief. To reduce swelling and itching, you can use one or a combination of ice packs. Witch hazel and tea tree oil have been known to help with the itching, and aloe vera can help ease the redness and swelling. If you have rubbing alcohol, you may want to try using that to dry out the bites. A mixture of one part white vinegar and one part water can also provide temporary relief from the bites. In some instances, used tea bags have also been known to provide at-home natural relief from flea bites as well.

With both over-the-counter treatments and natural home remedies, you should always wash the area first to keep the infection caused by the bite from spreading. If you’re still finding no relief or your reaction has become more severe, you should seek medical attention for a stronger prescription to treat your bites.

You can find flea treatments in most grocery or pet specialty stores that will help treat and kills fleas. Check the back of the box to be sure you’re treating your pet properly – and the proper pet. Some chemical products for treating dogs are fatal to cats. Dosage of any medication depends on the age of your pet and its weight, and too much could harm it. There are also flea baths you can give your pets to kill any fleas that may be living on them, along with their eggs and larvae.

You can also treat your pet’s flea bites naturally using several remedies. An herbal flea spray can rid your home of infestation while also being non-toxic and pet safe. You can make your own spray by using a mixture of vinegar, water, lemon juice and witch hazel, then spraying around your home wherever your pet lays. If you have carpets, sprinkling baking soda on your floor can help rid your home of fleas. Simply spread the baking soda, scrub your carpet with a hard bristle brush, then vacuum. Fleas don’t like lemony scents, so using a natural lemon spray around your home can help rid your home of these pests. Simply add a thinly sliced lemon to water in a pot and bring to a boil. Then, let your solution sit overnight before pouring into a spray bottle and using around your home.

Prevention

The best defense against fleas is a good prevention strategy. You can make your home uninviting to these pests several ways, starting with ensuring there are no viable hosts in your home for fleas to attach themselves to.

If you have pets, you should treat them regularly for fleas even if they don’t go outdoors. This is because you can bring fleas into the home on your clothing, which could then attach themselves to your pets. You can find flea prevention medicines in your grocery or pet specialty stores which typically require monthly application. When treating your pets, you should always give them the right dosage, which is based on their age and weight.

There are also home remedies you can use to treat your pets that are good for them and the environment. A solution of apple cider vinegar and water for your pet’s fur can help prevent them from getting fleas. To create this solution, you’ll need raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and water. Using a half-and-half mixture, mix the solution into a spray bottle and spritz on your pet’s coat. This works on both cats and dogs. You can also mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with your pet’s drinking water to help repel fleas from the inside out.

You can also make a natural lemon spray repellent to help prevent fleas from jumping on your pets. Simply add a solution of fresh cut lemons and water, boil, and let it sit overnight. Then, apply to your pet’s hindquarters to keep fleas at bay. Brewer’s yeast is also effective at preventing fleas from infesting your pets and can be sprinkled over their food. The mixture depends on your pet’s size, but for smaller animals you’ll want to use 1/2 teaspoon of brewer's yeast, or 1 teaspoon per 30 pounds of body weight for larger pets.

For a natural flea repellent that also provides your home with a nice aesthetic, you can also invest in flea-repelling plants around your home, which contain certain oils and chemicals that fleas hate and will try their best to avoid. These plants include lavender, spearmint and chrysanthemums.

Because fleas often come in from outdoors, you should take care to mow your lawn regularly, so they don’t have a place to hide. Always wash your pet’s bedding regularly, and vacuum and shampoo any carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture you may have in your home.

Flea infestation can be an annoyance, but it doesn’t have to be cause for alarm. If you act swiftly after noticing fleas on your pets, you can prevent a full-out infestation which may require the help of a professional exterminator. If you regularly treat your pet with preventative medicine or home remedies, make your home unattractive using a combination of cleaners, home remedies or plants, and address possible infestation right away, you shouldn’t let the thought of a possible flea infestation be cause for alarm.