Skinrepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

Every time I wake up in the morning I get new insect bites on my tummy.  My dermatologist has diagnosed me to having bed bug bites.  How exactly do I get rid of bed bugs?

Gia

Dear Gia,

Bed bug bites are caused by mites that are barely or if not invisible to the naked eye (1-7mm length).  The bugs can live on furniture, mattresses and bed frames. The are active at night and the bites do not cause any pain.  You may notice signs of infestations such as shed skins (exoskeleton of bugs), fecal material or eggs of bugs in the folds of the mattresses.

Using insecticides can get rid of the areas of the house where positive signs of infestations are found.  These should be sprayed on the areas where the bugs may hide away.  However, mattresses may sometimes have to be discarded since it is very difficult to clean it properly.  You might have to dismantle bed frames and fervently brush the spaces in between as well as the cracks on the walls or between moldings.  Professional assistance from pest-control companies may yield better results especially if they have green-graded insecticides which are safer to use. (I usually depend on Pestbusterscompany).

Your doctor may have given you some steroidal cream and oral antihistamines to control the itching.  If the itching does not bother you too much you can leave the bites alone.  What is more important is to get rid of the infestation permanently.

Dr Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). She is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH).  For other information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/.

If you have any questions or concerns please text, email or call (the Freeman or PSH): 0932 857 7070 or <[email protected] > or (032) 233 8620 or 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.