Newswise — Itchy, red swollen bumps on the skin are an all-too-familiar summer sign that bugs " and bug bites " are flourishing.
That annoying itch may be a good sign, however.
"Itchy is normal. Tender is not," when it comes to bug bites, said Dr. Robin Carder, assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Tenderness, she cautioned, may be a sign the bug bite is becoming infected and deserves more medical attention.
"The main thing to watch for would be whether the bite is secondarily infected. It is normal for a bug bite to be a little red or swollen, and it may even blister," Dr. Carder said. "But the lesion should be more itchy than sore. If it becomes tender, that may be a sign of infection."
The Southwest's bug-bite season generally runs from March to October, although summer is definitely the worst span.
Mosquitoes and chiggers are the most common causes of insect bites in the region, and the bites are relatively easy to treat with over-the-counter remedies.
"Antihistamines like Benadryl (either the oral or the topical form) can be very effective in relieving the itch and decreasing the swelling, or hive-like response," Dr. Carder said. Topical steroids, such as hydrocortisone, also work well. Both can be found in touch sticks that can make it easier to target the affected area.
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