Do bed bug bites leave scars?

Is the leftover mark a scar?

Bed bug bites can leave darker brown marks, particularly in darker skin. This is called postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: extra pigment left after inflammation. A darker mark can be a pigment change rather than a scar, which is one reason 'scar' is doing too much work here. Bug bites can also leave lighter spots when the skin makes less pigment, called hypopigmentation.34

A true scar forms when replacement tissue grows back differently from the original skin. General wound healing guidance applies here: an injury limited to the top layer probably will not leave a scar, while a deeper wound is more likely to. Picking or scratching a scab can interfere with healing and cause scarring. Intense scratching can also lead to a skin infection, which can make a wound larger and slower to heal.25

How to care for bites while they heal

1. 1Wash the bites with soap and water. Keep the affected skin clean while it heals.
2. 2Apply a clean, cool, damp cloth to ease itching and swelling.
3. 3Avoid scratching the bites or picking scabs. If scratching has created a minor open wound, clean it with gentle soap and water and cover it with a sterile dressing.
4. 4Ask a pharmacist about mild hydrocortisone cream if itching persists, or an antihistamine if itching keeps you awake. Pregnant people and children under 10 should get medical advice before using hydrocortisone.

Most bites need only basic care and relief from itching. Medicines are used to control symptoms; they have not been shown to make bed bug bites heal better than no treatment. More extensive or severe reactions can need medical treatment, and an infected bite can need antibiotics.7

How long do the marks take to fade?

The usual one to two week healing time describes the bite itself, not every mark left afterwards. A lighter spot after a short lived bite or rash can start regaining colour within a few weeks. Longer lasting inflammation can mean slower recovery, and the original colour does not always return completely. A true scar can fade over as long as two years; some scars never disappear completely.124

Protect lighter patches outdoors with clothing and shade. On uncovered areas, use water resistant sunscreen with broad spectrum protection and SPF 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating. Sunlight can turn a recovering light patch into a dark patch. Do not try to treat lighter spots yourself before finding out what is causing them.4

When should you see a doctor?

Get medical care for many bites, blisters, tender bites or pus. See a doctor if pain or swelling spreads, or the bites remain very painful, swollen or itchy after pharmacy treatment. For lighter marks, see a dermatologist if new spots develop, existing spots worsen, or nothing changes after a few weeks.146

Stop new bites as well as treating old ones

Bites alone cannot confirm bed bugs. Check mattress seams, bedding and furniture for bugs, shed shells and dark specks or blood spots, and contact an experienced pest control company if you suspect an infestation. Removing bed bugs is the only way to stop their bites. Bed bugs occur in clean and dirty places, so a spotless room is not a character reference.1356