What is the Best Way to Treat a Bee Sting?

For most people, a bee sting is a minor nuisance during the spring and summer months, with the resulting pain and swelling lasting only a few hours. If, however, you've been stung by multiple bees or have an allergy to bee venom, you may be at risk of suffering severe, or even life threatening, complications. If you have been stung by a bee, you should follow these steps to treat it immediately.

1. Leave the area with the bee immediately. When a bee stings you, it releases a scent that attracts other bees, and they may come after you if you're still in the area.

2. Remove the stinger as quickly as possible. Scrape the skin area around the sting with your clean fingernail or a clean plastic credit card. If this method is unsuccessful, use a pair of tweezers to remove the stinger.

3. While removing the stinger, watch for other symptoms that may indicate an allergic reaction; they will begin within a few minutes of when the bee initially stings you. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction are difficulty breathing, coughing and/or the appearance of a rash or hives. Nausea, vomiting, a lightheaded feeling, and/or a loss of consciousness are signs of a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylactic shock. If you are experiencing any symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical treatment immediately.

If you know that you are allergic to bee venom and have an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), have someone assist you in administering the medication. If you don't have one, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

4. Clean the skin around the sting area using warm water and soap.

5. Apply an ice pack or a cold compress to the affected area for at least twenty minutes to reduce inflammation and redness.

6. Apply calamine lotion or a hydrocortisone cream to the bee sting area to minimize itchiness and redness. If you don't have either of these two products available, some common household products can be applied to the area to achieve similar results. Try applying honey, meat tenderizer, a paste made of water and a crushed aspirin tablet, or a paste made of baking soda and water. If you have an aloe vera plant, remove a leaf from the plant, cut it open and apply the gel to the bee sting area.

7. If the area is still itchy and red, you can take an oral antihistamine containing diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine or loratadine, such as Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton or Claritin. Try to avoid scratching the sting area to minimize the possibility of infection.

8. If you have not had a tetanus booster shot within the last ten years, schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get one.

If you are still experiencing pain, itchiness and swelling of the bee sting area after a few days, you should schedule a visit with your doctor. You should also consult your physician if you received multiple bee stings, received a sting on your eyeball or inside your mouth or throat.