It happens to the best of us: You’re enjoying a barbecue, gardening in your backyard, or just getting some fresh air when you’re suddenly stung by a bee. And as the weather turns warm and we spend more time outside, learning how to treat a bee sting becomes all the more important.
The aftermath of the sting can look and feel a bit different for everyone. If you have a severe allergy to bee stings, you’ll need immediate medical attention (go straight to the ER or call 911 right away if you feel shortness of breath, throat tightness, or swelling of your tongue or lips). But even if you simply have a mild reaction to the sting, you’ll want to treat it properly to avoid potential problems.
So, after you get over the initial shock of being attacked by the fuzzy flyer, it’s time to spring into action. Here, experts break down everything you need to know about treating bee stings.
How to treat a bee sting
If you don’t have an allergy, it’s still important to treat the sting with care, says board-certified dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Here’s what he recommends:
1. Pull out the stinger.
Because honey bee stingers get stuck, they continue to pump venom into your skin, even when they’re detached from the bee, says Ben Hottel, Ph.D., technical services manager at Orkin. You can remove the stinger by scraping over the area with a fingernail or piece of gauze, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says. Don’t use tweezers—squeezing the stinger can cause more venom to be released into your skin.
2. Then, wash the area well.
Warm water and soap will help clean the wound, Dr. Goldenberg says.
3. Give it some ice.
This will help reduce swelling and inflammation, Dr. Goldenberg says. Mild swelling at the site of the sting is normal, but you’ll want to get medical care ASAP if you notice swelling in other parts of your body.
4. Take medicine for the pain, if needed.
OTC pain meds like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with any lingering pain.
5. See your doctor if symptoms get worse.
It’s not common, but it’s possible for a bee sting to become infected. “Call your doctor if the area continues to swell, becomes [redder] over time, becomes more painful, or feels hot,” Dr. Goldenberg says. That’s also true if you notice the area is oozing pus or if you develop a fever and chills, he says. Your doctor will likely take a skin culture and may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics if needed.
Home remedies to treat a bee sting
While bee stings are never fun, they don’t always need to be treated by a medical professional, according to Mahmud Kara, M.D., creator of KaraMD. “They can cause slight pain, swelling, redness, itching, and irritation,” he says, but unless you’re allergic or suffering other complications, you can likely use a home remedy in addition to ice and over-the-counter painkillers to get relief.
Anti-Inflammatories
Because bee stings signal the body’s natural inflammatory response, you will often see inflammation signs like redness or slight swelling at the sting site. This is why adding an anti-inflammatory treatment to your care can help. “You can use over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, or you can try natural herbs like Ginger or Turmeric that have powerful anti-inflammatory properties,” he says.
Baking soda paste
You can also try making your own salve to ease the sting. “Baking soda has been inked to helping with a variety of insect bites and stings,” he says. “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a recipe of just water and baking soda to make it into a paste and then apply to the area.”
Apple cider vinegar
We all know apple cider vinegar has been touted for having a range of medicinal benefits, so it’s no surprise that Dr. Kara says it can also help cut the pain of a bee sting thanks to its “powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties” which he says may help relieve irritation at the sting site and accelerate wound healing while also helping to prevent infection—making it a triple threat. Simply soak the affected area in apple cider vinegar for at least 15 minutes.
Essential oils and calamine lotion
Certain essential oils like aloe vera, witch hazel, and lavender may help to soothe the irritated skin caused by a bee sting, according to Dr. Kara. “Calamine lotion, found in most stores, can also help soothe irritation.”
Arnica
Lastly, Dr. Kara suggests relying on a major pollinator favorite when it comes to finding relief. “Arnica is a plant from the sunflower family that also makes a great at-home remedy for treating bee stings,” he says. “You can find it in gel form to apply to the sting site.”
Antihistamines
Don’t underestimate the value a good antihistamine can have when it comes to granting relief from irritation. “Antihistamines which are typically used for allergies can help control some of the itching, swelling, and redness associated with bee stings,” he says. “Just like anti-inflammatory remedies, antihistamines can help control the body’s natural inflammatory response to the sting.”
What if you’re allergic to bees?
Head straight to the ER or call 911 if you feel short of breath, have throat tightness, or your tongue or lips swell after a bee sting. Bee sting allergies can be serious, and even deadly, due to a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. You may experience shortness of breath, swelling of your tongue or lips, tightness in your throat, or even lose consciousness.
Keep in mind that it’s possible to have a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting despite feeling mostly OK after a sting in the past. That’s especially true if you were stung by a lot of bees at once. “This will dramatically increase the odds of having an allergic reaction to the venom,” says board-certified entomologist Nancy Troyano, Ph.D., director of operations education and training for Western Exterminators.
It’s rare to die of an allergic reaction from a bee sting, but it can happen. Nearly 90 people died in 2017 after an attack from a stinging insect, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
Why do bees sting people?
It’s important to note that not all bees sting. In fact, male bees actually don’t have a stinger, says Hottel.
“There are at least a few thousand bee species in the U.S.,” says Emory Matts, M.S., a board-certified entomologist and technical services manager for Western Exterminator Company. “Many can potentially sting people.”
You’re most likely to be stung by a honey bee or bumble bee, with honey bee stings being the most common, Matts says. A honey bee can only sting you once, as it has a barbed stinger that gets stuck in your skin after an attack. While bumble bees are usually “less aggressive,” Matts says they can sting you more than once.
In many cases, it can seem like a bee just went berserk and decided to target you for kicks. But in reality, bees usually “sting to protect themselves or defend a nest,” Hottel says. Think: You walked barefoot over a bee, or accidentally chose a picnic location that was right near its home.
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Korin Miller
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
Lauren Wellbank
Contributing Writer
Lauren Wellbank is a freelance writer based in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Martha Stewart Living, and more. She has three small children, a husband, and an over eager dog at home. When she's not writing she likes to work in her garden with her family.
