Bedbugs

What Are Bedbugs?

Bedbugs are small, oval, brown insects that bite at night and live on the blood of humans or animals. Their bites can cause itching and skin irritation.

Where Are Bedbugs Found?

Bedbugs live indoors, commonly in crowded places such as hotels or dormitories. Exposure to the saliva of bedbugs can cause a skin reaction in certain susceptible individuals. But, not everyone exposed to bedbug saliva will have a reaction.

Signs and Symptoms of Bedbugs and Their Bites

If you are bitten by bedbugs, common symptoms include itchy red bumps, commonly in rows of three, on areas exposed during sleep (head, arms and legs). Depending on the level of sensitivity to bedbugs, other people living in the same area may not have a similar rash.

Warning signs of bedbug infestation include:

• Tiny dark spots that may stain your mattress or linens
• Tiny white eggs or eggshells
• Tiny shedded skins
• Living bedbugs in your mattress or linens, in the seams of the mattress or in cracks of the bed frame and headboard

Treatment for Bedbug Bites

At UCLA Dermatology, we treat bedbug bites with topical (skin-based) steroids to help reduce itching. It’s essential to find the source of and eliminate the bedbugs.

Contact Us

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (310) 825-6911.