It’s very annoying when bed bugs attack you in the middle of the night because your initial reaction to the horrible bites would be to scratch them uncontrollably. This may make you wonder why these pesky little bed bugs love to mess with your feet.
Our team gathered essential information to help you answer the question, “why do bed bugs only bite my feet?”
3 Usual Reasons Why Bed Bugs Bite Your Feet Only
1. It Is The Only Exposed Skin
First, since your feet are usually exposed compared to the rest of your body, it has very little protection from bed bug bites.
You might be wearing a pajama to protect your legs and a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms, but are you wearing any socks to protect your feet?
Read: Can A Bed Bug Get Into Your Private Parts?
2. Your Insect Repellent Is Not Effective
Another reason bed bugs prefer to feast on your feet is because the insect repellent you use on your body is ineffective. Specific sprays are made for killing bed bugs but only go for those that have undergone meticulous testing and approval to ensure that it is 100% safe for consumption since you will be applying this directly on your person.
3. It Is Near Their Hiding Place
Lastly, bed bugs tend to bite your feet more than anything else because they’re near their hiding place. Bed bugs, therefore, tend to hide in your bed, your closet, rugs, and even in your laundry basket.
Also, bed bugs are likely to hide inside your bedding (e.g., inside mattresses and bed sheets), under the carpet, and in cracks and crevices of walls, floors, and baseboards. If your bed is near any of these places, you are giving these pests easy access to your feet.
If You’re Bitten By Bed Bugs, Will You Get Sick?
It depends. Most people bitten by bed bugs do not have any significant health complications, and the signs left by the bites vanish within a few weeks.
However, being bitten regularly might cause a reaction in your body, and scratching the bites constantly could also result in secondary infections [1]. But how can you prevent bed bug bites while you’re sleeping?
What Are the Remedies for Bed Bug Bites on Feet?
Several home treatments and over-the-counter drugs may help relieve the symptoms of being bitten by bedbugs. Some of them include:
- Over-the-counter steroid creams (or with a doctor’s prescription), which you may apply to the affected area to reduce inflammation and scratching [2]
- Antihistamine (in pill form) to reduce itching and burning sensations (upon approval by your doctor)
- Benadryl (to relieve itching) or ask your doctor for a stronger antihistamine to be prescribed to you
- A cold compress, such as a towel containing an ice pack applied directly to the bed bug bites
FAQs
Do bed bugs bite only feet?
No, they don’t. Bedbugs are more likely to bite any exposed body parts, such as the arms, neck, face, or feet.
This is one of the key differences between flea bites and bedbug bites since flea bites may emerge anywhere on the body – even in areas covered by clothing. But will bed bugs bite through your clothes?
How do I stop bed bugs from biting my feet?
To prevent bed bugs from biting your feet, you may wear socks to cover your skin. Also, change your blankets, pillow cases, and mattress covers every week.
If worse comes to worst, have a professional exterminator come over and eliminate these bed bugs for you.
In Summary
Taking precautions to stop bed bugs from biting your feet and any parts of your body includes maintaining a high level of hygiene, applying effective repellents, and cleaning your home often.
If your bed bug problem persists, it is time for you to call in the experts who can deal with this situation more effectively by targeting the root cause.
References:
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17847-bedbugs
- https://www.healthline.com/health/bed-bug-bites
Alene Schill is a property manager from Columbus, Ohio, who has dealt with numerous pest control agencies. She helps families find the perfect homes and knows very well that bed bugs are an ultimate deal-breaker. She enjoys cycling around Scioto Mile during her spare time.