This Is The Worst Thing To Do After A Wasp Sting

A waspThis year has been so hot and dry so far that ladybird swarms and giant strawberries have been spotted across the UK. Ripe blackberries have been spotted as early as June in parts of the UK, the Woodland Trust told us previously.So, perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a shock to learn that wasps, whose natural breeding patterns have coincided with favourable toasty weather, are out en masse too. With that could come more stings. But what should you do after a wasp sting, and how helpful are traditional methods of treating stings (like vinegar)?What should you do after a wasp sting?The NHS says that,“If anything is left on or in your skin, the first thing you need to do is remove it carefully.” This applies to stingers for wasps, bees, and hornets, but also to caterpillars and ticks. But there are better and worse ways to do this step.To remove the sting, the health service explains you should brush the stinger sideways with your nail or the side of a bank card – there’s no need to yank it out or use something sharp, as this can leave parts of the stinger behind. The problem with having a stinger left in your skin is that the spike itself is not what causes the pain, swelling, and itchiness. This comes largely from the venom in the stinger, which continues to release the irritant while exposed to your skin.That’s why the NHS urges people not to use tweezers on the stinger. This can actually squeeze more “poison” into the area.After you’ve removed the stinger, wash the area with soap and water. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t ignore the stinger or try to yank it out with tweezers or a sharp object. This is the worst approach to the venom-packed body part.How can I treat the itchiness and discomfort of a wasp sting?Place ice wrapped in a cloth or a clean, cold water-soaked cloth on the area for 20 minutes, the NHS advises. Keep the area raised if possible, take ibuprofen or paracetamol, and take antihistamines to resolve itching (unless the irritant is caterpillar hairs). Hydrocortisone creams can get rid of itching and swelling. Does vinegar or baking soda help to get rid of wasp sting pain?“Do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda to treat the bite or sting,” the NHS says. As Medical News Today points out, “calamine lotion, vinegar, or bicarbonate of soda... will not neutralise the venom because it will be deep within the tissues”.When should I see a doctor about a wasp sting?If you notice your skin feels hot and looks red (which can be harder to spot on darker skin tones), if it’s swollen, or if there’s pus or leakage, speak to a pharmacist. If your child under one has been stung, see a GP. Book an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if you were stung in the throat or eyes, if your symptoms don’t get better or get worse, you have stomach pain or have started vomiting, you’ve got a fever and/or swollen glands, you’ve been stung multiple times, or if you’ve had a serious reaction to stings before. And the NHS says you should call 999 if: your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollenyou’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallowyour skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzysomeone faints and cannot be woken upa child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face).Related...This Is The Surprising Reality Of What Really Happens When A Bee Stings YouNo, Peeing On Jellyfish Stings Doesn't WorkThe 1 Thing Experts Say You Shouldn't Use To Deter Wasps (And 6 Things To Try Instead)

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