About a week ago, I asked a friend if I could stay in his old apartment while mine was being renovated, and he kindly agreed.
A few days after moving in, though, I started noticing odd, itchy bumps appearing on my skin—mostly on my legs and back. I hadn’t changed my hygiene routine, was using the same shampoo, and showering regularly, so I began to suspect that something in the apartment might be causing it.
Before I could afford a visit to the doctor, I turned to the internet to figure out what might be behind the itching. Everything I read seemed to point to bed bugs. The apartment was quite old, and the mattress had clearly been there for years. Even so, when I examined it closely, I couldn’t find any obvious signs of infestation. Still, I took precautions: I left the mattress out on the balcony in direct sunlight for an entire day and layered several bed covers before sleeping on it again. Unfortunately, the situation didn’t improve, and I had no choice but to continue sleeping there for the rest of the week.
According to the NHS, bed bugs are tiny insects that typically live in furniture or bedding. Although their bites aren’t dangerous to health, they can be extremely itchy and uncomfortable.
Bed bug bites can cause irritation, disrupt sleep, and are often hard to tell apart from bites caused by other insects.
There are several signs that may suggest bites are from bed bugs, though not everyone experiences them. In fact, many people don’t react to bed bug bites at all.
Red, itchy bumps – Bed bug bites usually show up as red, itchy bumps on the skin. While they don’t transmit disease, the itching can be intense. Excessive scratching may break the skin, leading to bleeding or even secondary infections.
Bites on exposed areas – Bed bugs tend to bite skin that is uncovered while you sleep at night.
Delayed reaction – The bites aren’t always noticeable immediately. Itchy welts can appear hours, days, or even weeks later. How long they last varies depending on the person, their immune response, and how severe the bites are.
Allergic responses – Some individuals are more sensitive to bed bug bites. In rare cases, bites can cause large, painful swellings or severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening.
If you suddenly notice unexplained red bumps on your skin, it’s best to seek advice from a medical professional.