Out of 3,500 spider species in the United States, only black widow and brown recluse cause problems, even then their bites aren't of much concern as they were never meant to hunt humans.
Spiders are shy creatures and will try to avoid humans. They can bite if they feel threatened which can cause redness, pain, and swelling. Have you been bitten by a spider? Here's what to do if you get bit by a spider:
Before you can treat a spider bite, you need to stay calm and clean your wound to minimize the chances of any dirt, bacteria, or venom still on the surface from entering the circulatory system. Make use of lukewarm water and mild soap to clean the bitten area.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry the area with a clean towel. Avoid rubbing, as this can irritate the skin further. It's always a good practice to clean wounds and reduce the risks of infection.
After disinfecting the bite area, the next step of what to do for a spider bite is to apply a cold compress. They not only help reduce the pain but also the swelling associated with bites by counteracting the tissue inflammation.
Ice packs constrict the tissues which reduces the body's inflammatory response and limits the spread of the venom. Remember to wrap them in a cloth first before applying them to prevent cold burns and gently press them against the sting site for about 10-15 minutes or until the swelling subsides.
For better care, you can also apply baking soda paste. Spider venoms are on the acidic scale which will be neutralized by baking soda. To make the paste, mix a small amount of baking soda with water until it forms a thick consistency.
Apply it directly to the bite site and leave it on for about 10 to 15 minutes. Furthermore, if applied quickly enough the paste can draw out and neutralize some of the venom which will reduce the severity of allergic reaction.
If you have been bitten on the part of your body which can be elevated such as spider bites on arm, leg, etc. An additional thing that you can do is to keep the bitten area raised above the heart level. Elevating the affected area reduces swelling and minimizes discomfort.
Furthermore, it also encourages better circulation which makes the bite less painful and reduces the risk of complications like tissue damage by preventing the pooling of fluids around the bitten area.
Once the swelling has gone down, you can stop applying the cold compress. If available, you can cover the bite area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. It helps with easing irritated sensitive skin which is a major annoyance with spider bites and may cause infections if scratched.
Furthermore, petroleum jelly also helps speed up the healing process. Cover the wound with a non-stick bandage to prevent rubbing against clothes and opening up the wound. Replace the bandage daily and apply jelly as needed.
Turmeric is a commonly found spice in many kitchens around the world, but this ginger family root also has potent anti-inflammatory properties which have been used for medical purposes for centuries.
Create a turmeric paste by mixing a teaspoon of turmeric powder with olive oil. Apply the paste on the bite site and let it sit for an hour before rinsing it off. Cover the paste with a clean bandage to avoid stains. Apply turmeric several times a day to see a complete reduction in inflammation and pain within a few days.
Aloe vera is another household staple that has historically been used by people to treat wounds for centuries. Not only does aloe vera have natural antioxidant and antibacterial properties, but it is also a great remedy for treating spider bites.
Extract the aloe vera gel from their leaves or buy a pack of aloe vera gel and apply a small quantity of it to the bite area. It also has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce pain, swelling, and ease wound irritation.
Following the trend of historically used components of traditional medicine, activated charcoal is another such mix. They continue to be used in modern medicine for medical purposes because they have been proven to work.
Activated charcoals are highly porous which forces the toxins to bind with it via adsorption. They are a great natural remedy for spider bites. Simply mix equal parts of activated charcoal with water until you get a consistent paste and apply directly to the bite location. Repeat application several times a day for about a week.
If you have witch hazel in your home you can use that. Witch hazel is a natural astringent and antiseptic that has been used in traditional medicine and can help address itching, redness, swelling, and inflammation that are often associated with spider bites.
Witch hazel does not neutralize venom so before applying witch hazel, use baking soda or activated charcoal. Pour witch hazel onto a cotton ball then softly dab it onto the affected area with the cotton ball.
Garlic is yet another traditionally used common household spice for medicine. Garlic contains antioxidants that can aid in the soothing of spider bites along with a variety of other issues. Make a garlic paste by grinding three to four garlic cloves of garlic into a paste.
Before sleeping apply the paste on the bitten area and bandage it overnight. Remove the bandage and wash off the paste in the morning. The swelling, redness, and burning sensation should be reduced in the morning. Continue this remedy for few more days until no longer necessary.
Calendula cream is derived from marigold flowers and is best to soothe the skin after a spider bite. When applied to the bitten area, the lotion creates a cooling sensation which can help relieve the burning and itching.
The lotion is also naturally astringent which dries out any fluid and reduces minor swelling. By protecting the skin from further irritation calendula offers a natural approach to healing spider bites as it prevents further infections and allows the skin to heal properly.
Plantain leaves are also effective at drawing out the poison and soothing spider bites. It has been used by natives for centuries as a natural cleaning agent and possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can ease pain, swelling, and itching.
Some may be allergic to plantain so always do a patch test first. To use plantain, gather fresh leaves and crush them to release the plant's juices. Apply the pulpy mass directly to the affected area. Bandage the leaves and wait a few hours before removing them.
Honey is a superfood that is well known for its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help with spider bites by preventing infection, reducing inflammation, and soothing the skin.
Applying a small amount of raw honey to the spider bite area to promote healing. Make sure to cover the honey-coated area with a bandage or gauze to keep it in place. Make sure not to leave honey stains on any surface or apply honey before going to sleep as it can attract insects.
Similar to the aloe vera gel, lavender oil can also soothe the discomfort of a spider bite. Known for their calming properties as well as being antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, they will relieve the shock of the bite and help the body in its healing process.
It is important to first dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil by mixing a few drops of lavender with coconut or olive oil. Then apply it gently to the bite area. If you can, you could also reapply the oil every few hours as needed
Tea bags of green, white, black and chamomile tea contain tannins which will work to reduce any swelling present in the bite wound and also minimize itching. They might not be as effective as other remedies, but reducing severe itching is a huge benefit since trying to soothe the itching via scratching can cause infections.
While green tea is optimal, other tea bags can also work. Moisten a tea bag in cold water for about 15 minutes before placing it directly on the spider bite for 15-20 minutes.
You can also consider taking an oatmeal bath for spider bites that particularly cover a larger area or are itchy and difficult to soothe successfully with other methods. Don't just use any oatmeal, use colloidal oatmeal which is available over the-top in drugstores.
After adding colloidal oatmeal to warm bathwater, soak the wound for 15-20 minutes. Oatmeal has anti-itch properties and can help soothe irritated skin and alleviate severe discomfort.
Alternative to oatmeal baths, a warm bath with Epsom salts can also help soothe discomfort and reduce swelling. Dissolve Epsom salts in warm water and take a dip or a bath to help relax the muscles, decrease inflammation, and draw out excess fluid that may be causing the swelling.
The warm water also promotes blood flow which expedites the healing process. When adding salts, add only 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salts to the warm bath water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
Symptoms of spider bites can range in their severity. In some cases, you might not even notice the bite while in most cases they cause redness, pain, and swelling. This looks similar to other bug bites so it's difficult to be certain if you don't know what bit you.
Some spiders might bite you but without venom. This is known as a dry bite because producing venom is energy-intensive and the spider doesn't want to spend unnecessary energy. They will deliver venom in their second bite if still threatened.
Spiders have two fangs so the bite should obviously look like two dots right? Not really, even though they do have two fangs most spider fangs are too weak or small to puncture human skin. This might cause a slight bump on the skin but nothing serious.
If they do manage to break through the skin, the venom of most house spiders is prey-specific or weak and thus is unlikely to severely affect humans and only causes itchy red spots that heal easily within a week.
Most spiders are shy and avoid people whenever possible. They will only bite as a last resort in self-defense when trapped between an object and your skin. While you may end up accidentally threatening the spider by getting too close to their nest unknowingly, here are some things that you can do to prevent spider bites.
Most spider bites are harmless and call for little to no professional intervention. However, some situations require you to be concerned and call for serious medical aid from professionals that cannot be administered at home.
Here are some of the things you should keep in mind regarding when to worry spider bite and call the emergency services.
There are only two spiders in the United States that you should be concerned about. Forewarned is forearmed therefore you should remember what these spiders look like.
A black widow spider is a small black and unremarkable button-shaped spider save for a red hourglass mark on its back. They may only be half an inch long but their bites can cause damage to the nervous system, therefore they should be avoided whenever possible.
The brown recluse spider has a violin-shaped mark on the back and is about 1 inch long. Like the black widow, they are not aggressive but will attack if feeling threatened. While black widows are found in the wild, you may see brown recluse in your home.
If you have been bitten keep monitoring for any signs of a severe allergic reaction. This is crucial especially if you don't know which spider you have been bitten by. You may have gotten spider bites in bedroom while sleeping or rolling on the bed.
Some symptoms of a severe allergic reaction such as dizziness, sweating, swollen face, throat, or tongue.
While you might not be severely allergic to some spider venoms, the venoms of black widow and brown recluse spiders can harm you. Hence, it's important to monitor your bite wounds and know the symptoms of venomous spider bites if you don't notice being bitten by a spider.
You should be especially concerned if the bite area has a red or purple ring, severe itching, an ulcer or blister that turns black. You should leave the proper diagnosis to professionals.
