Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease redness, itching or swelling. If itching or swelling is bothersome, take an oral antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine. Avoid scratching the sting area. This will worsen itching and swelling and increase your risk of infection.
Normal swelling from venom can increase for 48 hours after the sting. The redness can last 3 days. The swelling can last 7 days.
Clean the Wound
The ointment will both help to disinfect the sting and reduce itching and swelling at the site of the sting. Home remedies include applying an apple cider vinegar-soaked cotton ball or a mixture of baking soda and water to the wound.
Baking soda, when mixed with water, is said to help neutralize bee venom, reducing pain, itching, and swelling. Mix baking soda with enough water to make a paste, then apply a generous amount onto the affected area. Cover the area with a bandage, then leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Reapply, as needed.
Mix 1/4 of a cup of aluminum-free baking soda with 1 to 2 teaspoons of water together, and then apply the paste to the area that was stung. Reapply every 15 minutes or so. It's believed that baking soda can help neutralize the acidity of the sting and mitigate inflammation.
However, applying milk to the bee sting does not help in relieving the pain. Drinking milk mixed with turmeric helps in treating the sting from inside the body.
To help reduce the pain and itching, consider the following: Apply a paste of baking soda and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Apply a paste of nonseasoned meat tenderizer and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Apply a wet tea bag and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
Bee sting venom contains proteins that affect skin cells and the immune system, causing pain and swelling around the sting area.
Some people may have a stronger allergic reaction to an insect's venom, leading to bee sting side effects, such as a very large, swollen welt. The welt may grow in size over a 48-hour period.
First, look at the stung area closely. You'll likely see a red bump. If a stinger was left behind, you'll also see a small black filament sticking out of the center. It may have a bulbous end, which is the venom sac.
Applying ice to the site may provide some mild relief. Apply ice for 20 minutes once every hour as needed. Wrap the ice in a towel or keep a cloth between the ice and skin to keep from freezing the skin.
While you're healing, consider applying one of the litany of household items that have been shown to soothe to bee stings: essential oils, aloe vera, calamine lotion, apple cider vinegar, toothpaste, meat tenderizer and even honey. Kind of ironic, right? Honey can help you heal faster after a sting.
Wrap a thin cloth around an ice or cold pack. Apply this pack to the sting site for 30 to 60 minutes, in intervals of 10 minutes on and off. This will help reduce the swelling and pain of the wasp sting. To reduce the swelling, take an anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen.
1) Lavender Oil—This essential oil is supposed to neutralize the venom immediately. 2) Garlic Cloves—These are highly regarded for their pain relief properties. Just crush a clove and press the juices onto the area of the sting. 3) Baking Soda—Mixed with water, this paste will draw out the venom.
Wash the area with soap and water to remove residual venom and reduce the chance of infection. Apply an ice pack for at least 20 minutes to control pain and swelling. Apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to help with pain and itching, and cover with a bandage.
Crush a bit of peeled potato and apply it to sooth inflammation. Use plain lemon juice or a paste of baking soda and vinegar to reduce itching.
Lemon Juice
Dab either a cotton swab or cloth in the juice and apply it to the wasp sting. You can also use bottled lemon juice, however, fresh lemon juice works better.
Baking soda: Mixing baking soda with water to make a paste to put on the sting site is one of the most common remedies and is very effective. It alleviates pain and itching.
The faster they get medical help, the better the chance for recovery. The chances of future total body reactions increase when local reactions become more and more severe. People who are not allergic to bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets usually get better within 1 week.
You should only need to treat your bee sting for a few days with hydrocortisone cream, and no more than a week. Antihistamines such as cetirizine or loratadine (brand names include Reactine, Zyrtec and Claritin) are pills you can take once a day for moderate to severe itching.
Approximately 10 percent of people develop severe redness and swelling after a sting. This is called a large local reaction. The area may become large (4 inches [10 cm] or more) over 1 to 2 days and then slowly resolve over 5 to 10 days.