Flea Bites on Humans and What to Do About Them

The best thing you can do for flea bites is not scratch them, obviously. This is always more easily said than done, but the more you can do to not scratch, the better. However, there are a few tips to reduce how much the bites itch.

Among the most popular methods to relieve itching are calamine lotion, tea tree oil, vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Ice can also work temporarily by numbing the area of the bite. You might also try hand-sanitizer, anti-septic cream and sunburn remedies.

Obviously, the best thing to do as a long-term solution is get rid of the fleas themselves. This is not always easy to do, but if you follow some fairly simple steps, and stay with a careful and concerted program, you can succeed.

Flea bombs often seem like the ideal solution, since they're quite easy to use, and seem like a simple, low maintenance way to control fleas. However, the indirect application of insecticides to your carpets, pet bedding, or other areas that might be infested with fleas, is much less effective than applying them directly.

What's a better way?

A better way to apply spray insecticides is directly to the areas infested with fleas. In most homes with pets, this usually means the pet's bed and bedding, carpets, and any other ares the pet frequents. The advantage of applying insecticide spray directly is that you can use much less of the toxic substance.

In addition, when you apply the spray by hand, as opposed to setting off a bomb in the middle of your living room, you can move furniture and other obstacles, and apply the spray to the exposed area. Flea bombs do not allow you this flexibility.

The first step is to kill the fleas on your pet. There are many topical pet flea treatments available, but probably the most popular is Frontline. Frontline comes in small, single-dose vials that are applied between the pets shoulder blades. The treatment then disperses out through the animal's hair follicles and oil glands, and should provide protection for one month.

The next step is to get rid of the fleas in your home. This can be difficult to do with a serious infestation, but following a careful plan is the key. First, wash everything you can that might be infested with fleas, including pet bedding, cushions, carpets, etc. Throw them in the washing machine and wash with hot water and detergent.

The best thing you can do for fleas in your home is vacuuming. Vacuum your carpets and floors as much as possible, every day if you can, but at least three days a week. You can also buy some chemical sprays and foggers if you have a bad infestation. If you do this, make sure you buy a product that contains both an insecticide, such as pyrethrin, as well as an insect growth regulator (IGR) such as methoprene. This ensures that the spray will kill both adult fleas, as well as eggs, larva and pupae.

The key to this simple program is to continue to treat both your home and pet long past the time the fleas seem to be gone. If your pet stops scratching, still treat them with Frontline. If your home seems fine, don't stop the frequent vacuuming.