How to Treat a Bee Sting?

    Bee stings are always at least painful and they can be deadly if you're allergic to bee venom. If you've had any kind of allergic reaction to previous bee stings, you have a higher chance of going into anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, after your next sting.

   When females of certain bee species sting you, they leave behind a barbed stinger attached to a venom sac. The stinger can continue injecting venom into your body until it's removed, so it's important to remove the stinger right away. (Males, females from other species, yellowjackets, hornets, and wasps do not leave stingers behind, so if you don't see a stinger, you were likely stung by one of them.)

   It can happen fast. One minute the kids are all playing peacefully outside on a warm, spring day. The next minute a piercing scream reveals that one them has been stung by a bee. To help alleviate the panic, it’s important to know what to do — and not do — to treat a bee sting.

   What should I do if I get stung by a wasp?

   To treat a sting from a bee, wasp, or hornet, dermatologists recommend the following tips:

1. Stay calm. Although most bees usually only sting once, wasps and hornets can sting again. If you are stung, calmly walk away from the area to avoid additional attacks.
2. Remove the stinger. If the stinger remains in your skin, remove it by scraping over it with your fingernail or a piece of gauze. Never use tweezers to remove a stinger, as squeezing it can cause more venom to release into your skin.
3. Wash the sting with soap and water.
4. Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling. However, if the swelling moves to other parts of your body, such as your face or neck, go to the emergency room immediately, as you might be having an allergic reaction. Other signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, nausea, hives, or dizziness.
5. Consider taking over-the-counter pain medication. Bee, wasp, and hornet stings are painful. Painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain. Always follow the directions on the label and use the correct dose.