Can Ants Make You Itchy?
WouterGenerally, ants aren’t dangerous, but they can be painful and cause an allergic reaction. However, if you’re allergic to ants or other insects, it’s wise to avoid contact with them. If you suspect you have a bug bite, call your doctor or contact a local pest control service.
Some of the most common symptoms of an ant bite include redness, swelling, itching, and a rash. Other symptoms may include nausea, dizziness, or breathing problems.
If you’re apprehensive about ants, you can make your skin feel better by applying a cool compress, applying a salt water solution to the bite, or using an antihistamine. If you’re allergic, you should also use a epinephrine injector, such as EpiPen, to help with the pain.
If you’re allergic to ants, you might want to keep an epinephrine injector on hand at all times. You should also wash the sting site with soap and water. If you’re prone to allergic reactions, you can use topical corticosteroid ointments to relieve itching.
A small blister can appear within 8 to 24 hours after the sting. The swelling may be itchy and may take a few days to fully heal. Keeping your blisters clean will prevent a secondary bacterial infection.
A large local reaction, on the other hand, may last longer. This is defined as the area of skin that is greater than 10 cm in diameter around the bite/sting site. The symptoms of this reaction include a large red welt, extreme itching, and a burning sensation. The pain is fairly intense and may last for up to five minutes.
