Ants can cause uncomfortable bites for humans due to mistaking them for food or for self-defense.
Tips for Treating Ant Bites When bitten by ants, especially venomous species, we often swat, brush off, or rub the bite area, which causes toxins to be released and can damage the skin. Initially, the ant bite and the area affected by the toxin will feel painful, itchy, and burning. At this point, we should avoid scratching as it will only intensify the itch and can especially damage the protective layer of the skin, making the wound more severe and prone to infection. After a few hours to a day, the area surrounding the ant bite may swell, develop blisters, and feel hot as if burned. The skin around the blisters will become inflamed, swollen, hot, and red… In this condition, we should not use a needle to puncture the blisters because it can easily lead to infection, pus formation, and result in deeper wounds, prolonging healing time, and leave dark spots and ugly scars at heavily inflamed areas. To prevent such damage, when bitten by ants, you should not panic, refrain from swatting, rubbing, or blowing hard, as this can crush the ant’s body. The correct way to treat an ant bite is to immediately wash the affected area with a damp cloth to prevent the toxin from spreading on the skin with the water. |
