Did a Bee Sting Me? Treatment Options, Allergic Reactions, Home Remedies, and More

Here’s how to tell if you were stung by a bee or another insect, how to treat a bee sting, and when to seek medical attention.

What Is a Bee Sting?

Bees use their stinger to pierce your skin and inject their venom into the wound. A bee sting typically causes pain and inflammation, and in some cases, it can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Types of Bee Stings

• Bumblebee Stings Bumblebees are slow-flying insects with a fuzzy black and yellow body. They’re larger than honeybees, sometimes up to an inch long, and have a smooth stinger. This means they can sting multiple times, since their stinger won’t become embedded in the wound (though they tend to be docile and less likely to sting than other bees).

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• Honeybee Stings Honeybees are also fuzzy with black and yellow stripes, but they’re smaller and more slender than bumblebees. Unlike bumblebees, they have barbed stingers, which means the stinger is likely to get stuck in your skin, and they typically die after stinging once. The stinger can release a chemical that attracts other honeybees, however, sending a signal for them to attack.
• Carpenter Bee Stings Carpenter bees have fuzzy yellow upper bodies, but their abdomens are smooth, shiny, and black. They’re much larger than honeybees, and slightly larger than bumblebees. Like bumblebees, they have smooth stingers and can sting more than once.

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What Does a Bee Sting Look Like?

• Sharp, burning pain
• Skin discoloration
• Swelling
• Itchiness

“Signs that the sting requires additional medical attention from a physician are spreading redness, pain, fever, or streaking redness away from the site of the sting (such as up the arm or leg),” says Francesca Corley, MD, a pediatrician at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, in Pasadena, California.

Bee Stings vs. Other Flying Insect Stings and Bites

One key way to tell if you’ve been stung by a bee or wasp versus bitten by a flying insect like a mosquito: The bite site “may be more painless or result in a more delayed progression of redness, pain, or itching,” says Dr. Corley.

Signs of an Allergic Reaction

• Hives
• Trouble breathing
• Tongue and/or throat swelling
• Dizziness
• Abdominal cramping, vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea
• Fast pulse

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening without treatment. “An ER visit is necessary if there is development of hives all over the body, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, respiratory distress, vomiting, or a change in mental status,” Corley explains.

How to Treat Bee Stings

Get to a safe location. First, move away from the bees’ nest or go indoors to avoid getting stung again.

Remove the stinger. If there’s a stinger in your skin, Corley recommends removing it as quickly as possible (ideally within one minute) to limit the amount of venom delivered. “Scraping with a fingernail or credit card is the best method,” she says.

Wash the wound. “It is important to clean the area with soap and water, like you would for any wound,” Corley says.

Apply ice. Use a cold compress, like an ice pack, to help reduce pain and swelling.

Take or apply medication. “Topical hydrocortisone and oral cetirizine can help with any itching, and ibuprofen or acetaminophen for additional pain control,” Corley says.

How to Prevent Bee Stings

• Avoid walking barefoot outside.
• Remove food that may attract bees, including sweetened beverages.
• Wear full-coverage clothing when working in the garden.
• Avoid wearing floral prints or bright colors, which can attract bees.
• Don’t use floral shampoos or perfumes.
• Never swat or shoo away a bee; stay calm and slowly move away instead.

How Long Do Bee Stings Last?

If you had to use an epinephrine auto-injector, make sure to replace it as soon as possible.