Insect Bites: Quick Relief & When to Access our Pharmacy First Service

June 21, 2026

What a Bite Usually Feels Like

Insect bites and stings are common, especially during warmer months. Most are harmless and cause mild irritation, but some can lead to allergic reactions or infections if not treated properly. Biting insects that are common in the UK include midges, gnats, mosquitoes, flies, fleas, mites, ticks and bedbugs.

Redness & swelling

Itching or irritation

Mild pain or stinging

Small raised bumps

Normal Bite vs Infected Bite

Compare each row across both columns to check how your bite is behaving.

Normal Insect Bite

Small, raised pink or red bump, sometimes with a tiny puncture mark at the centre.
Mild to moderate itching, or minor tenderness.
Stays confined to the bite area. Peaks within a day or two and usually clears within a few days to a week.
Mosquitoes, fleas and bedbugs.

Infected Insect Bite

Redness or discolouration spreading outward from the bump. Skin may become hard, firm and significantly swollen.
Pain and tenderness intensify rather than fade. Skin around the bite feels unusually warm or hot to touch.
Yellowish or greenish discharge (pus) or weeping fluid.
Red lines or streaks tracking away from the bite, swollen lymph glands, or a fever.

How to Treat a Bite for Instant Relief

Work through these steps as soon as you notice a bite or sting.

Wash the area with soap and water.

Apply a cold compress, an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cloth soaked in cold water, to the bite for at least 20 minutes if it’s swollen.

Keep the area raised where possible.

Antihistamine tablets or creams for itching can be recommended at KeyHealth Pharmacy.

We can also provide soothing creams such as calamine lotion, or steroid-based creams for prompt itch relief.

Pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen is available over the counter to manage pain and inflammation.

Avoid scratching the bite, this increases the risk of infection.

Draw a line around the outer margin of the redness with a ballpoint pen. If the redness spreads beyond this line, contact your pharmacist or GP immediately.

What To Do If I Suspect An Infected Insect Bite?

Under the NHS Pharmacy First service that we offer, our pharmacists can assess bites and supply prescription treatments (such as oral antibiotics) without a GP appointment.

At KeyHealth Pharmacy we can provide:

For more severe infections, oral antibiotics may be necessary if you meet the criteria. Speak to our pharmacists who can assess this for you and get the prompt treatment you require.

We can recommend over the counter treatment to aid with management of your symptoms, speak to a member of staff in store.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Speak to a healthcare professional if you notice:

Severe swelling or pain
Signs of infection such as pus or warmth
Difficulty breathing or dizziness
Symptoms that worsen or do not improve

Prevention Tips

We can provide insect repellent to be used when outdoors
Wear long sleeves and trousers in grassy areas
Keep windows screened during summer months
Avoid standing water where insects breed

For more information you can visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/

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