Fleas do not normally bite people, but that does not mean these insects will not do so. The possibility of these insects biting a person continues to rise simply because the population of fleas seems to be rising to the point that it is becoming a concern in the hearts of many pet doctors. The number of professionals pointing out an issue extends beyond the borders of this country as the flea population seems to be rising in the UK, too. Fleas are small, flat insects. They live in the hair coats of mammals and feed off their blood. These insects have piercing mouthparts that allow them to easily access blood from their hosts. The world is filled with more than 2,000 species of these insects, so they are definitely a force to be reckoned with. Of course, only a number of them bite human beings, but those that do can leave signs behind.
Knowing that a flea can easily suck the blood of a pet and jump on your leg and feed off of you must be alarming. This is the reason it is important that you learn as much as you can about what flea bites look like so that you know how to recognize them. Committing the signs to memory should make it easier for you to have a professional address the bite as quickly as possible. It also ensures that you are able to deal with a possible infestation that could only get harder to contain if it is not dealt with quickly.
1. Small Bumps
The first sign or symptom of flea bites are small bumps. These small spots or bumps are normally surrounded by red haloes. These signs are your skin’s reaction to the bite as it is attempting to remedy the wound and any possible infection. It should be noted that the small bumps are normally the first symptom to be seen after a flea bites you. Most people do not actually feel the bite as these insects have developed a pretty effective biting mechanism so that you do not feel your skin being pierced, but you will see their feeding markings.
The red bumps these insects leave behind do not get larger like a mosquito bite. The red halo forms around the center of the bite, which is not usually visible with the naked eye since these insects are quite small. It should be noted that a flea does not normally bite once but a few times, meaning you should see a number of red bumps either in a row or bunched together. You should see about three to four bites in one particular area of your body. This is not always the case, but these insects are normally obsessed with your blood, so they usually will not have their fill with just one bite.
2. Itchy Bump
Another symptom that you should expect is itchy skin. The skin is irritated by the flea bite and will react. Many people believe that the flea bite makes a person feel itchy, but the truth is that it is the flea’s saliva causing the skin have this reaction. Sometimes, the itchiness can get aggressive though this does depend on your sensitivity to the flea’s saliva. The flea injects this saliva to ensure that it is not disturbed while it is feeding.
3. Itch That Spreads
The saliva of the bug might spread beyond the bite area, which is the reason you might feel itchy all over your skin and not just on the bite itself. A person who feels itchy all around and not just on the bite itself might be having this itch because the insect’s saliva has spread beyond the bite area. This is one reason health care specialists will likely tell you not to scratch the itchy bump because this is how you infect other areas of your skin with the flea’s saliva. Yes, that itchy bump feels horrible, but you do not want that itch to spread.
4. Redness
Redness is another symptom often associated with flea bites. Now, you already know that the bite will likely look a little red. This redness normally stays in the bite zone, but that is not always the case. A person who cannot stop him or herself from scratching may spread the flea’s saliva as mentioned earlier. People who are not sensitive may simply feel a more intense itch, but others may actually develop other symptoms like redness. This skin irritation could get quite noticeable making it pretty hard to hide. There is no need to share that you have a flea problem, especially when you can simply avoid scratching to reduce the chances of this issue.
5. Small Blisters
Blisters will likely not happen after a flea bite, but that does not mean they are not impossible. Some people are allergic to these bites and could develop this type of reaction. The reason it happens is because fluid gets trapped beneath the skin in sacs or vesicles. All of these sacs merge and cause blisters. The blisters can get bigger than the regular red bumps you are probably familiar with regarding flea bites. These will go away, but it is wise to talk to a specialist because your reaction can be considered uncommon.
6. Bumps on Legs and Feet
Fleas do not fly, but they can jump pretty high. It is their jump that gives them access to your body. Now, their jump is quite high for a bug of their size, but it normally just reaches a persons legs or feet. This is the reason most people get flea bites on their legs and feet. Now, this does not mean it is impossible to see a bite in other areas of your body, especially if you are actually experiencing a flea infestation in your home. Still, it would be wise to direct your self-inspection towards the bottom area of your body before you check the rest of your skin.
