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This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 2:
Removing the Stinger
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1Act fast. If you can remove the stinger before all of the venom in the venom sac enters your body, this will help minimize the effects of the sting.[3]
- The venom enters your skin in seconds, so act as soon as you feel the sting.
- When removing the stinger, be careful not to squeeze the venom sac at the end of the stinger. Doing so may increase the amount of venom that goes into your skin.
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2Wash the area with soap and water before removing the stinger. Stingers can have germs and bacteria on them, so it's a good idea to clean the wound before you try to remove the stinger. However, remember to do this fast, as you want to remove the stinger before the venom enters your body. Rinse the area with warm water, then apply soap using your fingers. Rinse off the soap with warm water.[4]
- If you don't have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer to clean the area.
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3Scrape the stinger out. Scrape across the stinger until you dislodge it from your skin. You may be able to see the venom sac at the end of the stinger. Again, be careful not to squeeze the sac. For this method, a thin object with a straight edge works best. Items you can use include:[5]
- The back of a pocket knife. If you are using a knife to remove the stinger from someone else, only do so if the person is able to be still enough that you are confident you won’t cut them. Do not use this method on a child whose movements may be unpredictable.
- The edge of a credit card (or driver's license, etc.). This method is safe to use on a child because there is no risk that you could injure him or her with the card.
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4Apply a non-seasoned meat tenderizer paste to a stubborn stinger. A meat tenderizer may help you get the stinger out more easily, and it can also neutralize some of the venom. Mix a small amount of meat tenderizer with water to make a paste. Then, apply the paste to the stinger for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off the paste with warm water before you resume trying to remove the stinger.[6]
- Make sure the meat tenderizer doesn't contain spices, as they might burn your sting.
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5Pull the stinger out. Use tweezers or your fingernails to pull the stinger out. Grasp the stinger as close to your skin as possible. Try to grip it below the venom sac so that you will not squeeze more venom into your skin. Pull out with a slow steady pressure.[7] [8]
- The stinger may be barbed, so it may be uncomfortable as you remove it.
- Do not jerk the stinger out. This increases the risk that it will break, leaving a smaller, more difficult to remove fragment in your skin.
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6Do not worry if you don’t find a stinger. Wasps and hornets usually do not leave the stinger in the victim’s skin, so you may not find a stinger.[9]
- If you have been stung by a wasp or hornet, they can sting repeatedly. Calmly but quickly leave the area where you were stung to avoid getting stung again.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:
Treating a Sting
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1Wash the sting. After you have removed the stinger, wash the area with soap and water. This will clean it and reduce the chances of it becoming contaminated with dirt or bacteria.[10]
- Hold the sting under running water for several seconds to thoroughly flush the area of dirt and debris.
- Gently rub the area with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.
- Pat the area dry.
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2Reduce swelling with an ice pack. Apply ice wrapped in a clean towel to the sting. Apply the cold pack for 10–15 minutes, and then remove it for ten minutes to allow the tissue to warm up, before reapplying it.[11]
- If you have circulation problems, then use the ice for less time to reduce the risk of frostbite.
- If you do not have an ice pack handy, a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel will work just as well.
- Do not put the ice directly on your skin because it can cause frostbite. Wrap it in a towel or cloth.
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3Take an over-the-counter antihistamine for itching and swelling. Check with your doctor before using an antihistamine to make sure it's safe for you. For daytime relief, adults can take 10 mg of loratadine (Claritin) or 10 mg of cetirizine (Zyrtec) once a day. If your sting is very itchy, take 25 to 50 mg of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) before bedtime. Continue to use your antihistamine until your sting feels better.[12]
- Don't take more of the antihistamine than recommended on the label.
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4Reduce pain with over-the-counter painkillers. Consult your doctor before taking these medications if you are pregnant, nursing, treating a child, or on other medications which could interact. Do not give children or teenagers aspirin. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Possible medications include:[13]
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
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5Combat itching and swelling with a topical cream or spray. The amount of localized swelling that people get varies from person to person. In addition, while the sting may hurt at first, it may itch more later. Possible treatments include:[14] [15]
- Hydrocortisone cream (1%) - apply a thin layer to the affected area 4 times daily, as needed
- Calamine lotion
- An oral antihistamine with diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
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6Monitor yourself for anaphylactic shock. If you know you are allergic to bee stings, you have likely been prescribed an emergency epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, Twinject). Use it according to your doctor’s orders and the manufacturer’s instructions. If you have used an epinephrine injector or you are going into anaphylactic shock, call emergency responders immediately. Symptoms include:
- Itchy skin
- Red rash
- Swelling of the eyes, lips, hands, feet
- The feeling that your throat is closing or swelling of the mouth, throat, or tongue
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal discomfort
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unconsciousness
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionI got stung but the stinger is under my skin what do I do?
Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MSLuba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
Board-Certified Family Nurse PractitionerTry mixing meat tenderizer with water to create a paste. Apply the paste to your sting for 5-15 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water. The enzymes in the meat tenderizer will help break down tissue, which might relieve some of your swelling. This should make it easier to remove the stinger. After you rinse off the paste, try to scrape the stinger out of your skin.
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References
- ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002847.htm
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bee-stings/basics/treatment/con-20034120
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bee-stings/basics/treatment/con-20034120
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-117/default.html
- ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002847.htm
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/insect-stings
- ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002847.htm
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bee-stings/basics/treatment/con-20034120
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspx
- ↑ https://www.choc.org/news/what-to-do-if-you-get-stung-by-a-bee/
- ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002857.htm
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/treatment/
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspx
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspx
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bee-stings/basics/treatment/con-20034120
About This Article
Article SummaryX
To get a stinger out of your skin, use a credit card or another thin object with a straight edge to scrape it from your skin. When doing this, take care not to squeeze the venom sac at the end of the stinger so you don’t end up releasing more venom. Alternatively, you can use tweezers to pull the stinger out using slow, steady pressure to ensure that you don’t break it into smaller, harder-to-remove pieces. When you use tweezers, grasp the stinger as close to your skin as possible so you can avoid squeezing the venom sac. Remember to act quickly after you get stung to get the stinger out before all of the venom is released into your body, which will make your sting feel worse. If the sting is bad, you should go to the doctor to get professional care. For more help, including how to treat a sting, read on!
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Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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