Last Updated on September 3, 2024
Bees are often pretty irritating insects in our surroundings. Their population generally increases in spring as it is their peak season.
Whether you are indoors, in the living room, dining area, or near a pool, you may experience their annoying behavior. One of which could be their tendency to sting us humans.
If you’re recently got stung by a bee on your neck, you might be wondering whether it’s a serious concern and how to go about treating them.
Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to explore in this blog post including all the important points about bee stings on neck and how to handle them.
Is a bee sting on neck dangerous?
So first things first, is a bee sting on neck dangerous? And if it is, how much?
A bee sting on a neck can certainly be concerning if the bee is venomous. Your neck is one of the highly targeted areas where most flying insects like to bite or sting. However, it’s not that bad if you have taken proper after-sting care.
Leaving your neck untreated with a bee sting can lead to severe complications such as itching, swelling, or hives. Some bee species are harmful to humans. However, there are also many harmless bees, such as sweat bees, that do not cause serious problems even if they sting.
Which bee sting is the most dangerous?
Honey bees are considered to be the most dangerous in terms of delivering a sting. More specifically, Africanized honey bees are the worst offenders in this regards – they are also called killer bees.
Some other bees that can pose a great threat include:
- Hornets
- Bumblebees
- Wasps
- Yellowjackets
- Carpenter bees
Each of these bees has a different style of attacking our skin and is similarly dangerous to us.
Each of these bees carries its own unique style of attacking which is equally dangerous to us humans that’s why it’s important to know how to handle different types of bees and how to treat yourself if you are stung by either one of them.
How to treat a bee sting on the neck
While it’s right that getting attacked by any kind of bee on the neck could be really discomforting and scary but it’s important not to panic more than necessary. Keep yourself calm, don’t go and seek revenge on the bees and try to follow the points listed below.
Protect the neck
If not protected, your neck may get even more stings. Don’t sit outdoors near swimming pools or gardens. Eat indoors or in a covered area so there’s little to no chance to attract bees.
Avoid rubbing the sting site with your fingers or nails. Some people habitually rub their necks with shirt collars which is something you must strictly avoid.
Remove any jewelry you wear on your neck unless the sting site heals.
Make sure your sting site is safe from unwanted touches and objects as that will help prevent further complications.
Scrap the stinger
Stand in front of a mirror and look closely at the sting area. You’ll probably find the stinger on the sting site and if you do so, carefully scrape the stinger using your nails, a plastic card, or another straight-sided instrument.
Don’t ever pull out the stinger using tweezers, as it may contribute to releasing even more venom
Clean the sting site
Once you are done removing the stinger, wash the skin immediately with soap and water to remove any venom left in that area. You should wash it slowly and in circular movements.
Use ice compression
It is often used to relieve post-sting pain and swelling. To avail of this benefit, add ice cubes to a plastic shopper and place them on the sting site.
Cold compression for 20 minutes should be enough so don’t apply longer than that, as it may cause frostbite.
Apply honey
Honey is highly beneficial to prevent infections. It is also believed that it helps release oxygen in wounds, which helps heal and remove dead tissues.
Take a little honey on your finger and apply it directly to the stung area of your neck.
Let it sit on the skin for an hour and then wash it with lukewarm water.
Try essential oils
Essential oils are normally used for household purposes, some evidence suggests they are also effective against pain and swelling.
Many essential oils contain the following beneficial properties.
- Antiseptic
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
Tea tree oil, witch hazel, and lavender are some of those you can use.
Always mix the essential oil with a neutral carrier oil. The recommended ratio is four to five drops of carrier oil for every one drop of essential oil.
Aloe Vera gel
Applying Aloe Vera gel to your sting site can also help relieve the pain, itching, and swelling.
It is effective at reducing and moisturizing the affected area of the neck from a bee sting.
Take a small amount of fresh gel on your fingertip and apply it directly to the affected area of your neck.
Baking soda
Baking soda paste can help with bee stings. This is mainly used to treat discomfort from the sting site.
Make a paste by adding one teaspoon of water in a little baking soda. Leave it there for 10 minutes.
Do not use this remedy excessively; some people find baking soda allergic when used multiple times on the skin.
When to seek medical help?
While it is possible to treat bee stings at home, however if the complications do not subside with self-help, you should consider getting medical help.
An intensely swollen sting site with gradual growing pain is the biggest sign that you require treatment.
Never panic or do any unprofessional actions by yourself in chaos. Everything should turn back to normal after medical assistance.
The bottom line
A bee sting on neck usually is not that bad of a news so you don’t need to worry much if you have got one there.
With that being said, you are always advised to take proper care of your neck using the mentioned precautions and remedies.
Never skip a doctor’s consultation in case of severe complications.
Most bee stings contain venom, which can be life-threatening to the human body if not treated on time.