Bee sting help

[hammerman]

Got stung by the same bloody bee twice today. The blighter got me first on the thumb which hurt like mad. I instinctively flicked the sting off my thumb and it must've landed in my jumper sleeve. I then rolled my jumper sleeve up and the sting must've fallen onto my arm and it got me again.

my arm is quite swollen, itchy and red despite putting antisan on it. It is also sore as can probably be expected.

is there anything i can do or put on it ?

First time ive been stung by a bee.

Many thanks

HM

[Old_Geezer]

I thought they were supposed to die after one sting as they left a chunk of themselves in you.

Unsure, calamine lotion perhaps ? Maybe an antihistamine.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah I see, the sting hit twice :-)

Sorry, but first I've heard of that. Couldn't have had much venom left the second time though.

[merciasounds]

Okay pet - bee stings are acidic and can be neutralised by a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water.

Wasp stings are alkali and can be neutralised with either vinegar or lemon juice

[tara20]

I've heard toothpaste and/or ice take the itch out of it (household remedy!)

[237SJ]

Ibuprofen for the pain and inflamation, piriton or other tablets for the reaction and pain numbing gel if you can get it.

[barb1314]

Hope you feel better soon. Like Mercia says...bee for bicarb,vinegar for vasps!

[Sqad]

I agree with 237SJ

[archeraddict]

I usually recommend an antihistamine tablet and then HC45 cream on the actual area(s). I agree that ice would also help.

[Fanriffic]

I was stung by a bee once. It charged me £15 for a jar of honey.
Never again. I just get it from my local supermarket now.
:-)
Sorry, couldn't resist - I'll get my coat.

[beso]

The treatment of stings by neutralization is a myth. There are 63 compounds in bee venom and the do far more damage by a simple mechanism related to being acids.

Besides the venom is injected so washing the surface in an attempt to neutralize it is rather futile.

Bee stings are certainly acidic. However, even though the claim that wasp stings are basic is often repeated I can find no reliable information. I very much doubt wasp that it is true. Ants, bees and wasps are closely related and I expect their stings are quite similar.