Everything to know about bedbugs if you’ve been nervous about the Paris outbreak

Talk about bedbugs has been all over social media lately due to the large-scale infestation in Paris, France. Now that bedbugs were reportedly spotted in London after Paris Fashion Week, panic is brewing over what to do if the outbreak spreads even further.

Over on TikTok and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, images of old mattresses tossed in alleyways and bedbugs crawling on couches have been everywhere.

At the same time, people can’t seem to stop sharing memes, making light of a potential spread.

But amid all the panic, people have also been scrolling through TikTok to try and calm their fears. Thanks to the many informative bedbug videos shared by dermatologists and exterminators in the past few years, TikTokers have been busy learning what bedbugs are, what to do if they have them and how to avoid getting them in the first place.

What are bedbugs?

Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown insects that often live inside mattresses, which is where they get their name. They breed quickly and survive by feeding on mainly human blood, but they target other warm-blooded animals, too.

The main problem with bedbugs is that they’re excellent “hitchhikers” that can travel long distances by latching on to things like suitcases, clothes and other fabrics. Because they’re so tiny, they often escape detection until it’s too late, and once they reach a new destination, they lay eggs and multiply at alarming rates.

That said, they aren’t microscopic, you can spot them with the naked eye despite their tiny size. Another way to tell you have an infestation is if you notice multiple bug bites on your skin, which often appear in lines and clusters. Each one should appear red and swollen with a dark spot at the center and will itch or burn a little.

According to Dr. Omar Aurakzai (@dromaraurakzai), bedbug bites may be annoying, but they don’t cause any diseases.

In a recent TikTok, Aurakzai notes that the bites usually improve without any treatment. However, if treatment is needed, an antihistamine is the best choice.

“Applying Vaseline or a damp cloth can also help with the itching,” the dermatologist says. “If there’s any itching or inflammation, then you’ll need to apply hydrocortisone cream.”

Where is the most common place to find bedbugs?

Among the many other TikToks making the rounds is a list of the top five ways to get bedbugs, shared by professional exterminator Weston Storey (@exterminatorking).

According to Storey, buying used furniture is the number one way bedbugs spread from home to home, followed by visiting a home with an unknown infestation or having someone stay with you who doesn’t realize they have them.

After that, most people get bedbugs by staying in an Airbnb or hotel, riding public transportation or living in apartments where bedbugs can travel easily within the same building.

Ways to avoid getting bedbugs

There are many ways to avoid getting bedbugs at home — or at least make the issue more manageable if it happens. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests clearing out clutter to limit their breeding ground and using special bedbug-proof mattress covers so you won’t have to toss your whole bed. Vacuuming frequently can also help.

In another popular TikTok, NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Madalyn Nguyen (@madalynsmusings) offers tips for avoiding bedbugs while traveling.

First, Nguyen says to leave your luggage in the foyer or bathroom. Then, before doing anything else, do a quick but thorough check of the room.

“Go and lift up the sheets, look through the sheets, look underneath the mattress, underneath the box spring, behind the headboard, on the headboard itself, inside the drawers, underneath couch cushions and sometimes even in the carpet,” Nguyen advises.

While looking for the bedbugs themselves, the dermatologist also says you should keep an eye out for any blackish or brownish fecal spots the bugs may have left behind.

If the coast is clear, you can bring your suitcase into the room — but always place it on a luggage stand, Nguyen says.

How to treat a bedbug infestation

Bedbugs are notoriously hard to get rid of, but not impossible. While some people may have luck using certain insecticides, heat is a bedbug’s worst enemy and, ultimately, the most thorough way of getting rid of them.

Jossue Rivas, an exterminator who runs the TikTok account @bedbugsdaily, recently told NBC News that bedbugs die at temperatures of 125 degrees or more. You can achieve this by washing bedding, clothes and other fabrics at high temperatures and placing them in the dryer. Using a high-powered steamer on fabrics you can’t wash — such as couches or large cushions — can also help kill them.

That said, severe infestations often require something stronger, which is where exterminators like Rivas come in. It’s also important to know that bedbugs can live up to a year without eating, Rivas told NBC, which is why simply bagging items and placing them in the sun doesn’t always work.

According to the exterminator, if you suspect you have bedbugs, wash your clothes immediately and put your luggage — if traveling — in heat. After that, professional help may be the best option.

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