How to Treat Hornet Stings

Common hornets are the boldfaced hornet and the European hornet. The boldfaced hornet builds gray nests in trees and shrubs, so it's likely that you have hornets living around your house in your yard. Hornets eat many other insects and are food for large animals like bears and birds. When stung by a hornet, it's important to cleanse the area and treat it as soon as possible to reduce infection and allergic reactions. Here's how to treat hornet stings.

Things You'll Need

  • Soap
  • Lavender essential oil
  • Tea tree essential oil
  • Vitamin E cream
  • Neosporin
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Instructions

    • 1

      Gently brush your finger over the area that was stung to see if the hornet left its stinger in your skin. Use tweezers to pull the stinger out. You might have to pinch the skin in order to get to the stinger, because it can be similar to getting a splinter in your skin.

    • 2

      Use soap and water to thoroughly rinse the skin that was stung. Cool water or an ice cube can help reduce swelling and numb the pain.

    • 3

      Apply a cream that has an antihistamine, analgesic or a corticosteroid. For a more natural or organic treatment, use lavender essential oil (100 percent therapeutic grade) and mix it with vitamin E cream and apply it to the inflamed area to reduce swelling.

    • 4

      If you are prone to having anaphylactic reactions to bee stings, you should carry a preloaded syringe of epinephrine at all times. One sting can cost you your life if you are allergic and not treated immediately.

    • 5

      Keep the skin clean and dry so it can heal properly. You can use neosporin or tea tree essential oil (100 percent therapeutic grade) to prevent infection.