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07/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/18/2024 10:02

Can You Get Flea Bites From Your Pet? Yes. Here’s What They Look Like (With Pictures)

Key takeaways:

  • Fleas aren't just a problem for pets, they can bite humans, too. Knowing what human flea bites look like can help you tell them apart from other bug bites.

  • Flea bites are small itchy bumps that usually occur in clusters on the ankles and lower legs.

  • Most flea bites don't need treatment. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, and ice packs can help soothe the itch.

  • Getting rid of a flea infestation can take months. You'll need to treat your pets and your house at the same time.

stefanamer/iStock via Getty Images Plus

It's not just cats and dogs that can get fleas. While these tiny blood-sucking parasites prefer to hide in animals' fur, they can also feed on human blood.

Flea bites cause an itchy rash. Here's what to look for, and most importantly, how to get rid of them.

What are flea bites?

Flea bites are itchy bumps on the skin that happen as a result of a flea biting through your skin.

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  • Is it a mosquito or bedbug bite? This visual guide with pictures will help you tell the difference between these two common insect bites.

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  • All about flea prevention: From flea collars to pills to creams, see what the best flea prevention options are for your pet.

Fleas are tiny, reddish-brown, wingless parasites with three pairs of legs. They are tiny - smaller than 4 mm (about the size of a pinhead). This makes them hard to spot. Their strong back legs help them to jump more than 100 times their length.

There are over 2,000 types of fleas. The cat flea, dog flea, and human flea are the most common to bite humans.

Fleas survive by feeding on human or animal blood. They do this by "biting" through the skin with their tiny jaws, to get a blood meal. When a flea bites a human, its saliva causes an allergic reaction in the skin. This causes a small, red, brown, or skin-colored bump to form, similar to those you get with other bug bites.

Most flea bites are just a nuisance, but they sometimes carry diseases that can infect humans, like tapeworms, cat scratch fever, or the plague.

What do flea bites look and feel like?

Flea bites can be intensely itchy. But how can you tell the difference between a flea bite and another bug bite? Here are some other clues to look for:

  • Bites that occur in lines or clusters

  • Bites that may have a pale or discolored ring around them

  • Small blisters at the site of the bites

  • Scratch marks

  • Signs of skin infection (crusts, surrounding redness, or drainage)

Most flea bites heal within a week. In darker skin tones, flea bites can leave dark marks (called hyperpigmentation) that can take months to fade.

Pictures of flea bites on humans?

Fleas can bite anywhere on the body, but they're common around the ankles and lower legs because they jump from the ground up onto the skin.

Many tiny red bumps on the lower leg caused by flea bites.
Lower back with many skin-colored and brown bumps caused by flea bites.
Close-up of flea bites at different stages around the ankle.
Flea bites arranged in a cluster.

How are flea bites diagnosed?

Flea bites are usually pretty easy to diagnose based on their appearance and location. Unlike other bug bites, flea bites are usually smaller and form lines or clusters around the ankles and lower legs. People with flea bites also often have pets with fleas (or have been around them).

How do you treat flea bites?

Most flea bites only last a few days and don't need treatment. To lower your risk of a skin infection, avoid scratching them as much as possible.

These over-the-counter (OTC) and home treatments can help soothe the itching from flea bites while they heal:

If the itch doesn't improve with these treatments, your primary care provider can recommend a stronger prescription steroid cream.

Keep in mind that treating flea bites doesn't get rid of the fleas. If you don't get rid of the flea infestation, you will continue to get flea bites.

How do you get rid of fleas?

Fleas can be tough to get rid of, and it may require several rounds of treatment to eliminate them completely.

You'll need to treat your home and your pet(s) at the same time in order to successfully disrupt the flea's life cycle. Repeat the process at least twice every 5 to 10 days to get rid of all stages of the life cycle.

In your home, thoroughly wash and vacuum flea-infested areas, like carpets, rugs, and bedding. Every pet in the home must also be washed with soap and water and then combed with a flea comb. Once the fleas have been eliminated, your vet can help you find the best flea-prevention treatment for your pet to prevent this from happening again.

Frequently asked questions

What can be mistaken for flea bites?
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Mosquitos can also cause itchy bites that may be mistaken for flea bites, but there are some key differences to help tell them apart:

  • Flea bites are small, form lines or clusters, and usually affect the ankles and legs. They can bite any time of day or year, and you can get bites after being in a flea-infested home.

  • Mosquito bites are larger, usually solitary, and can affect any skin that's not covered in clothing. They are also most likely to bite at dawn and dusk between late spring and early fall.

How can you tell if it's flea bites or bedbug bites?
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In general, bedbug bites are bigger than flea bites. They also usually bite at night on skin that's not covered in clothing, like your arms, shoulders, and neck. If you have bug bites, there are also usually other signs of bedbugs in your home, like bedbugs in the mattress seams or red-colored stains on your sheets.

Do fleas live in mattresses?
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Adult fleas can live in mattresses for up to 2 months without feeding. If they have a food source nearby - like a cat or dog - they can live up to 7 or 8 months.

To get rid of fleas in your mattress, vacuum it thoroughly and then steam clean it to kill adults, eggs, and larvae. It's also important to wash your sheets and bedding and treat your pets at the same time.

The bottom line

Fleas aren't just a problem for pets. They can also bite humans and cause an itchy rash. Flea bites usually appear as a line or cluster of small, itchy bumps on the ankles and lower legs. They usually only last a few days, but the itch can be intense. OTC creams, like hydrocortisone and calamine lotion, antihistamines, and ice packs can all help soothe the itch from flea bites. To treat a flea infestation, you'll need to treat your pets and your home at the same time, 2 or 3 times. This may take some time (and a lot of patience). Flea prevention medication for your pets is the best way to prevent flea infestations in the future.

Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com).

References

Anderson, J., et al. (2024). Flea bites. StatPearls.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About fleas.

View All References (2)
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Getting rid of fleas.

Murray, K. (n.d.). School pest solutions. Maine School IPM Program.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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