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Consult your healthcare provider right away if you develop any serious symptoms, such as:
If you believe that you have been bitten by a dangerous spider, like a black widow or brown recluse, seek medical attention right away.
To treat a venomous spider bite at home, wash the area well and then apply ice. The ice will help to slow your body’s absorption of the spider’s venom. Elevate the limb or area of the body that was bitten and try to remain still. Then seek medical treatment.
When you seek medical care for a possibly venomous spider bite, your healthcare provider will start by inspecting the bite mark. There is no way to test for a spider bite. Your practitioner may diagnose one based on an examination of the wound.
Once it is determined that your bite requires treatment, the healthcare provider will discuss a plan with you. Treatment for spider bites typically involves addressing the symptoms as they occur. If you have a heart condition, your healthcare provider may recommend admitting you to the hospital for observation and treatment.
Fortunately, most spider bites heal on their own without the need for medical intervention. First, move away from the spider while staying as calm as you can.
To care for a nonvenomous spider bite at home, start by cleaning the area with soap and water. Clean the skin surrounding the bite as well. If the bite is painful or itchy, apply an ice pack or a cold, damp washcloth.
You may need to take over-the-counter pain medication if the bite is sore. Antihistamine medications like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) may decrease itching and swelling.
If your symptoms do not improve or start to worsen with home remedies, contact your healthcare provider. There is a risk of infection with any insect bite. Seek medical care if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Identifying a brown recluse vs. a house spider is a helpful way to know if your bite is poisonous.
Telltale Signs It’s Not a Brown Recluse Spider
Brown Recluse
House Spider
Most spider bites are harmless and share the same symptoms as a bee sting, including pain, redness, and swelling. All spiders make venom but most of them have fangs that are too small to puncture the skin. This is why most bites do not cause serious symptoms.2
Venomous spiders in the United States include the brown recluse and black widow. They normally only bite if they feel trapped or have been touched.
The brown recluse spider is known as the violin spider because of the violin-shaped mark on its back. It is about 1 inch long. While most spiders have eight eyes, the brown recluse has six.
Brown recluse spiders are commonly found in the Midwest and the South in the United States. They usually live in dry, secluded areas like underneath log piles or in rocks and leaves. Indoors, they may be found in dark areas of the house like closets or the attic.
A brown recluse spider will only bite when it meets with pressure from a human. For example, if you place your foot in your shoe, not knowing a spider was inside, you would be bitten. Brown recluse spider bites may sting at first, then feel painful. You may notice a small white blister at the site of the bite.
Symptoms usually last for 24–36 hours and include:
The brown recluse bite can cause the skin to deteriorate, known as skin necrosis, and needs medical treatment right away.5
Black widow spiders are black, with a red hourglass pattern on their underside. Black widow spiders are mostly found in the U.S. South and the West but can live anywhere in North America.
They prefer to live in undisturbed areas and may be found under woodpiles. They can also live near outdoor toilets because of the abundance of flies, which they will eat.
Black widow spiders tend to build their webs between objects. These spiders usually bite when a human comes into contact with one of their webs.
A black widow spider bite has two puncture marks. Because this spider’s venom is a neurotoxin (poison that impacts the nervous system), the pain will start at the site of the bite and then spread to other areas of the body.6
Other symptoms may last for several days and include:
Spider bites are usually harmless but can lead to pain, redness, and swelling.
Occasionally, a spider bite may cause an allergic reaction. Bites from black widows and brown recluse spiders are dangerous because they are poisonous.
This article will describe different types of spider bites, how to treat them, and when to see a healthcare provider.
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