I stayed at my friend’s old apartment for only a couple of nights, and everything seemed normal at first. But after the second morning, I noticed dozens of small, itchy red bumps appearing across my arms and legs. By that evening, there seemed to be even more of them, despite having no idea what could have caused such a sudden reaction.

At first, I wondered whether it was an allergy to the bedding, laundry detergent, or something I had eaten. Then I noticed something strange: most of the bumps were concentrated on areas of skin that had been exposed while I slept. Some also appeared close together in small groups, making me suspicious that something in the bedroom was responsible.

We inspected the old mattress carefully, especially along its seams and underneath the bed. That’s when we discovered the likely culprit—bed bugs hiding in tiny crevices around the sleeping area. Their bites can cause small, itchy, raised marks, although reactions vary considerably from person to person and bites alone cannot confirm an infestation.

The apartment needed a thorough inspection and professional pest treatment rather than simply changing the sheets. Clothes and bedding used during the stay also had to be handled carefully because bed bugs can hitchhike in luggage, clothing, and other belongings and potentially be carried into another home.

The experience explained why the bumps had appeared so suddenly after sleeping there. Anyone who develops an extensive or worsening rash should still have it medically evaluated, since several skin conditions and other insect bites can look similar. In this case, however, finding the bed bugs near the mattress finally provided the answer to the mystery.