To determine if you have bed bugs, look for these key signs:

• Bites on your skin that are itchy, often appearing in clusters or a zigzag pattern, typically on exposed areas like the face, neck, arms, and hands.
• Small reddish or rusty blood spots on bedding, mattresses, or furniture caused by crushed bugs.
• Tiny blackish specks, which are bed bug excrement, found on bedding, mattress seams, furniture, or near hiding places.
• Shed exoskeletons or shells left behind as bed bugs grow.
• Small white or pale yellow eggs and eggshells, often found in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas.
• An unusual sweet, musty odor in the room when infestations are heavy.
• Sometimes live bed bugs, reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed, can be seen hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, or furniture.

If you notice bites or these signs, inspect your sleeping areas carefully using a flashlight to check mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards, and nearby furniture. Getting rid of bed bugs promptly is important to stop bites and infestation spread. If bites are severe or signs are unclear, consulting a dermatologist or pest expert is advised.