Many bites also occur when you roll over on a spider in bed or put on shoes or clothes that sat out on the floor overnight. If you have a rash or bite after working outdoors, it's possible that poison ivy, another type of insect, or a non-venomous spider could be the cause. Most spider bites occur during mating season from late summer into fall.

Most spider bites do not cause serious symptoms and do not require any treatment other than supportive care which involves washing the bite with soap and water and applying ice to reduce any swelling. If additional relief is desired using medication, diphenhydramine (aka Benadryl) can help with any itching and ibuprofen can help with any pain. Of note, there are certain spiders whose bites can cause serious symptoms: if you are bitten by a black widow spider (has a red hourglass on its abdomen) or brown recluse spider (has a golden or dark brown body and six eyes [instead of the usual eight]), you should go to your local emergency department for in-person evaluation and treatment.

Worsening redness around the bite If the redness around the bite expands over a few days, instead of getting better, this could be an early sign of a skin infection called cellulitis. Cellulitis causes the skin and soft tissue to feel warm and painful. Left: Purple discoloration surrounding crust and blood from a spider bite.

Spider bites can be anxiety-inducing and traumatic. However, staying vigilant and washing out the bite well can go a long way to keeping you healthy. “Spider bites are like any other bites,” says Dr. Bazzoli. “Sometimes, you can be bitten and it hurts a little bit and you do fine.