‘Go to the hospital NOW’: Woman shares aftermath of brown recluse spider bite on her ear and the internet is horrified

Spiders get a bad rap, you’ve probably heard the phrase  “they’re more scared of you than you are of them,” and for the most part that’s true. While the general fear people have of arachnids is unwarranted for the most part, there are some eight-legged fiends for whom the fear response is entirely appropriate as one woman on TikTok would find out.

You may have heard of the Brown Recluse Spider, or maybe you haven’t. But anyone who knows of this spider knows that it’s one of the few species of arachnid you don’t want to mess with. If you see a Brown Recluse it’s probably best to keep your distance. While they may not sound as scary as a “Wolf spider” for example, these spiders do have a nasty bite, in fact, they’re bites are the stuff of nightmares.

The spider bite from hell

One woman on TikTok is currently sharing the painful experience she’s going through after one of those spiders bit her on the ear. TikTok account, “VeilOfKayla” has been posting regular updates and has informed her horrified viewers that the resulting damage will likely result in her losing a part of her ear!

In case you were wondering, the swollen patch on her earlobe possibly skin necrosis.  Essentially the skin around the bite has died. As for the brown color, that is actually from the charcoal she’s put on there to try and combat it.

In the comments viewers shared their collective horror at the effects of the bite. One person wrote, “thats like necrotic..I thought that was a gauge. go to the hospital NOW.” Another claimed they had “never been scared of spiders before until you reminded me of a brown recluse.” Others wanted to know where Brown Recluses live, presumably so they can stay well away from those parts of the world.

Kayla did post an update video in which the swelling appears to have gone down, but she claims that the back of her ear is black and it isn’t healing. She’s also experiencing other symptoms such as feeling sick and a general achiness.

The person who told her to go to the hospital was right, it definitely sounds like she needs to see a medical professional.

How dangerous are Brown Recluse spiders?

Brown Recluse are found primarily in the U.S. Particularly in the southern states including Texas, Georgia, and Kentucky. But don’t worry, deaths are incredibly rare from such a bite, but as with anything, it’s still possible. 

According to hopkinsmedicine.org, a bite can cause local tissue damage and lead to a plethora of symptoms including “burning, pain, itching, or redness” where the bite is. The individual may also feel aches around their body, they may get a rash or fever, and they may feel nauseous.

If experiencing any of these symptoms it would be best to seek out a healthcare provider.