what happens if you leave the stinger from a bee in your skin?

Not medical advice: If left in the skin a bee stinger may continue to release venom and can cause more pain, redness, and swelling to occur than if it is removed. You can remove the stinger by scraping a straight-edged object or the back of a knife across it. Tweezers may cause more venom to seep into the skin.

Don’t worry if you don’t see a stinger that needs to be removed. In the unlikely event one gets stuck under the skin it’ll most likely work its way out much like a splinter would. Call 911 if the person stung has difficulty breathing or swallowing, is wheezing, or has swelling of mouth tissue, the face, or the throat.

1 out of 100 people is allergic to bee stings. There have been reports that some adults can tolerate 1,000 stings or more. One case cites someone who lived after having been stung 2,243 times.