Chiggers on Skin!

Chiggers on Skin!

Chiggers are small, larvae parasitic mites that bite and attach themselves on to skin. These mites can cause great irritation and sometimes intense itching.

What are the Signs of Chigger Bites?

Chigger bites cause intense itching, and the area around the bite may become red and inflamed. Common signs of a chigger bite include:

• • A raised red bump (the chigger’s bite)

• • Bites clustered in groups or in a line

• • A deep red color surrounding each bite

• • Itchiness & Intense irritation

How to Treat Chigger Bites

Treat the itchiness: Treat bites with calamine lotion or a hydrocortisone cream (1%). Anti-itch ointments may help with the itching and swelling.

Care for your skin: Keeping the affected area moist and clean helps prevent bacterial infections. Applying ice packs to the bites (15 minutes at a time) may also help relieve itching.

Take an antihistamine: You can take a non-drowsy antihistamine such as loratadine (Claritin) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

How to Prevent Chigger Bites

To prevent chigger bites, avoid areas where they live, such as:

• • Grassy areas

• • Weeds

• • Low-lying foliage

• • Woodlands and forests

When outdoors, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes to minimize your exposure to the mites. Additionally, you can use insect repellent on your skin and clothing to help minimize the chances of getting chigger bites.

Chiggers, also called redbugs, are members of the family Trombiculidae and are a type of mite. These mites can be found in gardens, fields, and wooded areas in all parts of the world, but they’re most predominant in warm, humid climates like the southern United States.

When chiggers encounter human skin, they attach themselves and feed on their hosts by biting them. The result is an itchy and sometimes painful rash, known as trombiculiasis or berry itch. It typically appears 24 to 48 hours after the chigger bite, with an area of reddened skin surrounding it. It may continue for two to four weeks, usually beginning around the ankles and wrists but can occur anywhere on the body that a chigger bites.

Chiggers aren’t actually parasites like most other mites, and due to their size, they can be difficult to spot. Because of this, preventing them from coming into contact with skin is key to avoiding chigger bites. To help do this, individuals should wear light-colored clothing when going outdoors, so chiggers will stand out more easily. Long-sleeved shirts tucked into pants, socks, and shoes can help keep them away, as well as using insect repellent. Also, avoid becoming exposed to tall grass or wooded areas as much as possible and immediately inspect and wash clothing following outdoor activities.

Therefore, when engaging in outdoor activities, be vigilant and follow the steps listed above to help avoid the potentially uncomfortable experience of a chigger bite.

Also Read: How to Stop Chiggers from Itching?

Related: Mites in grass that bite