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When you visited your local pharmacy this summer, you may have seen products sitting on the counter that say they are used to treat chigger bites. What are these chiggers? Should I be worried about them? How should I treat a chigger bite if I get one? Do I have to see my doctor?
Don't worry! Chigger bites are annoying, but they are easy to treat. Let's examine what chiggers are, what chigger bites look like, and how to treat bites.
What are chiggers?
Chiggers are the juvenile form (larvae) of a type of mite. A mite is an arachnid, related to spiders and ticks. Chiggers are very small and difficult to see. They are red, and the larvae have six legs. Chiggers are found in the southern part of the U.S. They can be found in tall grass and weeds or woodland edges, normally during the summer and fall months. Chiggers usually bite where skin is in contact with vegetation, such as on sleeves or pant cuffs. They like to bite where the skin is thin-- usually on the ankles, around the waist, or in skin folds. However, chiggers may also bite areas around the crotch or groin, behind the knees, or in armpits.
What do chigger bites look like?
You may not notice a chigger bite
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until hours after it occurs. If a chigger bites you, the main symptom is severe itching. The chigger injects digestive enzymes into the skin, and then the itching starts. The itching usually starts several hours after the chigger attaches to the skin. A skin rash may appear on parts of the body exposed to sunlight. The rash may look like red pimple-like bumps or hives.
How do you treat chigger bites?
Some people think that chiggers burrow under the skin. Actually, chiggers are non-burrowing mites. They bite the skin and then fall off. So the home remedies for mites such as applying nail polish, alcohol, or bleach to the skin, are not useful or effective.
Treatment of chigger bites is used to relieve the severe itching associated with bites. You can treat your rash and itching with over-the-counter products. Over-the-counter corticosteroid creams and antihistamines are the cornerstone of treatment. Corticosteroid creams, like hydrocortisone cream, can be applied to the chigger rash two to four times daily as needed for itching. To apply the hydrocortisone, wash your hands and then apply a thin film of hydrocortisone to the rash. Do not bandage or wrap the area unless directed by your doctor. After applying the hydrocorti
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sone, wash your hands again to clean off any hydrocortisone left on your hands. Try not to scratch the itchy rash, since intense scratching can lead to infection of the area and a visit to your doctor.
Antihistamines such as Benadryl® (diphenhydramine) or Claritin® (loratadine) may also be used to help with symptoms of itching. Only take Benadryl® at night, since it can make you sleepy. You can take Claritin® once daily during the day since there is less chance of it making you sleepy. One strategy is to take Claritin® in the morning to help stop itching during the day, and then take Benadryl® at bedtime to help calm the itching and help you sleep.
You can also use chigger bite products sold at your pharmacy to treat the bites. However, it is more effective to just use hydrocortisone cream to treat the inflammation and pain and use Benadryl® at night for the itching. If the rash and itching get worse or do not improve with treatment, then see your doctor.
For more information visit www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001333.htm.
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