Home Remedies For Chigger Bites
How to Treat Chigger Bites at Home Naturally
Home Remedies For Chigger Bites — Chiggers are those parasites that bite on the parts of your skin in clusters, generally for hours or days if you don’t clean them off your skin. They are spread widely in the southeastern United States.
It is difficult to spot chiggers because they are microscopic, and you may never watch them on the surface of your skin. The initial symptoms you have of chigger bites could be the physical proof of their bites, and symptoms come out a day or so after their bite.
There are several methods to treat these bites at home to soothe signs and prevent infection. Generally, chigger bites are more painful than harmful to your health.
Symptoms Of Chigger Bites
Chiggers frequently bite on the parts where your skin folds, like the backs of your knees or armpits, or near restrictive bands of clothing such as around the holes of your underwear, the waist of pants, or near the elastic of your socks.
Physical verification of chigger bites include:
- Itchy skin close to the bites
- Red spot at the middle of the bite
- Feeling Pain where they bites
- Reddish, lifted pimples that display in clumps
Chigger bite signs can vary in severity depending on your skin’s sensitivity to the bites and how long the parasites stay on your skin.
17 Natural Home Remedies For Chigger Bites
There are numerous methods to cure chigger bites at home. You wish to focus on removing the chiggers from your skin, calming the skin from itching and pain, and keep away from infection.
Then follow the directions and home remedies for chigger bites described in this article.
1. Take Bath Or Hot Shower
Showering or bathing with warm water following subjection to chiggers can aid to remove any lasting bugs from the surface of your skin and calm it.
Ensure to apply soap while taking a bath or shower, and use a washcloth for friction against the skin to make sure they come off.
2. Essential Oils
Essential oils are a supportive or alternative therapy and are not managed by the Food and Drug Administration. You should apply essential oils with care.
Some essential oils for bug bites that may calm inflammation or itching including:
- Rosemary
- Tea Tree
- Basil
- Lavender
- Camphor
Ensure to dilute essential oils with another oil or moisturizer before applying them on your skin. Don’t apply them orally or use them close to your eyes.
3. Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is a skin safeguard that also helps remove itching and inflammation. It has been used as a home remedy for many decades.
It can be helpful in treatment of chigger bites, especially with bath products or moisturizers after taking a bath or shower.
You can observe products consisting of colloidal oatmeal at your local grocery store or pharmacy. Follow the instructions of the product packaging.
4. Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion is an over-the-counter brand that may calm your skin by reducing itching. It may even dry out bug bites that begin to secrete ooze. You may use it a few times throughout the day.
5. Ice Pack Or Cold Compress
Use an ice pack or cold compress to chigger bites that are itching. You should use a towel or a light cloth in the middle of an ice pack and your skin to escape from very cold temperatures touching your skin straightly.
6. OTC (Over-the-counter Medications)
There are many over-the-counter medications which can be used to treat chigger bites:
- Oral antihistamines relieve itching and inflammation. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is a kind of oral antihistamine.
- Oral drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can reduce pain and discomfort. Ibuprofen can also relieve inflammation.
- Topical creams pertaining to ingredients that relieve itching, inflammation and irritation may even be effective. Find the products that may include camphor, menthol, or pramoxine.
- Hydrocortisone is one type of brand that contains topical steroids that can reduce symptoms.
- Topical antiseptics wash the bite area and remove the likelihood of infection.
7. Fingernail Hygiene
Maintain your fingernails short whenever you scratch the affected area of skin you don’t open it. Scratching chigger bites with sharp or long nails may cause infections.
8. Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most broadly used home remedies for chigger bites. The alkaline nature of baking soda may neutralize the affected surface of skin, and can relieve the itchiness due to chigger bites.
Baking soda can even prevent the present rashes from spreading more.
9. Vicks Vapor Rub
Vicks Vapor Rub consists of menthol, which shows strong anti-inflammatory characteristics that may help relieve the swelling, inflammation and itchiness due to chigger bites.
10. Bleach Bath
The chlorine existing in the bleach makes the chigger bite dry rapidly, kills any remaining chiggers on your skin, and removes the itching caused to a great extent.
11. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt consists of magnesium, which has anti-inflammatory characteristics that help relieve inflammation, itchiness and swelling due to chigger bites.
12. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol contains disinfectant characteristics that can secure the affected area from more infection. It can even help in calming the area by reducing the itchy sensation.
Caution
A person with sensitive skin should not apply this remedy because it may lead to peeling and more irritation of the skin.
13. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar may help neutralize the affected part due to its acidic nature, thereby reducing itchiness. It contains anti-inflammatory characteristics that help in relieving the inflammation, swelling and pain.
On the other hand its antimicrobial properties secure your skin from more infection.
14. Nail Polish Remover
Applying acetone or nail polish remover on the areas of chigger bites may help remove any connected chiggers and also protects from further itching. This remedy is also popularly applied for removing ticks.
Caution
A person having sensitive skin should not apply acetone on their skin as it may cause other complications.
15. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids such as lauric acid and capric acid. These fatty acids carry strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic characteristics that help remove the itchiness and inflammation due to chigger bites.
Moreover, coconut oil can even help in maintaining your skin well-moisturized and nourished.
16. Toothpaste
Toothpaste is among popular home remedies for chigger bites. The minty characteristic of toothpaste may help reduce chigger bites and itching.
17. Hydrogen Peroxide
The antiseptic characteristics of hydrogen peroxide help in demolishing the chigger enzymes that are responsible for itchy and inflamed skin.
It may also help to calm and cool the affected parts due to its anti-inflammatory properties
Prevention Tips
- Be attentive and steer away from brushing against vegetation when you are in forested areas.
- Put on long-sleeved shirts and full pants tucked in socks while entertaining any outdoor activities.
- Take a bath or shower when you come back from any outdoor activity such as trekking.
- Cleanse your clothes with hot water just after you return from a trek or hike.
- Scrub the affected part with soap and water to abolish the mites. Using calamine lotion may help in calming the burning sensation and itching. You can even take oral antihistamines and topical steroids recommended by your dermatologist.
- You may also spray permethrin sprays on the clothes you want to wear for 1 or 2 days in advance to let them dry before wearing them in the wild.
The Conclusion
There are numerous methods to soothe chigger bite symptoms at home naturally. Make sure to abolish the bugs from your skin before you begin treating the irritation, itching and swelling.
You can try to calm symptoms with over-the-counter medications, by taking a bath and possibly also with essential oils. Consult your medical expert immediately if symptoms linger or get worse.