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If you like outdoor activities: boating,
biking, camping and hiking, you may be
exposed also to mites, parasites, and poisonous plants. Chigger bites
is one of the seasonal skin conditions during warm weathers and found
in outdoor ventures.
Chigger bites are red and itchy contusion left in your skin. Chigger
mites dwell in tall grasses and weeds. When your skin gets in contact
with chigger habitats in the outdoors, these tiny mites use their
claws to attach to your skin. Your skin
cell and their juices are what they feed on. Chiggers dwell
on your skin for a couple of days and fall off. However, the bruise
that they leave may last for weeks despite treatment.
Oftentimes, Chigger bites are associated with
mites and larvae. Itchiness is intense for these bites
especially in areas of your skin where the larvae may have great
access. Blisters may appear in bitten areas and usually produces inside
skin bleeding.
How To Recognize Chigger Bites
Just like any other insect bites, first thing you will notice is the
itching. You have to pay attention to the itchy area of your skin. You
will know if bitten by Chiggers because welts
forming red spots will begin to form.
You will begin the itchiness from Chiggers within a few hours after
the bite. As observed, it is in the torso areas that Chigger bites
usually develop.
Possible Chigger Bites Complications
Although it may take only hours to notice Chigger bites, the
irritation can last up to a couple of weeks. Furthermore, there is a
possibility of a secondary bacterial infection out of Chigger bites.
This may happen if there is chronic scratching and hygiene is not
applied in the surrounded areas of the skin.
Fortunately, Chigger bites do not spread any kind of disease in
North America. However in Asia and the Pacific, Chiggers can transport
a disease such as scrub typhus. If you are active in outdoor
activities, consult an insect and spider expert guide to know what type
of chiggers live in your area.
Chigger Bite Treatment
A more common remedy for Chigger bites is nail polish. The nail
polish encloses the area to prevent air from entering, which prevents
further itching of the sore. It is applied basically to suffocate and
eventually kill the Chigger. Applying lotion is also one way of
relieving the itch. Make sure that the cream or salve contains
antihistamines. Lotions have also similar effects of preventing the
infection by sealing the bite.
Other treatments may have varying degrees of effect. Anti-lice
shampoo may also help relieve the itching by applying it to the bruise
and leaving it overnight. Petroleum jelly may act as the same principle
as nail polishes do.
It has proven that the most effective solution for Chigger bites is
sulphur. Chiggers avoid sulphur so it is best to apply powdered sulphur
in your socks, boots, and in the opening of your pants before going
outdoors. But a combination of sulphur and sweat may create an
unpleasant odor. Also, for some people, sulphur may cause irritation to
the skin. It is best to test a small amount first. These are only the
few side effects of sulphur as an effective repellant.
Chigger Bite Prevention
To prevent chiggers from interfering into your picnic areas or
backyards, remove chigger habitats. Be sure to regularly trim and clear
grass, bushes and weeds. Chiggers can hardly survive on clear areas and
where small areas for host may not anymore visit.
Soap and warm water is a good treatment against chiggers after
exposure to outdoors. This practice is adequate enough to kill
chiggers. As opposed to old practice, it is dangerous to apply common
products like gasoline, salt, ammonia, kerosene, alcohol, or dry
cleaning fluid.
Bite Rx: 15 Second Chigger Bite Relief
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