Chiggers

[tdcour]

Well I had my first experience with chiggers. I have been putting siding on our house and apparently I have been used as a buffet line on my legs and arms for the past few days. Now I am completely miserable. How do I stop the itch? I'm seriously dying here!

 

[buckbull]

You can try different lotions. I've had decent luck with ChiggerX. You can get it at walgreens. There is a lot of misinformation out there about treating chigger bites. The only cure is time. I was infested with the damn things a few years ago after squirrel hunting. Did tons of research. the Missouri department of conservation has the best material if you are interested.

found the link http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2000/06/got-chiggers-it-figures

 

[wapiti66]

I have put clear nail polish on thick around the bites and let it dry. It seals them off and the air doesn't get to them (the air makes them itch more).....then just don't itch. That's been my best remedy, haven't had a lotion do much for me.

 

[Fink]

Clear nail polish works for me as well. That, or just itching until it bleeds, and then itch some more.

 

[tdcour]

I haven't tried the nail polish yet but i have heard that was just an old wives tale. Haha fink I'm definitely way ahead of you on your second piece of advice there! I apparently have terrible will power because I just keep scratching and bleeding and scratching some more. Hopefully I'll just scratch the skin off to the bone and won't have problems soon!

 

[wapiti66]

Old wives tale or not, it worked for me

 

[JEandAsGuide]

The nail polish has always worked for me as well.

 

[25contender]

Boils some water on a stove. Take a small stainless spoon and heat it up in the water. Then take the spoon and touch each bite for a few seconds. This will trick the body to stop sending antihistamines to the bite site. This tricks the body into releasing histamines to relieve the itch. I live in chigger and tick country and it works for both. Or if you have a bunch just soak in hot water for a few minutes.

 

[tdcour]

I have been dealing with these things since Monday and it seems like more are showing up daily! It seems to be getting a little better... slowly, but getting better. I guess this is one way to say "Welcome to Kansas"! I'll be trying the spoon trick and finger nail polish trick tonight to see which one works for me. Thanks for all the advice everyone!

 

[ivorytip]

best solution..... get the hell out of chigger country! i hate those blasted things. i lived over by pocahontas arkansas for a while many years back and those things are the devil. nail polish!!!

 

[AT Hiker]

I suggest you go the pharmacy and ask for a topical solution to rub on them, if that doesnt work a steroid shot will fix them. Dont wait much longer as the agony is not worth it, plus an infection could appear.

 

[tdcour]

My legs are slowly getting better, but I have traded my anti-itch medications and finger nail polish for neosporin... I may have scratched too much... no, I definitely scratched too much... I guess I don't have as good of will power as I thought. Lets just say I won't be wearing shorts for a little while. I found a benadril (sp?) oil rub that worked really well if anyone is interested. Basically the same stuff in the pill, but the rub doesn't make you want to take a nap all the time. It seemed to help me quite a bit. Maybe next time I'll just go straight to a doctor for the good stuff rather than experimenting for a week with not much to show for it. Thanks for all of the advice everyone!

 

[buckbull]

When I had them bad it took about a month to recover. I feel your pain.