I have chiggers all over!!!!

[LostinVA]

My ankles, legs, waist. even some on my frigging FEET!!!!! It has to be from this new trail I went running on the other day -- I had to go through a meadow before I got to the singletrack.

My mom the nurse said the fingernail polish thing doesn't work, and to take some Benadryl.

THEY ARE DRIVING ME FRIGGING NUTS!!!! And, I can't exactly take Benadryl at work -- how will I be able to post on DU??? (giggle)

[ThomCat]

1. Damn. One of the disadvantages of being in the south.

We're fortunate. You can walk in the woods up here without running into those damned things.

How long does it take for the bites to go away?

[LostinVA]

3. Long enough to drive me bonkers

About a week.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

2. You too?

I was clearing a path saturday and I was wearing jeans..and they still got me. Just four of them got my ankles this time.









Hope you get better soon!

[underpants]

4. Finger nail polish remover

I think that is what we used to use to get rid of them

[LostinVA]

6. Doesn't work -- my mom's a nurse and said so n/t

[LaurenG]

8. I thought it was nail polish

paint each bite. It's a common practice around here.

[LostinVA]

9. It doesn't work as per my mom

She said it's an old wives tale... it just seems like it works, because by the time they are driving you so bonkers you're aware of them, they are starting to die already.

[LaurenG]

17. Well at least with polish on them you can't scratch

and infect yourself I guess. lol

[Random_Australian]

5. What are they?

[LostinVA]

7. Here you go --

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001333....

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. They're mites that burrow under the skin...

Here's a pic of one under a microscope (I'm not sure of the magnification power):

This is what the bites look like:

[China_cat]

11. Put about 1/2 C of Clorox in a couple gallons of water

and sponge it over the affected areas. Be careful not to get it in your eyes. Soak your feet for 10 minutes as long as you don't have any open cuts.

Chiggers are endemic in the spanish moss here in SC. Don't ever use it for toilet paper.

The clorox water DOES work. I know from experience.

[Spacemom]

12. My husband works outside

and deals with them all summer. His 2 methods of relief are to wipe each spot with a bit of alcohol several times a day. And also to go swimming in a cholorinated pool. I guess it drowns them??

I hope something works for you. If anything at least the benedryl should provide some itchy relief.

[LostinVA]

13. I wonder if mojitos will help???

[XemaSab]

14. Oooooh

That sucks.

I have no solutions.

[XemaSab]

15. Oooooh

That sucks.

I have no solutions.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Uh oh.

Did you pick these up when you were running on that really hot day and told your mother that little fib about exercising on a treadmill?

Karma.