Agony, Thy name is chiggers.

[a la izquierda]

Any suggestions for relief? I'm so doped up on benadryl I can barely keep my eyes open.
(Sorry if this is totally in the wrong forum)

[rurallib]

1. fingernail polish. seals it off and kills the little bastard.

you have my sympathy.

[a la izquierda]

2. i'm pretty much about to go insane.

i only have blue polish. it will have to do.

[gkhouston]

3. Clear would be better, because you need to monitor for any signs of possible

skin infection. Don't take the possibility of MRSA lightly. It's nasty shit. Don't hesitate to go to the doctor if things get any worse.

[a la izquierda]

4. Thanks..

didn't think about MRSA, and the amount I sweat (I cycle) and swim, it's not something I take lightly.

[Warpy]

9. That doesn't work. See below

[Zorra]

18. That's what I used to do also, but it's a myth.

How do chiggers bite humans?

Chigger mites infest human skin via areas of contact with vegetation, such as pant cuffs or shirt sleeves and collars. They migrate on the skin in search of an optimal feeding area. A common myth about chiggers is that they burrow into and remain inside the skin. This is not true. Chiggers insert their feeding structures into the skin and inject enzymes that cause destruction of host tissue. Hardening of the surrounding skin results in the formation of a feeding tube called a stylostome. Chigger larvae then feed upon the destroyed tissue. If they are not disturbed (which is rarely the case because of they cause substantial itching) they may feed through the stylostome for a few days.

http://www.medicinenet.com/chiggers_bites/article.htm

[Texasgal]

5. You need a doctor..

and some anti-inflames.

Seriously.

[Bold Lib]

6. There's a product called "ChiggerEx" that I sware by.

[Lars39]

7. I agree with Bold Lib....ChiggerX really works.

Hope you get over it soon.

[Warpy]

8. Skip the fingernail polish and other old wives tales, it doesn't work

although the sting when you apply it over the bites feels good for about a nanosecond.

The chigger is the one creature out there that does not defecate, something which explains its evil disposition. They enter gaps in our clothes from bushes or grass we come in contact with, find a nice, dark, snuggly place around a waistband or the tops of our socks, and inject saliva. They then slurp up our dissolved skin and some of our blood and drop off. Contrary to the old wives tales, they don't burrow under the skin, but they are tiny and might not be noticed due to their microscopic size and red color against a red, angry bite. The itching is intense and caused by a massive allergic reaction to the saliva they inject.

The best thing to do after you've come in from an area that you suspect is infested is strip and take the hottest shower you can stand, which will cause any remaining bugs (they can slurp for up to 4 days) to drop off and go down the drain. Launder your clothes immediately in hot water.

There are a few things you can do after you've been bitten. The old standbys like calamine and benadryl might be soothing, but over the counter topical cortisone cream is the best. Anesthetic lotions containing benzocaine or xylocaine can also help deaden the itch.

Repellents are only partially effective. Heavy, tightly woven clothing tucked in at waist and boots will afford some protection. If you're not done cutting the brush in the area, consider treating it with Sevin or Diazinon the day before wading in again.

The worst case of chiggers I ever had came from picking blackberries. It was NOT worth it.

This is the bug: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombiculidae

Good layman's guide to the little bastards: http://www.howstuffworks.com/question488.htm

[Arkansas Granny]

30. I've never been able to figure out why chiggers hang around blackberries.

Are they actually attracted to the berries or do they wait for some fool to come along and pick the berries so they can attack en masse.

In addition to the remedies you have listed, I prefer to take OTC Zyrtec to help with the itch instead of Benadryl. It doesn't make me drowsy.

[GoCubsGo]

37. Their natural hosts like to hang around blackberries

Their natural hosts are animals like birds and reptiles, both of which love blackberries. So, yes, they do wait for something to come along and eat the berries.

[handmade34]

10. so sorry...

I had them once long ago, can't remember what I used then but tea tree helps me with general itching and epson salt baths. Good luck and don't scratch

[LostinVA]

11. This really works, I mean it

Some DUer told me about it several years ago, after I hate about 200+ chiggers on me:

take a really hot bath three times a day, and te hy will disappear.

The fingernail polish thing actually doesn't work, nor does Chigard, etc.

Go get in the tub now.

[Maru Kitteh]

14. I'll bet the hot water improves circulation and moves the nasty histamines out.

That's my guess, along with the aforementioned killing of the little sob's.

[LostinVA]

15. That's what I figure, too

I wish I could remember who told me this -- it was a female DU whose husband worked in landscaping. I have passed this on to many people, and it has worked for all of them, too!

[snagglepuss]

12. What is a chigger?

[LostinVA]

16. Be glad you don't know

Little red bugs that get under your skin and itch like fucking hell.

[Agony]

13. I really don't know anything about chiggers, but I recommend following the sage advice you

you just got here. I hope you find quick relief.

Agony

[WorseBeforeBetter]

17. I ended up on steroids.

You may not reach that stage, but ugh, the itching was miserable and I just couldn't take it any more.

This may help you:

http://www.medicinenet.com/chiggers_bites/article.htm

[Zorra]

19. Set your hair on fire. That will keep you from thinking about the hell of chigger bites.

I've been bitten all over by chiggers (like 60-70 bites) twice in my life. It's so horrible. You have my total sympathy.

Sorry, I've never found anything that helped much, especially if you have a lot of bites.

[a la izquierda]

20. Thanks, ya'll!

This is why I love DU.
I took two benadryl and an epsom salt bath. This is not a fun thing, considering at 1018pm it's 90 degrees out. But I'm not as miserable as I was a few hours ago.
But, I count my blessings. This is just an agonizing nuisance.

[JCMach1]

21. Nail Polish is the only good solution

[Warpy]

23. It doesn't actually work

See above. While minor relief is obtained from the sting of the polish and cutting off air to the tube the bug slurped through, the only way to treat the underlying allergy is with topical steroids.

[JCMach1]

22. Oklahoma seems to grow the biggest ones

they are numerous in Florida or other places... but OK grows mammoth ones.

[PJPhreak]

24. Oklahoma may have the biggest Chiggers,

But here in Kansas they form gangs..."The Deep Weeds Hoods" "The Eastyard Chompers" "The Lawn Boys" "The Dogpen Chiggs"

And they do a good job of keeping this human outta their "Turf"...My lawn is a foot deep in places!

[SwampG8r]

27. all right mr oklahoma...

i see that picture and that is NOT a chigger
it looks like a donkey
maybe ok does have the biggest but trying to back it up with a phoney pic like that steals your credibility!

[SwampG8r]

25. get an alchol wipe and wipe

get some rubbing alcohol and wash the area
it stops the scratching

[Kali]

26. about the only thing I can think of that would be worse is Guinea worm

or maybe that fish that will swim up your naughty openings

or maybe the leech that crawls up your nose

ok I need to go check in the mirror now

[snagglepuss]

28. I don't know if this will work for chiggers but it works wonders for mosquito bites.

This advice was given to my folks by a noted Canadian naturalist and I can attest that it works almost instantly to stop the itching. All you need is a stick of antiperspirant deodorant (eg Arrid)and apply it to the bites. Regular deodorant won't work, it has to be an antiperspirant.

I once had my legs covered in mosquito bites and the next day I broke my ankle. On the way to the hospital, I was applying the antiperspirant and even with the cast on the itching was gone. Hopefully it will work for chiggers.


OTOH I once had a serious case of hives that was tortuous. What worked for me was hydrocotisone that a doctor prescribed.

Here's hoping you find quick relief.

[Roon]

29. I don't think we have chiggers here in colorado

lots of ticks though!

[Arkansas Granny]

31. Try OTC Zyrtec instead of benadryl. I find it doesn't make me as drowsy

but gives good relief from the itch.

[kaiden]

32. Not to make your misery worse, or even mock it . . .

We don't have chiggers in Colorado. Or fleas.

That's one reason I'm never moving out of the state.

[mnhtnbb]

33. Lanacane applied to the bite helps for awhile.

[MrsBrady]

34. chiggers don't really burrow in the skin, they sting you.

they've poised you and that's what hurts.

I always sit in the hottest water in the tub I can stand. The antihistamine you took should help.
You can put some kind of anti itch cream too. Try not to scratch...will heal up faster.

Also, I always keep witch hazel around.
After I bathe and dry, I slather on that stuff...it's as thin as alcohol. Let it air dry.
Works for me.

[GoCubsGo]

36. Not true.

Chiggers are larval mites, and therefore are not capable of stinging. The itching is caused by saliva they inject into your skin via their mouthparts, which liquefy it.

[MrsBrady]

39. thy might inject, but they do not burrow.

well, to me, "stinging" might as well be inject me with something.

But they don't burrow.

[GoCubsGo]

35. Dermoplast

Or, some other topical anesthetic. Lanacane has one out now, too. That is about the only relief you will get, I'm afraid. Lotions or gels with Benadryl in them may help temporarily. The "nail polish" trick is BS. Don't waste your time with it. Also, when you shower, don't use hot water. Heat will just make you itch more.

My condolences. I feel your itch. Got a number of them, myself.

Signed,

A Field Biologist

[Z_I_Peevey]

38. Chlorine bleach in the bathwater.

Maybe a cup or so for a normal size tub. I just learned this from a friend and by golly, it worked like a charm. You might have to repeat a few times for a really bad case.

Chiggers are the worst.

[Old Troop]

40. The only remedy is fingernail polish