RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By Rhiannon B (Guest Post)
(10/09/2008)
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I have chigger bites all over my ankles I have tried everything. I came on here to see what I can use. I will write back more later to tell you what works the best.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By larry oaks (Guest Post)
(08/28/2008)
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I was working on a cabin in Missouri and received over fifty chigger bites. Having no fingernail polish , I used PVC glue on the bites. It stopped the itching in a few minutes and didn't come off for two days. It really works great.
Editor's Note: I don't think that I'd recommend using this unless there is nothing else available.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By bill (Guest Post)
(08/18/2008)
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ME AND MY FIANCE JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO SOUTH CAROLINA . I HAVE IN THE PAST RECIEVED A FEW CHIGGER BITES, BUTT NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS LAST FEW DAYS. WE HAVE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WITH NO RELIEF. IF SOMEONE COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT STOPS THE ITCH THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE TO WORK ANOTHER DAY IN THERE LIFE. WE BOTH HAVE DECIDED THAT WE WILL NEVER TOUCH ANOTHER BLADE OF GRASS AGAIN. I WOULDNT PUT THIS ON MY WORSE ENEMY. THE BEST THING THAT WORKED FOR US IS DESITIN CREAM""
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
The best remedy for chigger bites is prevention. If you are going to be in a chigger infested area, wear appropriate clothes (not sleeveless shirts, shorts or sandles), and dust the openings (leg and waist) of your clothes with powdered sulfur (also known as "flowers of sulfur") which can be purchased at pharmacies. Yes, it stinks, but this is about the only prevention product out there that is tried & true. Here is a link to a Missouri Department of Conservation article that backs up this advice. http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/arthopo/chiggers/.
This article acknowledges several of the remedies posted here but in fact, the only true remedy is time. When the chigger bites, the body reacts by hardening the cells around the bite area. These hardened cells become the chigger's feeding tube. Though the chigger will be long gone, the itch will remain until your body has reabsorbed these cells.
I suggest that you read the article, its a solid page long and very imformative. Having grown up in central Missouri and spending a lot of time in the woods and tall grasses, sulfur is, by far, the best prevention product. And once bitten, thorough washing and standard itch remedies, plus time, will heal all wounds. Enjoy the outdoors and good luck.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By (Guest Post)
(06/09/2008)
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Try A+D gel. It didn't seem instant to me but after about 5 to 10 minutes, the itch seemed to be relatively gone. Luckily for me I have a brother with tattoos so I had some handy.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By Jason From S.Tampa,Fl (Guest Post)
(11/30/2007)
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After wasting my time in the ER at Tampa General Hospital I was fed up with my beautiful itch. I had at least 200 maybe 300 bites from chiggers the best thing being that I'm allergic to all insect bites is take a hot shower and apply Cortizone-10 all over your bites and then let that dry then every bite put a good sized amount of clear nail polish over all your bites the itch will be gone. Then when it comes back later you can either reapply the nail polish or apply the cortizone-10 which helps the best. Take over the counter Benadryl as this will help with the itching, and reduce your swelling, but it will make you tired. Normal pills are like 10mg 15mg. I was prescribed 50mg tablets and told to take 2 every 6hrs as needed. So i bought a pack of benadryl and dosed up to get to the 50mg. i took 3 benadryl regular tablets and that helped me sleep with out scratching.
Now for all the old wives tales out there the so called chigger bug or red bug whatever you want to call it, doesn't live in your skin. It feeds on the host for 3 to 4 hrs, then drops off. No chigger can rebite. Once it has feed, if it falls off. That the end of it,s life. If it doesn't get full, the bug will die. The bug has a saliva that has powerful enzymes that break your skin down to liquid. The redness and hardening of this bite allows it to form a tube like structure to suck the liquefied skin, just like us sucking on a straw to get a drink.
The itching is caused by the enzyme and the tube structure getting air. That's why all the remedies people pasted are true. You are blocking the hole from getting air, which in essence stops your itch. My best advice to all of you, is do what i said up top of this message. I promise you will be very pleased go out walk around the block, read a book find your self keeping active and you will forget they are there. It all a mental thing. If you don't scratch, your body won't say "hey I'm itching". Try my remedy. I've told friends about my remedy and all have said it works. All of this stuff shouldn't cost you more than $20.00. good luck.
Sincerely. Jason K.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By (Guest Post)
(08/19/2007)
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A chigger digs into your skin and lives there for days, weeks or months. If you put clear nail polish on chigger bite overnight, it will kill the chigger and stop itching.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By Butch (Guest Post)
(08/05/2007)
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Vinegar after a hot shower does seem to help for awhile, but usually I have to apply clear Benadryl gel (available over the counter) to the worst areas. You only need a small amount of gel. Since Benadryl is absorbed through the skin, they warn you on the bottle not to take any oral forms of Benadryl while using the gel. It can make you a little groggy, so I do it at bedtime. The itching seems to not bother me the next day, until I get another dose of chigger bites...
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By Vikki LaPierre (Guest Post)
(07/23/2007)
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When I was little, my brother & I used to get the chiggers @ my grandmothers lake. The only thing that worked for us was taking a shower/bath with Fels Naptha soap. It's made by the Dial Corp. & is usually found near the laundry soap. Then she'd have us rub calamine/caladryl lotion all over the spots. We looked like we had the chicken pox w/the pink spots all over, but it helped.
Hope all the info helps! They are no fun to have!
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
Go to DOCTOR I moved from CA to MO years ago
and got chigger bites my first summer and the
prescription lotion was a God send. That lotion
worked for YEARS.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By (Guest Post)
(07/22/2007)
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I have tried the nail polish, vaseline, hydrocortisone, calamine lotion and even athletes feet spray for the chigger itch. I have over 100 bites on my feet and legs and have itched them til they have bled and I know I am working on an infection if I dont stop it. I have had these little boogers for 4 days now and its so annoying. I just scratched them raw and pored vinegar over them and that seemed to soothe my itching for now. Everyone is different and treatments vary but I believe if you rub them raw and pour something that stings over them and let it burn them cover with clear nail polish that you will get relief for several hours.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By sweet Ga.peach (Guest Post)
(07/21/2007)
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good old Vinegar will stop the itch and also Milk of Magnesia is wonderful too.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By SAATellite (Guest Post)
(07/21/2007)
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The best thing is the nail polish. Paint over the bite to cut off the oxygen supply to the chigger. It may take a couple of days - it will work. You may already have nail polish at home, sure clear is the most desirable. Any nail polish will work for you.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By Emma (Guest Post)
(07/20/2007)
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There is something available at the drug store called chigger guard. here we have to ask for it at the counter where the druggist is. I am from the south and they are a big problem here.The bottle is small and I think it's a little high in price. But believe it or not CLEAR NAIL POLISH is the same thing only bigger bottle and cheaper. WORKS REAL GREAT!!!! my husband just had them from the tips of his toesto the tops of his legs some on the behind and belly.he was almost solid bites. Really works great but don't put on personal areas.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By elva meyers (Guest Post)
(07/20/2007)
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What really works is Preparation H ........
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By Sherri (Guest Post)
(07/20/2007)
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Hi..
I know this sounds Crazy! but, I learned in college that is you put a bit of CLEAR nail polish on the bite, the air can not get to the bite to make it itch...Yes, I know, it sounds Crazy, but it works.
Good luck
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
We seem to get into them at least once a year too... the thing that works best for us is to put some crisco in a baggie and some salt. Squish it together then rub some on the bites. The salt feels like you are scratching and the crisco stopped the itch.
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RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
The best OTC remedy I've found is the products for "feminine itching", like Vagisil or Walmart's much cheaper version called Vagicaine Cream (around $1.50/tube). It has 20% Benzocaine, more than the stuff made for bug bites!
I also keep a prescription Cortizone cream around, which helps in the long term, but the other stuff is instant relief.
We have a big chigger problem here in Oklahoma & my son is allergic to them(the little buggers like to get into his underwear & chew on him!) & once even had to have a week of oral steroids from chiger bites.
The itching doesn't usually happen for about a day AFTER you get bit, so if you wait for the itching before doing something, it's harder to treat. It's easier to stop the itch from happening in the first place. To do this,use a mild bleach solution. It seems to work for mosquito bites too.
It takes very little bleach, if I can barely smell it, that's usually enough. When my kids have come in from a day of playing outside, I mix up bleach water & have them wipe themselves down before they shower.
Whenever I've been out in my yard, as soon as I come in, I mix a couple of drops of bleach in a cup of water,wipe my legs & feet down with it , then wipe it off with a damp paper towel.
If I know I have been bitten by a chigger or mosquito, sometimes I just get a dab of straight bleach on my finger & apply it directly to the bite & let it dry.
We have been plagued every year with chiggers. They really like me & my boys. My reactions are usually nickel to quarter size itchy spots that stay for weeks even if I don't scratch. Since we've been using the bleach method, we haven't had even 1/4 of the problems we usually do! A Boy Scout leader told me the bleach kills the enzyme in the chigger saliva that causes the itching.
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Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
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Post By Jeff (Guest Post)
(07/16/2007)
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I use the acne treatment medicines Neutrogena Body Clear lotion is great . Or use. the cleansers it helps reduce itching and swelling
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Request: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
My request pertains to stopping the ITCH of the chigger bites. I've tried rubbing alcohol, nail polish, Chigger-Aid, and antihistamines that wear off before I can take another dose. I don't want to bathe in bleach water. What else should I try? I hope you all can help me. It's hard getting a good night's sleep when you itch and I've scratched some until they're huge whelps and scab over. HELP!
Thanks in advance.
Cheryl from Missouri from Peculiar, MO
Answers:
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
I was amazed to find that pure olive oil and an equal amount of white vinegar stops the itch of mosquitos and exzema better than anything else I've tried (06/28/2006)
By Siris
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
I have found that pure ammonia helps. (06/28/2006)
By Susan
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
As a child, I would use iodized salt in a bath and soak. You might have to do this every day for awhile. (06/28/2006)
By Jo
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
I grew up in Florida and used to get chiggers fairly often. Unfortunately, like poison ivy, mostly you just have to bear with the itching for several days. I still think the best way to kill the little beasts is the fingernail polish method, but they will still itch till they die. Try taking a cool shower or bath with vinegar or oatmeal added to the water. No hot water - it aggravates your itching. Also, I really recommend cutting your fingernails as short as possible so you aren't able to itch. You could develop a nasty secondary infection if you repeatedly scratch so much you cause your skin to form scabs. Good luck! (06/29/2006)
By deedeept
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
My mom was just telling me to use bacon grease on my son's arm for chiggers. I think Mayo or anything like that would work. It smothers them. (06/29/2006)
By Michele
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
I am sure that this violates EPA and FDA and all kinds of other warnings but I am 62 and still alive so it won't kill you. I used to get covered with them every summer on the farm. My grandfather would have me dab some gasoline over them. ( I wouldn't light up for a minute or two :) ) Then, after the area completely dried apply clear nail polish. I would repeat this every morning, noon, and at night. Usually worked in 2 or 3 days at the most. Good luck. (06/30/2006)
By MollieB55
Re: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
I'd try vinegar and after it dries dab on some milk of magnesia. It is a clay based product and will draw as it dries. (06/30/2006)
By Carla Bledsoe
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
I just conquered the itchy irritations of Chigger bites. And I tried tons of suggested remedies from drug store to natural ones. Mix witchhazel and sulfurzyme power and make a paste and rub on area infected. I started this yesterday and am getting outstanding relief. Sulfurzyme can be obtained by Young Living Essential Oil Company. It also has Wolfberry in the capsul which is a wonderful antioxidant. Hope this helps you.
(07/05/2006)
By Tyna
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
You will not believe this but I am going to solve your problem.
Take the end of a washcloth and hold the point of it under boiling hot water (taking care not to burn yourself). As soon as the end is really very hot, take that end and touch the itchy bite with it. You will not burn yourself if you do it fairly quickly and it will actually feel like you are scratching it.
Do this with each bite you have -- touching the bite with the end of the very hot washcloth.
You will sleep like a baby for the rest of the night. It will last at least till morning.
PS.IMPORTANT: It won't work if it isn't hot enough.
(07/10/2006)
By Idia
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
I am battling this right now. I think a high consentration of Lidocaine works the best. Like burn gel. Anything with menthol would help cool it. (06/16/2007)
By Anna
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
Just info for all... the itch you have from chiggers is the reaction of the chigger saliva with your body after the chigger has bitten you. The chigger is not under the skin. It bit you and moved on to another host. You now have to treat the bite... not the chigger! (07/15/2007)
By stuart
RE: Stopping the Itch from Chigger Bites
Thanks everyone for your feedback. The remedy that has worked best is the aloe vera gel with lidocaine. It seems to really help. I found that Orajel Teething gel numbs pretty well also. (07/15/2007)
By Cheryl from Missouri
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