Remedies for chigger bite

Introduction to chigger bites

There are a lot of people who like to get away from the city during the weekend and to have the some fun and experience some relaxation in nature. However, they need to take precautions, because hanging out in tall grass and enjoying the natural sites some with risks, among them insect bites.

One of the most common insects that pose a threat to people who enjoy hiking or other activities that take place in the woods are chiggers.

Chiggers are actually larvae of the mite family and they tend to look quite similar to spiders.

They are usually red and have six legs and like to live in tall grass, trees, parks and marshy areas that are humid, moist and have some kind of water surrounding it.

When they bite a human, they inject an enzyme into the skin and they love to bite in between folds or skin, especially places such as behind the knees and armpits.

Symptoms

If you are been bitten by a chigger, here are some of the symptoms that who might experience.

There will be a lot of itching and burning sensation, accompanied by redness in the area in which the bite occurred, bumps on the skin and a mild rash.

There will also be red welts on the skin, significant pain in the area of the bite and swelling and irritation as well that stem from the rash that the bite and the enzyme that was released into the skin have induced. Treatment

Thankfully, there are some home remedies that can be used to treat these pesky bites.

A person can take some baking soda and mix it with water, and then make it into a paste that can be rubbed on the bites. With will soothe the itching and the swelling.

Castor oil can also be applied to the chigger bites in order to reducing the irritation and itching.

Believe it or not, toothpaste and mouthwash can also work, because they have antibacterial properties. However, when using mouthwash, it is important to make sure that it does not contain benzoic acid and alcohol.

Another strange but effective home remedy is bacon grease. It will act like petroleum jelly and reduce the swelling that is being caused by the bites.

Nail polish can also be used to reduce the itching sensation, just drop some nail polish on the bites. This is also a good idea for making the person unable to scratch the bites, which will only increase the pain and swelling and leave more chances for the bites to be infected.