If you live in the Southeast, South, or Midwest then you have probably had a run-in a time or two with these little guys. They are known by different names like red bugs, Berry bugs, Harvest mites, scrub-itch mites, and my favorite chiggers. Let’s just call them chiggers for now. Here is the best way to deal with the little devils.
Just A Little Back Ground Information
They are a reddish color and look like a speck of dirt on the skin to the naked eye. They love the wooded, grassy areas the best, and they become active in spring and stay that way until the first frost.
The first thing I was told about these little devils with legs is that they burrow into your skin and eat away at you that’s why you try to rip your skin off by scratching. Well, that’s just not true, thank goodness. Actually what they do is bite a hole into your skin and spit into that hole which breaks down your skin cells and that’s what they drink. Gross, I know, but better than having the little guys under your skin taking up residence.
Where They Bite
Chiggers love tight-fitting clothes like socks and underwear lines even the backside of your knees. But pretty much anywhere there is skin. Locals to the area where chiggers are at, tend to not be bothered as much by them as much as new blood (you) moving into the area however locals do still get bitten from time to time. So how do you deal with the bites?
The Bite
Like I said before they only bite you, no eggs or bugs under the skin so don’t go putting fingernail polish or vaseline on so you can suffocate them out because it won’t work they’re not there.
I can tell you from experience that when you first move to an area where these little devils are you will be playing connect the dots all over your body if you haven’t already ripped your skin open from scratching.
The problem with scratching these bites is it may feel good while you’re doing it but as soon as you stop wham it lights you up and you are scratching again this time much harder which is not a good thing. So how do you stop the itch? Well, let’s start by stopping the chiggers from getting on you in the first place then we will come back to the itch.
Stop Them In Their Tracks
Have you tried bug sprays even those oils like citronella, tea tree, jojoba, eucalyptus, geranium, even lemongrass which works somewhat. Maybe you tried different colored clothes yep been there done that. What I use to slow them down and it seems to have worked for everyone I recommended it to so far is plain old Windex.
Yep that’s right the blue spray you use on your windows and mirrors to get them clean will keep these little devils off your clothes. Does it mean that you won’t find that one or two lucky bugs that get past the Windex or maybe it piggybacks on your animal skin and finds you later to bite you so if that happens then what?
The Treatment
If you are like me and have tried the over-the-counter anti-itch creams and lotions like Diphenhydramine, Chigg-Away
which only dried your skin out and delays the healing (in the future don’t use those last two), but what you should do is a good soak in warm water, Epsom Salt
can help with the itch and make sure to use hot soapy water for your clothes which works the best to kill the chiggers that decided to stay on your clothes and not on you. But if you have to be unique like me and those things don’t work for you you will want to try this, you will need:
- A bowl or container (you won’t use for anything else)
- A washcloth
- A washcloth or hand towel
(you can stand on while taking a shower)
- Warm not hot water
- zest bar soap
and the most important item
Okay here is what you do if you don’t have very sensitive skin. Fill your bowl or container halfway full with warm water then add about a cup or two of bleach. Step into the shower, naked of course,
with your washcloth dip it into the diluted bleach, pat, don’t rub onto your body avoiding your private areas of course as much as possible and your face because the fumes can be strong. Make sure to get your sock line and underwear line and especially don’t forget your legs.
And do keep in mind since this is bleach you are using, it will help you find any cuts on your body you didn’t know you had. Owy, 0w you will definitely feel them for sure.
As your body starts to warm up because of the bleach that’s when you want to wash it off. If you have any diluted bleach left, pour it over your legs and arms.
Make sure to wash as much of the bleach out of your washcloths as you can or it will dissolve them.
Now that you have washed off the bleach and rinsed out your washcloth and your bowl, now is the time to use the zest all over your body you will want to use the same washcloth for this part to help get rid of any remaining bleach off the washcloth.
If you ask me why zest bar soap works for chigger bites I couldn’t tell you, I just know that other bar soaps I have used don’t do as good of a job as this one does.
Review
>>Chiggers only bite they don’t live under your skin or leave eggs.
>>They love tall grass and the woods.
>>Another small fact about chiggers is that it’s the babies that bite you once they reach adulthood they only eat plants not skin.
>>Animals get them too so Fluffy and Fido can bring them in on their skin and the chiggers will go from them to you.
>>If you’re going out into tall grass or the woods spray your pants down with Windex you don’t need to soak them with the Windex just a light spray will do, it won’t last all day so you will have to reapply. Once you come in wash down with diluted Bleach
>>Do keep in mind this only works if you come in and take a shower right after being out. It won’t work a day or two later when you decide to take a shower.
[Side Note]
Windex also helps keep ticks at bay, my next blog will be on mosquitoes and what proven kitchen spice you use in baking to keep them flying away from you in. https://facebafantasy.com/how-to-keep-mosquitos-away/
Disclaimer: All information on this website is found from Google, word of mouth, other sources, or my own experiences. All photos, videos, and or recordings posted on this site are copyright. I participate in affiliate programs meaning I may earn a commission from items purchased through my blogs at no extra charge to you. Thanks for reading and continue to check back with my blog you’ll never know what I will post next.
What? Make them put down their devices? You are so mean-just kidding of course. They will thank you later. Niki Ramon Lunette
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