A chigger attack can leave you miserable. Itching, burning and the unrelenting urge to scratch. What works and what doesn’t? These hard to see pests create incredibly itchy bites! A common misconception is that the insect actually burrows itself into skin, but this is not true. A chigger, which is a type of mite, (Trombicula alfreddugesi) injects a destructive enzyme into the skin. The larval stage of the mite, creates a feeding tube to feast on the dead tissue. They tend to aim for thinner areas of skin so often bites occur on ankles, groin area, and behind the knees. Since the itching persists for days if not treated, many people have come up with home remedies for treating these nasty bites. We have compiled a list of helpful treatments for you to try if you ever stumble unfortunately upon these hungry monsters.
- ChiggerX
- Cortisone Cream
- Calamine lotion
- Baking soda paste
- Essential oil such as Lavender, Lemongrass, Sage, Thyme, or Tea Tree Oil
- Witch Hazel
- Coconut Oil
- Benedryl
- Chigarid
And What About….. Other Ideas
The following are frequently suggested methods based on the myth that the chiggers burrow into your skin, however, usually once the affected areas has been scratched the chiggers have been disturbed and are no longer attached to the skin. Although, if you suspect they are still on you these methods could help.
- Clear nail polish
- Butter
- Smothering them in any oily substance
Information source: medicinenet.com
Protecting Yourself from a Chigger Attack
How do you protect yourself from these vicious insects? There are some steps you can take when in the environment where chiggers like to hang out. One this is to protect your skin with clothing. If you aren’t afraid to make your own fashion statement, wear your socks pulled up over the cuffs of your pants. When handling hay or pulling weeds, wear long sleeves and gloves. The best prevention method to getting chigger bites is to not let them get on your skin in the first place.
Commercial insect repellants will have some effect on repelling chiggers but many do not want the chemicals on their skin. I know I am hesitant to put the chemicals on me! Natural remedies for a chigger attack may offer some relief, too. My favorite method is to use a blend of essential oils, such as lemon eucalyptus oil, around 50 drops, mixed into 4 ounces of witch hazel.
Chiggers female, magnified 50 times, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1873.
Where do you Commonly Suffer a Chigger Attack?
The insect is a larval/nymph stage of a mite and seems to be happy living in tall grasses, shaded soil, such as overgrown gardens, and moist areas. Many people commonly suffer from a chigger attack while berry picking in the spring. Where do you come in contact with chiggers? Did you know that chiggers are not common at all in some states? They are common in the southern states, the southeast, and the Midwest. The western and north western states, along with the upper New England states have very low incidence. More information on a chigger attack can be found here.
Looking for more information on mixing your own bug bite relief spray or a natural bug repellent?
From the 104 Homestead Natural Insect Repellents
From The Herbal Academy of New England Crafting a Natural Bug Repellent with Essential Oils
Straight old fashion ammonia like for cleaning btw never mix with bleach the two equal cross bone poison but for those chiggers I go was covered kills them where the nail polish smothers them but they are in your skin gross lol.
They are not in your skin; that’s a myth. they stick a feeding tube into your skin, but their bodies are not in your skin.
I remember when I went with a school class walk thru the woods, we had to Chigger treat our legs first. They had socks filled with Powdered Sulfa, which is yellow. You then pat around your ankles on the outside of your socks. Then stuff your pants into your socks. A. NOTE…don’t wear any socks that you don’t want to remain yellow as sulfa does stain somewhat. I believe the school ordered this large bunch of sulfa from a Pharmacy. OH, and if you powdered your ankles very well, then you didn’t bothered by any of those darn Chiggers.
I haven’t heard this before. thank you for commenting. – Janet
Last year I had the worst case of chigger bites I have ever seen. The entire bottom half of my legs were covered. I tried pretty much everything to get relief. The only way to completely stop the incessant itch was to submerge my legs in ice cold water. I figured this out when it was a super hot day and I filled a bucket with well water and baking soda to try and get relief. It was instant relief that lasted for a couple hours. Turns out the baking soda wasn’t necessary. I’d wake up in the middle of the night itching like crazy, get up soak my legs, then sleep like a baby for a few more hours. Worked like a charm.
they sure are miserable insects. Thanks for sharing what worked for you – Janet
Ice water should kill them if it’s cold enough and you sustain the cold long enough. I sumberged my foot to my calf and noticed a few floating specks of red and a very translucent brown red speck as well. I didn’t have a magnifying glass or I would have strained the water through some tissue and then confirmed what the specks were.
They are the limit!! My legs have about 10+ bites now–8/13/17 from 1week ago!! Ugh?? My question: why out of 6 other people at the bonfire am I always the only one bitten?? I’m the laughing stock !! And miserable!! Using sweet almond oil and essential oil tea tree oil!! I’ll stink them out???
I was the same! First hotdog roast of the summer and now I am miserable! I went to the dr, today thinking I had Shingles! Nope well I guess I am lucky on that one! Just a really bad case of chigger bites on my left leg! No one else got munched on. Using my essential oils (tea tree, peppermint, and lavender mixed into aloe Vera gel) usually it helps so I can get a good nights sleep.
Itching from Iowa!
D. Ruthart
my Grandma used to have us put comphophenique around our ankles it worked, I did have the misfortune of getting into some berrybushes without protection, miserable ! had too many for the nailpolish trick and used hairspray ! worked !
I’m a chigger magnet. I also have a severe reaction to them, lasting for a month or more. I’ve found the ONLY thing that gives me relief from the itching is Campho phenique!
Hi Jamie I can see how campho phenique would work. ChiggerX has similar ingredients in it. These chigger attacks are the worst!
We have had these spider bites, because they are arachnids. I have the sores for months some times. The only thing that works is using a fine needle (clean) and sticking it into the bite and expressing the watery blood out of them. I do this repeatedly every time they start filling up again and itching. I have tried Chigerex, cortisone, baking soda, salt, vinegar, bleach, calamine lotion, hot water, ice, Preparation H, nail polish, ammonia, vaseline, oils, alcohol, peroxide, benadril sp., cleanser, and they have just stayed. I get huge welts and scars to prove them. If I would have know we had them where we live, I would have moved immediately. I am bleeding them off of the head of my husband currently. They swell up to nickel size and the pressure is too much. I’ve considered hot wires and glue guns. I did get staph infection the first time I got them. Deet doesn’t seem to help us much. They feel like they are from outer space, I swear. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t really have any recommendations but it sure sounds like you have quite an infestation .
Look around your yard for a common weed known as “Plantain”, some people call it rabbit lettuce, snake weed, etc. Look it up on the internet. It works amazing for insect bites. Take clean leaves and tear or shred them, add a little spit and place on your bites. Works for spiders and stinging insects of all kinds.
thank you. We have tons of plantain and it is wonderful for many types of insect bites and other inflammations
Spray permethrin under your crawl space. Use precaution not to get it on your self or inhale the mist. For in the house put high quality diatomaceous earth lightly around the baseboards and leave there for several months. Helps with infestation of a lot of bugs. Do not let the babies get around it. I have used diatomaceous earth for flea infestation that nothing else would work on but then it was just me in the house. I use it in the chicken coop too. I powder the chickens with it. If you want to see what is crawling around the house use the sticky mouse traps. You can also identify the type of spider that is bothering you.
Campho-Phenique found in any drugstore should be on your list.
True. We use the chiggerX product which is similar thank you
Every year in early spring, we spread 50 lbs of granulated sulphur on our front and back yard. It can be purchase at a home improvement store or a feed store if you live in a farming community. It gets rid of about 99% of the chiggers. It also gets rid of mice, fleas and snakes won’t come into the yard. Hate chigger bites. They hang on forever.
I also hate chiggers! Its the most miserable itchy bite
We got them bad a couple of years ago! Both hubby and had legs completely covered in bites. Soaking in epsom salt baths or collodial oatmeal baths helped us. We hate using commercial repellents too, but feel being covered in dozens and dozens of bites was worse. Be sure, whether you use commercial repellents or essential oils to spray the outside of your clothes too – especially your shoes and socks to keep them from starting their journey up your leg! They really like close-fitting places like socks, waistbands, bras, etc. Nasty buzzards! 😛
About 7 yes ago I, my husband, and three kids came home to Michigan from West Virginia with hellish itching. We had no idea what it could be. We took the kids to their doctor who wasn’t sure what it was and asked his partner. When we mentioned West Virginia the partner realised right away what it was as he is originally from a state that has chiggers. I was never more grateful for Michigan’s A.D.D. weather. Apparently our climate is bad enough for too many months for chiggers. We and the first doctor have never even heard of the nasty little beasts.
The first time I had them attack me, I had no idea what was going on. A friend from Arkansas saw the welts and suggested that this might be chiggers. Ewww.
chew plantain leaf (the plant not the banana) mix with green clay or bentonite clay to make a paste and coat the bites, let it dry and spray wash off. It sucks the rotten buggar’s enzymes from your skin. The clay works by itself also. The chewed plantain ( your spit enzymes counter act the bug’s) works very well on spider bites also
Thank you for adding to the list!