Chigger bites home remedies in simple term are home treatments for getting rid of bugs.
Chiggers come with many names – harvest mites, harvest lice, red bugs, berry bugs etc. Where are they found? In long grasses, woody areas, weed patches and any place which have thick vegetation. When they come across a human body, they attach themselves to it.
Which are the places they target? The thin-skinned parts of the victim’s body – like armpits, ankles, behind the knees, waist and groin.
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How Chigger Bite
Only the larvae bite humans. They tend to choose warm, moist areas of the body. Chiggers have claws that help them grab onto the skin.
The chigger then attaches its mouth to the skin and injects saliva. The saliva contains an enzyme that breaks skin cells down to liquid form.
Your body responds by hardening skin cells around the saliva, creating a tube, or a stylostome through which the chigger sucks the host’s body fluids.
Chiggers can stay attached and feeding for several days. Usually, they last about 4 days before falling off.
Causes
Chiggers are a misery. But what causes them to breed and survive? Let’s take a look.
The Most Common Areas Where Chiggers Can Be Found
Not all grass is green. Chiggers thrive most in parks, gardens, grassy fields, forests, and moist areas, near rivers or lakes. Since they are red, they can be easiest to spot when in clusters on human skin. While juvenile chiggers have six legs, the adults have eight.
That’s why they are so powerful, despite being invisible.
Chigger Bites Symptoms
I know it’s a touchy and sensitive issue to talk about – but chigger bites on the male private parts can lead to severe itching, swelling and pain while passing urine.
No need to itch any more. There are home remedies at our disposal. Not one, but several.
Chiggers Bite Home Remedies
Here is how we are going to shoo away the chiggers:
1. Hot Shower
What all you need: Mild antiseptic soap, hot shower
Directions:
How it works: The first line of defence in case you have had a chigger bite is a hot shower. This causes the chiggers to ‘fall off’ from your body. It also minimizes reactions from the chiggers bite.
Tip: Never use hot water at the time of taking a shower. Also, washing your clothes in hot water helps.
2. Apply Ice
What all you need: Ice cubes
Directions:
How it works: A cold compress (and the numbing effect which follows) is one of the good ways to reduce the itching that comes from chigger bites.
Tip: Soaking the affected area in cool water may also bring relief from itching.
3. Baking Soda as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: 1 cup baking soda, and some cold water
Directions:
How it works: Baking soda is a natural acid neutralizer which helps relieve itching and reduces rashes.
Tip: Alternatively, you can also make a paste of 2 tsp baking soda and a little water, and apply it on the affected area.
Word of Caution: AVOID using baking soda whether it is on open wounds or broken skin.
4. Vicks VapoRub as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: A jar of Vicks VapoRub
Directions:
How it works: This common product in your medicine cabinet can put an end to itchy chigger bites (almost immediately). Thanks to the cooling menthol in it which affects skin’s itch receptors.
Tip: Repeat the process, if inflammation persists, or else skip it.
5. Aloe Vera as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Aloe vera leaf, peppermint oil (optional), olive oil (optional)
Directions:
How it works: Aloe vera plant has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties which helps cut down swelling, pain and inflammation.
Tip: As an option, take a few drops each of peppermint oil and olive oil. Mix it with half cup aloe vera gel. Now apply this mixture.
6. Apply Calamine Lotion
What all you need: A bottle of calamine lotion, and cotton balls
Directions:
How it works: Calamine lotion is a widely used remedy when it comes to treating itching and irritation.
7. Listerine Mouthwash as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Listerine mouthwash, and a cotton ball
Directions:
How it works: Listerine mouthwash has ‘menthol’ in it which cools the irritated skin and gives relief from itching. The antiseptic properties of Listerine also help in reducing the swelling.
Tip: Why Listerine, you can use any other brand of a mouthwash which has ‘menthol’ in it.
8. Use a Dryer
What all you need: A Hairdryer
Directions:
How it works: Blowing a dryer on the affected skin is also a good way to provide relief from itching.
Tip: Make sure you hold the hairdryer some distance away from the skin or else your skin could burn.
9. Peppermint Oil as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Peppermint essential oil
Directions:
How it works: Peppermint oil has a cooling sensation which provides total relief from skin irritation and itching.
Tip: Have sensitive skin? Or cannot bear the strong nature of essential oils? In such a situation, dilute peppermint oil with any carrier oil (e.g, olive oil or coconut oil).
10. Oatmeal as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal, and lukewarm water
Directions:
How it works: Oatmeal has soothing properties which provide instant relief from itching (which is the most common symptom of chigger bites).
Tip: Have severe symptoms of chigger bites? Then try out oatmeal remedy twice a day for best results. If the situation is bearable (and not worse), then make use of this remedy only once a day.
11. Castor Oil as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Castor oil bottle (or put 1 tsp of castor oil in a tiny bowl)
Directions:
How it works: Castor oil gets you relief from the constant itchiness and irritation caused by chigger bites.
12. Tea Tree Essential Oil as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: 1/2 tsp tea tree oil, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup of pineapple juice, 1/2 tsp dish soap, cotton ball
Directions:
How it works: This remedy has a mix of several ingredients which gets your chigger bites problem on the road-to-recovery soon after application.
13. Aspirin as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Few aspirin tablets
Directions:
How it works: The salicylic acid in aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties. This helps reduce the redness, pain and swelling caused by chigger bites.
14. Tea Bags as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Herbal tea bag (or green tea), and a cup of water
Directions:
How it works: Some ‘Tea gyaan’. Did you know, tea has tannins which have astringent properties. These provide ample relief from redness and swelling.
Tip: You can either use green tea, herbal tea or black tea.
15. Vinegar as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: 2 cups ACV (raw and unfiltered), bathwater (lukewarm)
Directions:
How it works: Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has anti-itching and anti-septic properties. This helps in getting rid of itching and inflammation/ swelling.
16. Nail Polish as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Nail polish (1 to 2 tsp)
Directions:
How it works: Nail polish is a good remedy as it prevents you from scratching and itching the chigger bite excessively.
Tip: Just a single coat of nail polish is enough to treat chigger bites.
17. Olive Oil as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Olive oil
Directions:
How it works: Olive oil can give you major respite from skin irritation and inflammation (as a result of chigger bites). Being rich in Vit. E, olive oil reduces itching and helps in healing of the skin.
18. Baby Oil as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Baby oil (Johnsons and Johnsons)
Directions:
How it works: Expect your itchy skin to get some relief from chiggers bites when you apply baby oil on it.
19. Ace Bandage as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Ace Bandage (small)
Directions:
How it works: Using a bandage on the itchy area reduces excessive itchiness. It also interferes with the air supply and reduces itching.
20. Cornstarch as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: 1 cup cornstarch
Directions:
How it works: Cornstarch is effective when it comes to reducing soreness and itching of the skin caused by chigger bites.
Tip: Whenever you feel the urge to itch, repeat the cornstarch remedy.
21. Epsom Salt as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: 1 tbsp Epsom salt, 1 cup water
Directions:
How it works: Epson salt has magnesium sulphate (and other minerals) which soothe irritated skin.
22. Neem as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Neem leaves, water
Directions:
How it works: Also called Indian lilac, neem is very effective in treating chigger bites. From Grandma’s days, we all know neem to be the best Ayurvedic recipe which treats skin inflammation and infection.
Tip: Don’t want to take the trouble of boiling neem leaves? Then, take a neem-based cream or lotion and apply it on the affected skin.
23. Lime as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Fresh limes
Directions:
How it works: Being acidic in nature, limes help eliminate chiggers quickly. Plus, the anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties within the limes help stop any itching.
Tip: Since limes cause a stinging sensation, be careful to use this remedy if you have bites that are bleeding.
24. Rubbing Alcohol as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Rubbing alcohol
Directions:
How it works: When rubbing alcohol is applied on the chigger bites, it evaporates in a second. It is this evaporation which creates a cooling sensation on the itchy skin.
25. Turmeric as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Turmeric root (fresh)
Directions:
How it works: Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which heal the swollen and irritated chigger bites.
Tip: Don’t have fresh turmeric root? No probs. Use dried turmeric powder. Mix the powder with few drops of water so as to make a paste. Now apply this paste over the chigger bites. Let it dry first. Then wash it off with water.
READ: All health Benefits Of Turmeric
26. Chamomile as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Chamomile flowers (dried), water
Directions:
How it works: Chamomile is another useful remedy for relieving itching, soothing the skin, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
Tip: Alternatively, go ahead and dilute 4 to 5 drops of chamomile oil in 1 tbsp coconut oil. Just apply this mixture on the affected skin and rinse off with water.
27. Drinking Herbal Tea
What all you need: Green tea or chamomile tea (preferably in tea bags)
Directions:
How it works: Drinking any form of herbal tea (without milk) brings soothing relief to the itchy chigger bites.
28. Honey as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Raw honey, band-aid (preferably)
Directions:
How it works: Honey has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. So it is a good remedy for treating chigger bites.
Tip: The honey remedy is good for other insect bites too.
READ: All health benefits Of Honey
29. Garlic as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Garlic clove
Directions:
How it works: Have plenty of chigger bites? Go in for garlic cloves and watch chiggers and mosquitoes stay away.
Tip: Apart from treating chigger’s bites, garlic is also good for immunity.
30. Lavender Oil as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Lavender Essential Oil
Directions:
How it works: For prompt alleviation from chigger bite, try out the lavender essential oil.
31. Onion as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Raw onion
Directions:
How it works: Holding a raw onion on the insect bite helps to tackle chigger bites.
READ: Health Benefits Of Onion Peels
32. Calendula as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Herbal calendula lotion or cream
Directions:
How it works: Calendula is a herb which has soothing, moisturizing and rejuvenating properties. Good for treating chigger bites.
Tip: You can also apply calendula cream (which are found in health food stores and pharmacies)
33. Mild Soap as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Mild and gentle soap, warm water, towel
Directions:
How it works: Washing the affected area with mild soap and warm water calms the skin and soothes the bites right away.
Tip: See to it that the soap is ‘unscented’. Fancy soaps can irritate the bites more.
34. Apply Organic Vegetables
What all you need: Choose any of these organic veggies – Papaya, Garlic, Onion
Directions:
How it works: There are few foods grown from the ground which have chemicals that can decrease swelling and tingling. The organic vegetables mentioned above can be of help in treating chigger bites.
35. Ammonia Solution as Chigger Bites Home Remedies
What all you need: Few tsp of ammonia solution, and water
Directions:
How it works: A swap of ammonia on the bite is enough to reduce the pain and itching caused by a chigger bite.
When you know how to prevent chigger bites, you have won half the battle. Here are some prevention tips.
Prevention
When to Visit a Doctor?
Should you experience the following – fever, headache, vomiting, shortness of breath, joint pain or pus from the chigger bites, go and see a doctor immediately.
After Care Tips
Started to itch, did you? Or spotted little red bumps on your skin after spending a summer day outside? Turn to home remedies for chiggers in order to ease your symptoms. They are fast-acting and highly effective in getting these tiny insects off your skin.
Have ever experience chigger bites? Do you have any question? Use the comment box below.