What Are Chiggers?
Chiggers are a form of mite. They’re a red-orange color, and so tiny they’re nearly invisible to the naked eye. Chiggers are found worldwide but are most common in warm, humid areas—like Southwest Virginia in the summer. They tend to live in grassy fields, forests and other areas with dense vegetation.
Despite what many people think, chiggers don’t actually bite. Instead, they attach themselves to your skin and release digestive enzymes. The body’s immune response to these enzymes is what causes all that itching from “bites.”
How To Identify Chigger Bites
The most common symptom of a chigger bite is intense itching. It usually starts a few hours after contact and can last for several days.
Chiggers tend to attach themselves where your clothes are tight against your skin, like around your waist, ankles, groin or behind your knees. The bites look like red, raised bumps, sometimes with a tiny blister in the center. They usually show up in clusters or lines, showing the chigger’s path across on your skin.
“If you see red bites clustered around your waistband, you can assume they’re more likely from chiggers rather than mosquitoes or other bugs,” says Stephanie Lareau, MD, an Emergency Medicine physician and Wilderness Medicine specialist at Carilion Clinic.
Chiggers in the U.S. don’t transmit disease and generally aren’t dangerous. But scratching can lead to secondary infections, which may require a trip to your doctor.
Preventing Chigger Bites
The best way to deal with chigger bites is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
- Wear Protective Clothing: When venturing into areas where chiggers are common, wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Tuck your pants into your socks and wear tight shirt cuffs to help keep chiggers from getting to your skin.
- Use Bug Spray: Apply insect repellants containing permethrin, which can kill chiggers, to your clothes and gear. For your skin, use repellants with DEET or picaridin (DEET can degrade certain synthetic materials, so spray carefully).
- Avoid High-Risk Areas: If you can, avoid walking through chigger-friendly areas like tall grasses (especially during the warmer months!). If you do venture into one of these areas, take a shower as soon as possible afterward.
Chigger Bites Treatment
The bites will go away on their own. But there are steps you can take to lessen the itching and discomfort.
- Wash the Area: Use soap and water to clean the area where you were bitten. This can help remove any remaining chiggers and reduce the risk of infection.
- Visit the Pharmacy: Over-the-counter creams with hydrocortisone, calamine lotion or antihistamines can help relieve the itching.
- Ice It: A cold compress can help reduce swelling and numb the itching.
- Don’t Scratch: Try your best not to scratch the bites. Scratching can make the irritation worse and might lead to scarring or infection. Redness, swelling and pus are all infection warning signs.
If your chigger bites show signs of infection or are not improving after 2 weeks, reach out to your primary care physician. They can examine your skin and recommend next steps.
