Chiggers are tiny insects that exist in the form of larva of harvest mites. During the stages of egg and nymphs, mites will feed on plants and only the larval stage of mites attack humankind. People who visit woods and field area are infected with chigger bites commonly. Chiggers develop in moist areas and dark environment with lot of shrubs. Usually their presence is not noticed by us unless it starts developing in rashes. Actually chiggers do not take blood from the skin; rather they consume fluids available on the skin cells. Chiggers make a hole on the skin and inject their enzyme that causes ruptures in the skin cells. It also hardens the surrounding tissues of the skin thus making the skin as straw for consuming skin fluids.
Chigger bites can cause symptoms like swelling, irritation, red bumps and discomfort with pain. It attaches to the tight clothing like socks and underwear and live on dark areas of your body. Very often chigger bites on the areas like groin, armpits and under the thighs. You can prevent chigger bites by wearing loose fitting clothes while going into the woods. Ensure that you are taking good shower once you get back home from outdoors.
It is believed that applying nail polishes on the infected area would reduce itching sensation. However it is not true since it does not destroy the chiggers. Using antiseptic cream containing caladryl lotion will help in healing the place. Corticosteroid ointments like calamine lotion will help in reducing the itch. In most of the cases, chigger bites does not warrant any treatment.
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