How to Prevent and Treat Chigger Bites
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In this post, we are going to go over almost 50 ways to prevent and treat chigger bites. If you’ve ever experienced chigger bites I’m sure you know how horrible they are. I want to give you all the options there are to prevent and treat chigger bites so you can look and find something that will help you.
You know the scene, right? A couple in love, a warm spring day. The sun is shining, a gentle breeze is blowing, the picnic basket is full of goodies. Their pants are short, their feet are bare.
There is no need for a picnic blanket, the grass by the pond is tall and soft…
They eat, drink some wine, roll in the grass… And go home covered in love bites.
Well, I don’t know who came up with this scene, but it ain’t happening where I live. Here is the South, the only bites this couple is going to go home with are chigger bites!
How to Prevent and Treat Chigger Bites…
Oh… How horrible they are! Have you ever had chigger bites? if you think that tick bites are torturous think again. Chigger bites are so itchy and the itch just doesn’t go away.
I mean… for weeks!
My first experience with chigger bites was right after I bought my country home. I came from the city to a property that stood empty for 7 years…
The grass was tall, there was garbage everywhere… Old, rotten buildings, and forgotten paths. I stepped right into chigger heaven.
I didn’t know there was such a thing as chiggers… I grew up in Israel, in a small kibbutz. I was outdoors 90% of my childhood but we don’t have chiggers in Israel.
They need humidity and moist conditions and Israel is too dry. So I stepped into the tall grass without a care in the world. I was ready to bring this property to life.
Finally, I escaped the city and stepped foot on my personal piece of American country heaven!
Only a day later I was in hell!
I didn’t feel anything biting me… But the next day I noticed tiny red bumps on my legs just before the itching started.
And I thought I was going to lose my mind!
I turned to the locals and they said the word… CHIGGERS!
Say what!?
A quick Google search introduced me to the little unseen devils, and some research led to the list that you’ll find below.
I had to claim the property back from the chiggers.
I did, even though it was a hard battle… And the fact that I didn’t lose my mind in the process is a miracle!
What Are Chiggers?
Chiggers are mites from the family of spiders and ticks (arachnids). They are red and so tiny we can’t see them with the naked eye.
Chiggers live in moist areas around lakes, rivers, and ponds, or close to ground level in grassy fields, gardens, and forests because they need humidity in order to survive.
Here is some information from Wikipedia…
Trombiculid mites (chiggers) go through a life cycle of egg, larva, nymph, and adult. The larval mites feed on the skin cells of animals.
The six-legged parasitic larvae feed on a large variety of creatures, including humans, rabbits, toads, box turtles, quail, and even some insects.
After crawling onto their hosts, they inject digestive enzymes into the skin that break down skin cells. They do not actually “bite”, but instead form a hole in the skin called a stylostome and chew up tiny parts of the inner skin, thus causing severe irritation and swelling.
The severe itching is accompanied by red, pimple-like bumps (papules) or hives and skin rash or lesions on a sun-exposed area.
For humans, itching usually occurs after the larvae detach from the skin.
After feeding on their hosts, the larvae drop to the ground and become nymphs, then mature into adults, which have eight legs and are harmless to humans. In the post larval stage, they are not parasitic and feed on plant material.The females lay three to eight eggs in a clutch, usually on a leaf or under the roots of a plant, and die by autumn.
What Do Chigger Bites Look Like?
Chiggers will climb on you even if you wear shoes and long pants or they will climb on your arms as you work in the garden. Then, they will migrate all over the body in search of the perfect spot to feed.
Once they find a juicy spot, they will insert their feeding tube into your skin and inject enzymes that cause destruction to the skin. They then feed on the damaged tissue.
They don’t burrow into the skin as many people think. The itching is horrendous and once you scratch the spot you squish the chigger to death. But the itching stays f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
Most of the time, you’ll see the “bites” behind the knees, in the crotch area, under the arms, or around the ankles. Those are areas of the body where the skin is thin and it’s easier for the chiggers to insert their feeding structures.
But as I write this, I have a few glorious bites (even though they are not really bites I’ll call them that to make it easier…) on my tummy and other areas that are not mentioned above so although areas with thin skin are more common, you can still experience bites in other places.
So how do you know if the itchy red bumps you see on your body are chigger bites or mosquito bites?
Many times, you’ll see a cluster of little red bites in a certain area. They might be small red dots or bigger, like a mosquito bite. But other times you’ll have a bite here and a bite there.
As opposed to a mosquito bite, you won’t feel the chigger bite as it happens. About 1-3 hours after the chigger injected its digestive enzyme the symptoms will occur.
Many times you’ll find the red bumps in areas that were covered with clothes, not exposed areas that mosquitoes can reach.
And the itch of a chigger bite is much worse than that of a mosquito bite. It lasts for a few weeks instead of a few days.
Complications From Chigger Bites…
Chiggers, at least in North America, are not known to carry any diseases, and the bites themselves do not produce any long-term complications.
However, since the itching is so intense, you must be careful not to cause yourself wounds by scratching, those open wounds can sometimes get infected by bacteria.
How to Prevent Chigger Bites…
Before we go down the list of things you can do to prevent chigger bites, let me make sure you understand a couple of things:
The first is that I personally did not try all of these suggestions below. I collected them from country friends that have some experience with chiggers.
I tried a few, and I will note the ones that I did try and worked for me and, in the end, I will tell you our before-you-go-outside routine as it is right now.
The second thing you have to know is that not all the solutions you’ll find here are healthy for you.
For example, to spray yourself with kerosene is obviously not healthy for your skin and is not good for you to inhale.
However, if I must go clear an untouched area of three feet tall vegetation on my property on a summer day, I’ll probably do it.
Maybe if you ever had to deal with a hundred chigger bites on your body at the same time, you’ll do it too. Maybe not. It’s your decision to make.
The third thing you should know is that not all the solutions below might be safe for your other animals, plants, or young children.
Lastly, some of the solutions below are flammable like kerosene or turpentine so make sure that you are aware and take that into consideration.
My goal is to simply give you all the options I know of, it’s your responsibility to make sure they are safe for your situation.
OK, let’s go…
Preventing Chigger Bites…
Wear Pantyhose Under Your Pants – some say that the chiggers can’t bite through the pantyhose. make sure to wash the pantyhose very well in hot water once you take it off.
Keep Grass Cut Short and Your Yard Clean – make sure to cut the grass on your property short from early spring until fall when temperatures rise over 60F.
Dust Diatomaceous Earth on Your Clothes – chiggers don’t like this stuff just like other crawlers. Before you go outside, dust the lower part of your pants and shirt sleeves with some DE.
Spread Diatomaceous Earth on Your Lawn – another way you can use it is by spreading it on your lawn. Use 5 pounds per 1000 sq. ft.
Vinegar – I didn’t try it, but since vinegar can pretty much save the world I am sure this will work. Spray your clothes with vinegar before going to work outside. Here is how to make your own apple cider vinegar.
Insect repellent – some say that just regular insect repellent works for them…
DEET – others say you’ll have to go 98% DEET for it to work.
Turpentine – spray your clothes with turpentine before going outside.
Vick’s VaporRub – apply the ointment on the lower part of your legs and on the arms.
Plant Marigolds – apparently, chiggers don’t like marigolds. You kill two birds at once here, your garden will be both chigger free and pretty.
Plant Horsemint/Bee balm – another beautiful plant that will keep the chiggers away.
Mentholatum Ointment – apply on ankles and lower legs and also on arms.
Spray Kerosene – spray kerosene on clothes before going outside.
Skin so Soft From Avon – this is one of the things I tried that really works. It smells good but bugs in general don’t like it at all. I also put this on my kids.
Bag Balm – apply on lower legs and arms before going outside.
Garlic – just like vinegar, garlic can save the world. Eat one clove of garlic a day and chiggers and mosquitoes will stay away. Your immune system will be very strong too.
Dust Clothes With Sulfur Powder – this seems to be what most people will stand behind when it comes to dealing with chiggers. Dust this powder on your clothes and shoes before going to work outdoors.
Spread Sulfur Pellets – spread pellets on your lawn. use 5pounds per 1000 sq. ft. The suggestion is to do this around the end of May before temperatures get too hot.
Sulfur Supplement – add sulfur to your diet and the bugs won’t like you.
doTERRA Lemongrass Essential Oil – apply topically on the lower part of legs and arms.
doTERRA Lavender Essential Oil – apply topically on the lower part of legs and arms.
doTERRA Geranium Essential Oil – apply topically on the lower part of legs and arms.
doTERRA TerraShield Essential Oils Blend – I love this blend, it works great for mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, and whatever else is out there looking for a taste of your blood.
It’s natural, and I use this for my kids too. We spray it or spread it topically on our bodies before going outside.
If you would like my help in opening a doTERRA account please comment below and I will get back to you via email. Or you can email me at lee@ladyleeshome.com. I’d love to help.
Rubber Bands – place rubber bands on the ends of your pants by your ankles and the end of your sleeves by your wrists. This will prevent the chiggers from climbing and taking a walk all over your body.
Bug B Gon– Bug B Gon might help control the chigger party on your lawn.
Guinea Hens – this is a controversial topic.
Some people say that chiggers are too small for the guinea to find and eat, others that raise guineas say they don’t have any kind of bug problems on their lawns so maybe the guineas do eat the chiggers or simply scare them away with their non -stop screaming.
Anyway, guineas will take care of ticks, fleas, caterpillars, and so on so. They are a great addition to your homestead… Or… Maybe not. Find out why I don’t keep guineas in this post.
Rub Hands All Over Your Body – before you come inside, rub your hands up and down your body to kill any chiggers that are on you and didn’t bite yet.
How to Treat Chigger Bites…
Let’s say you accidentally fell into a field infested with chiggers.
You rolled around a bit and now you are covered with chigger bites…
You are going out of your mind, swearing you are never going to step outside ever again, and by the end of the first day you are ready to move to heaven, where, most likely, there are no chiggers.
Let’s see how we can keep you with us a bit longer…
Vicks Vaporub – apply on bites.
After Bite – apply on bites as directed.
Ssssting Stop – apply on bites as directed.
Vinegar – use a cotton ball to dab vinegar on bites.
Baking Soda – mix baking soda with a bit of water or coconut oil to make a paste and apply on bites.
Aloe vera – good old aloe vera can help heal the skin. It might help with the itching only a little bit but it will definitely help the skin heal faster.
It’s best to use your homegrown aloe vera, but if you don’t have a plant you can get aloe vera gel.
Comfrey Ointment – comfrey leaf has many skin healing properties. Apply to skin as directed.
Baby Oil – some say applying baby oil on bites helps with the itch.
Nail polish – many people suggest applying nail polish onto the bites.
It is based on the misconception that chiggers burrow into the skin, and so by applying nail polish you suffocate them, but chiggers don’t burrow into the skin..
Still, I’ve tried it and there is something in the nail polish that does help with the itch and also seems to dry the bite rather fast.
All Good Goop Organic Balm – this product was recommended to me and it looks promising even though I haven’t tried it yet.
Calamine Lotion – apply as directed.
Chigg Away – might be a bit more geared towards chigger bites… Apply as directed.
Benadryl – Benadryl tablets for adults and Benadryl liquid for kids. Take as directed.
Benadryl Gel – apply on the skin as directed.
Orajel – apply on bites. This will help with the itch by numbing the area.
Epsom Salt – add Epsom salt to a warm bath as directed and soak for 20 minutes.
Epsom Salt Cream – apply on bites.
Lye Soap – scrub your skin good with old fashion lye soap.
Bleach – add one cup of bleach to the bathtub and soak for 20 minutes. I know, it sounds awful but some people say it really helps. I haven’t tried it yet.
doTERRA Essential Oils – last but not least, my beloved essential oils that I turn to for just about anything.
To support healthy skin you can use frankincense, lavender, melaleuca, immortelle, copaiba, magnolia, rose, and many others.
Treating Chigger Bites…
To handle the first couple of days I use Benadryl.
I could handle the itch but if the kids have “accidentally” rolled around in chiggerville and are covered in bites, I give them kids Benadryl every 5 hours for the first couple of days.
We soak in an Epsom salt bath once or, preferably, twice a day for 20 minutes. This really helps to dry the bites, but it takes around three baths until you feel the difference.
We use the essential oils that I mentioned above, Benadryl cream and Chigg Away for the itch and aloe vera and essential oils to help heal the skin.
The reality is that country living is not always as romantic as it sounds. You get to deal with creatures that you don’t find in the city.
I remember watching an episode of Alaska The Last Frontier a while ago. I was looking at the amazing views and the way of life those people have and I was thinking how amazing it all looks and how I would like to live there, like that, too.
Then, all of a sudden they filmed one of the guys there standing in a swarm of mosquitoes, trying to breathe without them going in his mouth.
He explained how, because everything is so moist in the Summer when the ice is melting, they need to deal with gazillions of mosquitoes.
If there is one kind of bug that I hate just as much as chiggers it’s mosquitoes. Suddenly the view wasn’t that amazing anymore.
But if you are anything like me, you’ll take chiggerville (or mosquitoville) over too-many-peopleville any day. So at least now you have a few things you can do if you happen to live in or visit the village.
Did I forget anything? Tell me in the comment below how you deal with chiggers.
Hi! I’m Lady Lee. I help homesteaders simplify their homesteading journey while still producing a ton of food! I am a single mother of four, I was born in Israel and raised in an agricultural commune called a Kibbutz. Now I homestead in central NC.
U can get ’em in short grass too
I feel that oatmeal baths also work..i had about 100 bites n taking these baths everyday in warm water with Benadryl n allying calamine lotion on them ..dried them up fast
Great tip. Thanks!
Hi. I was wondering how long it takes chigger bites to go away. My son was bitten by something and the bites look like chiggers. They no longer itch but he has about 30 spots on his body that look like chigger bites… A bit like chickenpox with a centre. It’s been 2 weeks and they are still there. Is this normal? Thanks.
It might not be chiggers. Chigger bites usually are still itching after three and even four weeks. It takes them forever to heal. If you just leave them alone it might be six weeks or so before the skin heals. If you are consistent in helping it with oils and creams it will probably heal a bit faster.
Hi Lee, I moved to KS from ME over 4 years ago and had never experienced chiggers or oak mites till I got here. After years of suffering, this is the best solution I’ve learned so far (trial and error). We keep our lawn cut short as I’ve learned that chiggers’ preferred prey are those reptiles and amphibians that live close to the ground, i.e., frogs and snakes. Whenever I have to go into grassy areas or my garden, I wear long pants tucked into my socks, long-sleeved shirts preferably turtle necks, garden gloves and on the outside of all of that I spray the Avon’s Skin So Soft (and yes, I’m HOT! but that heat is so better than being bitten!). When I come into the house, I shed everything, clothes go in the washer and I go into the shower immediately. If I have a new bite, I shower using a Japanese washcloth which is rough but not too rough, and scrub the crap out of my bites! After drying off, I apply Extra Strength Benadryl cream to each bite. When the itch begins again, I redo the same procedure. For my grandkids, I’ve found what works is a warm baking soda bath where each bite is rubbed with a normal cloth and after the fun bath, application of the Benadryl cream. Kids don’t scratch like us big kids, right? I tell them don’t scratch and if it itches, tell me and I’ll put more cream on it. The less a bite is scratched, the faster it will heal. Mine went from 3 weeks of torture to one week of bliss. The DE on the grass does help I’ve found as well by the way. Then I go out into it all as soon as the temps have been 60 F or below for a week or so and love the outdoors as I did in Maine. Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing! But, do you still have them? Even when you keep the grass short? And in the garden? We only had them around when we moved here and the grass was long and the place had no one living in it for a while. Once we cut the grass we never had them again and I don’t have them in the garden. Now I just have to pay attention if I go for a hike with the kids… I try to stay on the trail and not go in tall grass.
Hello. So I read your article last night as I was itching myself to death.
Usually I eat garlic and the bugs stay away, but I have not had garlic in more then a month and found my self in a situation I did not plan on. Trying some of your ideas. I did do several things with a little relief. Just wanted to share. I put on degree deodorant and noticed my under arms were not itching so I started putting it all over and it helped to stop the itch. Yeah yeah..
Vinegar and epson salt and an ointment I had helped as well, but I would have never in a million years thought about deodorant.
Thanks for your article
Deodorant! That’s a new one, ha! Thanks for sharing this. I hope you feel better soon.
Hi Lee, It seems that chiggers prefer some people over others and me, they love me! As do the oak mites. So for me, I do not walk on any grass or any other growth that is natural. I stay confined to cement, tar, etc. I frankly do not go outside if it’s windy or over 60 ° F. The rare times I do go into my garden, I am fully clothed as described before plus my tall garden boots. 🙁
Personally after getting covered in chigger myself, the only thing I recommend is to be placed in a medically induced coma until the bites are healed…
LOL! I should have included that. I totally agree, just need to find a doctor that will agree to induce the coma 😉
You are a good writer! I was educated and entertained at the same time. Keep up the great writing!!! By the way I am a proud new owner of 27 plus filled chiggers bites ! I think it happened a few days ago and yes there were days I wanted to cut my legs off or go visit heaven! Lol. Esp. Day 2!
I hear you! The itching can really drive you insane! You’ll have to love on your body a lot but it will get better.
Thank you so much. I can’t afford the doctor bill right now. I will try these remedies.
I hope you feel better soon!
Yes the Dr gave me steroids n a prespriction itch medicine pillthat helped with my 100 bites
Great job on the info. I moved from NY to TN and man, talk about bugs! I grew up on a farm upstate NY then moved to Long Island. Never had bugs like this. First – a wicked bout with poison ivy/oak then ticks then mosquitoes, and finally chiggers (god, is there anything else?) Oh, I forgot to mention the poisonous snakes. My love of gardening has unfortunately gone bye-bye.
The South in humid, wet, and hot and the bugs LOVE it. I think up north the winter is so cold they all die and they can’t really recover the population in the short months of summer. But here? They just go to sleep and show up again a few months later!
We have tried to keep Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium around for natural bug deterrent.
For campinf, hiking, working outside we treat with pyrethrin (concentrated) form of the plant. On clothing it will last 6-10 washes. All shoes get sprayed, too.
My son spent 2 hot weeks at camp in humid temps and one had one bite on him. No smell or odor.
And we are red heads with fair sensitive skin.
Amanda, where do you buy those?
Just a note about putting DE in your yard…..Ihave read that while this may help with the chiggers, it also kills the good / beneficial bugs as well.
For prevention, we haven’t found great stuff…but definitely wear long pants and boots with the pants tucked in them. When we don’t, the bites are SO much worse. I am going to try the lavender oil though. We try to spray deet but it only helps so so.
Treatment after: We get them pretty bad around here. My husband likes to soak his feet and legs in rubbing alcohol (91%) he says it dries the bites up faster. I put something similar to Vick’s or vapor rub on my legs (called Unkers).
Thanks, Bobbi. That’s right, DE is like antibiotics… It doesn’t know which bug is good and which is bad… It just kills them all.
Found on line recipe to stop chigger pain. Mix baking soda and ammonia apply to skin and get relief from the itching.
Also had dr give me cream used for scabies. She believed I did not have scabies . Never heard of chiggers before it worked cleared it up.
Thanks for sharing this!
I have found that Tecnu works to sooth the painful bites of these little Chigger devils.
Thank you for this. Never heard of this so I’ll have to research.
The worst chigger bites I ever had came after I followed a friend out to do gravestone rubbings in old cemeteries out on dirt roads in the country. Of course the grass was waist high. I hadn’t thought about chiggers since I was a kid. Boy, did I get them bad! After a couple of days, they were driving me crazy and I couldn’t even get to sleep at night. What worked? Absorbine Jr. It cooled the skin and calmed the bites. I’d get a couple of hours sleep and have to get up and do it again, but SO worth it!
A great tip, thanks!
The only thing I’ve found to relieve chigger itching is baking soda combined with vinegar. You have to put it on frequently or the itching comes back. I do wonder if the stinging of the solution isn’t better than the itch tho.
Thanks for the tip, Beth. I also find that sometimes it’s easier to handle one kind of pain than another.
How could you not mention ” Chigarid “, in my opinion, a very effective after bite product I’ve been using for 40 years ? If your local drug store doesn’t have it, try going on line to search. It really takes the sting out of all kinds of bug bites. I like the suggestion you displayed about wearing rubber boots, but instead of tucking pants inside, how about duct taping each pants leg securely to the outside of each boot, smoothing the tape firmly against the rubber boot with no gaps for crawly critters. Go one step better and apply three bands of tape ( Gorilla brand has the stickiest adhesive) around your rubber boot shank, with the top and bottum bands having the adhesive against the boot and capturing the pants leg and the middle band with the adhesive facing outward to catch and hold the creepy creatures. You could try substituting highly adhesive fly paper for the middle tape band. Sounds pretty elaborate….. its practicalness depends on how much you hate being bitten. Could also work for bedbugs also if you wrapped fly paper around each bed leg and didn’t let your bedding drape onto the floor. If you sleep in a sleeping bag, your bedding will not likely touch the floor.
Great tips! Thanks for taking the time to write this. I never saw Chigarid in our local drug store. I’ll definitely look it up!
I live next to a creek and chiggers are a yearly occurrence. I keep a bottle of insect spray next to the door to spray on my legs and waist when I go out, and then spray again when I come in. Sort of a hassle, but after years of bites I found it works.
When I DO get a bite, I apply ammonia as soon as I see it. Ammonia is in many “after bite” remedies and sort of spreads the toxins a little. The next day after I get the itchy boil, I put some of that liquid skin protectant that is used for small cuts. It doesn’t do much more than remind me not to scratch it, but after a week or two it has healed.
I’ve tried everything else on your list. After years of chiggers this is what works for me!
Thanks for sharing your experience! What kind of insect spray are you using? Just a regular one from the store or are you making it yourself?
Bleach works! A good old bath in Clorox will kick some chiggers but I do use more than a cup. It is what we in east Texas have done my whole 42 years for chigger treatment and it is right on. Also chiggerex works too!!!