Chiggers are the larval stage of a type of mite, responsible for the itchy red welts that appear after walking through tall grass or wooded areas. These microscopic pests do not burrow into the skin, but instead attach themselves to a host for feeding. They inject a salivary secretion containing digestive enzymes, which break down skin cells to create a feeding tube called a stylostome. The body’s localized reaction to this enzyme causes the inflammation and itching that can last for several days.
Immediate Care and Symptom Relief
After suspected exposure, the first action is to remove any lingering chigger mites from the skin and clothing. Immediately wash the exposed areas thoroughly with soap and water, gently scrubbing the skin to dislodge any attached mites. Chiggers are fragile and easily removed by friction.
Following the wash, all clothing and gear that contacted the infested area should be laundered in hot water. Hot water kills any mites clinging to the fabric, preventing them from transferring to other people or areas of the home. If a hot water wash is not possible, a high-heat drying cycle is sufficient to eradicate the pests.
Once the mites are removed, treatment focuses on alleviating the itching caused by the skin’s reaction to the injected enzymes. Over-the-counter topical treatments are the standard approach for symptom management. Calamine lotion is a traditional remedy that helps dry the affected area and provides a cooling sensation.
Hydrocortisone creams, which contain a mild steroid, reduce inflammation and decrease itching. For more widespread or persistent itching, taking an oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine, can help quiet the systemic allergic response and provide relief. Avoid excessive scratching, as this can break the skin and lead to a secondary bacterial infection like impetigo or cellulitis.
Personal Protection Against Chigger Bites
Protecting oneself from chiggers requires a proactive, layered approach focused on creating barriers between the mite and the skin. The most effective strategy involves using insect repellents containing specific active ingredients. Repellents containing DEET or Picaridin are effective when applied directly to exposed skin.
Picaridin, a synthetic compound resembling a natural repellent found in pepper plants, is often preferred because it is non-greasy, odorless, and less likely to damage plastics or synthetic fabrics than DEET. For a robust defense, clothing and gear can be treated with permethrin, an insecticide that kills chiggers upon contact. Permethrin should only be applied to fabric, not skin, and one treatment remains effective through multiple washes.
Clothing acts as a physical barrier, and strategic dressing reduces access points for chiggers. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants minimizes exposed skin available for attachment. Tucking pant legs into socks or boots is an effective tactic, as chiggers often crawl upward until they encounter an obstacle or an area of tight clothing, such as a waistband or sock line.
Avoiding known chigger habitats is a preventative measure, as these mites prefer areas of dense vegetation. Chiggers thrive in tall grasses, weeds, berry patches, and at the edges of wooded areas, particularly in warm, humid conditions. When returning from an outdoor activity, quickly inspecting clothing and dusting off before entering a vehicle or home can dislodge hitchhiking mites.
Eliminating Chiggers from Outdoor Areas
Controlling chiggers on your property involves modifying the environment to make it less hospitable. Chiggers prefer shady, damp conditions, so cultural practices that increase sunlight and reduce humidity are beneficial. Keeping the lawn cut short, especially in areas bordering woods, helps to dry out the turf and eliminate the tall vegetation where chiggers climb to find a host.
Removing debris like brush piles, leaf litter, and high weeds reduces the available habitat for chiggers and the small animals that carry them. Targeting these specific “hot spots” can significantly suppress the overall mite population.
For immediate reduction in chigger populations, chemical treatments can be applied to infested areas. Residential insecticides containing ingredients like bifenthrin or permethrin are commonly used for control. These products should be applied as a spray, focusing on the perimeter of the lawn, ornamental shrubs, and the first few feet of tall vegetation. Application should be targeted, treating only the areas confirmed or suspected to have chigger activity, rather than the entire yard. Insecticide applications are often timed for the spring or early summer to target the newly hatched larval populations.