UGH--Chiggers!

[torinsmom]

What nasty little buggers! DS15 went outside with his biology class yesterday and evidently they were out in abundance. He has the bites all over his ankles, shins and thighs, probably 2-300 welts in all. The doctor was wary of putting him on steroids, because it can lower the immune system; not a good idea with H1N1 in both our schools. So it's a prescription cream and an anti-itch medicine. Hopefully they will feel better quickly, as we are leaving for Great Wolf after lunch on Sunday.

Marsha

 

[Kitzka]

Ugh! this stinks. I usually get chigger bites around this time and they are so itchy. it never occured to me to go to my dr for a scrpit, but we use chigger x or lanacane. they last about a week as long as your son doesn't itch them. i tend to be a scratcher and my bites seem to last a little longer.

lara

 

[OK!]

One thing that I've found works pretty well for the itching is something like Solarcaine spray because of the numbing agent in it. I always hated rubbing cream on the bites because, hello, all that touching them does is aggravate the itching! Solarcaine may not do anything in terms of relieving the cause of the itch, but it sure takes the edge off for a while. I have the unfortunate combination of hypersensitive skin and being an absolute magnet for any bug within a 5-mile radius, so I suffer from these stupid things every single summer. Solarcaine's the only thing I've found that works.

 

[teacups]

I havent heard about chiggers in 30 years. I know you hate them right now, but it brought back fond memories for me of when I lived in the South as a kid. I bet you have lightning bugs too huh?

 

[OK!]

I know the comment wasn't directed at me and I apologize for taking this OT, but I never knew until recently that lightning bugs were only limited to certain areas of the country. I just always assumed they were everywhere. Love them.

 

[teacups]

I know the comment wasn't directed at me and I apologize for taking this OT, but I never knew until recently that lightning bugs were only limited to certain areas of the country. I just always assumed they were everywhere. Love them.

Yep. I have lived in VA, CA and ID. None in CA or ID... and I always tried to tell my kids about them. The Peter Pan ride at Disneyland really helped me!

 

[OK!]

Apparently, there's like an invisible boundary line somewhere in the middle of Kansas--to the east of it, lightning bugs a-plenty, and to the west, absolutely none. I think it might have been on the DIS where I read a thread that a mom posted about a vacation she was taking with her family somewhere east of where she lives and wanted to know if there would be lightning bugs there, as she wanted her kids to see them for the first time. When I first read it, I was like, "There are kids alive who've never seen lightning bugs? Where do they live, on the moon?!" I had no idea they weren't everywhere.

 

[Buckalew11]

When I was a kid we always painted chigger bites with clear fingernail polish. I don't know if we were trying to smother them or what but it always seemed to help with the itching. May have been a mind game but could be worth a try.

 

[torinsmom]

Yes, we have lightning bugs a plenty and June bugs as well! My brother used to tie string around them and fly them like a kite(no, he did not turn into serial killer)

The fingernail polish thing is an old wives tail. Someone at school had me scared to death because she said the bugs burrow under your skin and stay there for a week. From what I read on the internet, they feed on your skin cells, but do not burrow. They are easily washed off with soap and water. THeir saliva irritates the skin and causes the itching and welts. They will go away on their own, but the creams and pills will speed the process along.

Marsha

 

[teacups]

Yes, we have lightning bugs a plenty and June bugs as well! My brother used to tie string around them and fly them like a kite(no, he did not turn into serial killer)

The fingernail polish thing is an old wives tail. Someone at school had me scared to death because she said the bugs burrow under your skin and stay there for a week. From what I read on the internet, they feed on your skin cells, but do not burrow. They are easily washed off with soap and water. THeir saliva irritates the skin and causes the itching and welts. They will go away on their own, but the creams and pills will speed the process along.

Marsha

It just sounds so gross doesnt it?
Im glad they wash off. I rememebr once we went berry picking and everyone else was eaten up by chiggers and not one on me. I felt so special LOL! And thats probably why this gives me a fond memory

Good luck with the itchies!

 

[nkjzmom]

I remember my mom having me soak my feet in an oatmeal bath...like when you have the chicken pox.

I like the spray idea...all that rubbing always seemed contrary to me too!

 

[shortbun]

When I was a kid we always painted chigger bites with clear fingernail polish. I don't know if we were trying to smother them or what but it always seemed to help with the itching. May have been a mind game but could be worth a try.

Only time I had them we painted them with nail polish to 'smother' them. I'd be using one of the 'cane' sprays as well instead of all the cream rubbing. Since he has so many you could experiment with different remedies to see which was best then use it everywhere, eh?