Ticks, chiggers.... HELP!!!!!!

[Chickerdoodle13]

I had a bad reaction to chigger bites last year. Apparently we have them in south jersey, but before that I had never heard of them. Where I live when I'm not in school we do not have chiggers.

Anyways, I did a lot of research when I was bit by the chiggers and realized there are ALOT of misconceptions about these guys. They DO NOT burrow in your skin. A lot of people confuse chiggers with scabies. Therefore, applying nailpolish to a chigger bite will not kill the chigger...by the time the red bumps show, the chigger has already fallen off. Some people have worse reactions to chigger bites than others. I had such a bad reaction that I developed bumps on my face (There was very little chance I had actually gotten bit in this area). Typically the chiggers bite around your ankles or waist line...anywhere that is moist and constricted by socks, underwhere, pants, etc. The spots may travel up your legs or torso, but these are typically due to an allergic reaction to the actual bite.

The best bet for chigger bites is lots and lots of benadryl. I went to the doctors and they gave me some pills and benadryl cream. It takes a week or two for the itching to go away. Itching will cause the spots to bleed, so try not to itch!

As for ticks, I usually just pick them off with tweezers. I've never had lymes disease or any other tick-borne disease, but then again I've been lucky as far as ticks go. However, if you have a lot of them on you, I can see how it would be painful to pick them all off! Best prevention is a nice pwoerful bug spray! The company "Off" makes a nice "Deep Woods" spray that repels ticks AND chiggers. When I have that on, I never have an issue with ticks or any other bug for that matter!

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
You are correct about the misconceptions. Read more here:
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/arthopo/chiggers/

or here:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2100.html

Where we are, you get eaten alive no matter where you go, if you sit on the grass or walk in any grass or brush higher than your shoes- even in your own yard in town. It's just the way it is.

The very best way of combating them is to sulfur up, or if you can't, disrobe after going out and shower, preventing them from adhering, since they need to 'push off' of something to bite you.

I have a friend who suffers from anaphalaxis if he gets bitten by a chigger, he's so allergic, so we follow certain rules when going out with him.

 

[Darin115]

I use a spray that I get from a local hunting store. I treat my clothes with it. It lasts for 6 washings. I have never had a tick or chigger when using this spray.

It is non scented and does not stain fabric. Premethrin sounds about right.

Darin

 

[AhBee01]

Please don't light a match blow it out and then touch the butt, yes it works, but causes the tick to vomit in your skin, it can cause an infection and if the tick carries Lyme disease or anything else it can up your chances of getting infected.
The best way is to use tweezers and grab it as close to the skin as possible and twist as you are pulling out. I also have a tick puller called ticked off! I got it at walmart in the camping section, but they don't carry it anymore!
It looks like a teaspoon measuring spoon with a small v shaped crack in it!

http://www.tickedoff.com/

It works the best! And also captures the tick for easy disposal!
Brenda

 

[AhBee01]

Front line and advanix( SP) will not keep the ticks off, they will still bite your dog and cat, but once they do bite they will die and not be able to lay eggs. I asked the vet why I still found a few tics on my dog after applying it and that is what they told me.

 

[rufus]

Google tick twister. It is a little plastic gizmo. You don't pull the critter off, you twist it off.

Put fabric dryer sheets in your socks and pant legs. This keeps them off you.

Don't lay down outside. When walking through brush, move the brush aside with a stick.

Rufus

 

[Featherland]

I use the spoon with a V shaped crack in it, too. But I prefer the plastic tweezer that you use to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and twist counter clockwise. When we have annoying itchy bites we use prescription Allegra. It really relieves the itchiness. Benedryl works too.