rekees4300
Elite Member
"how can I eliminate or reduce that real strong itch?"
Chigarid
Chigarid
How do I combat chiggers?
- Thread starter Workstead
- Start date
- Views: 8326
beppington
Elite Member
I've read that fingernail polish doesn't work, but cannot confirm.
Jay4200
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2005
- Messages
- 2,054
- Location
- Hudson/Weare, NH
- Tractor
- L4200GST w/ LA680 & BX2200D w/ LA211
I use chiggerex these days it smells like it has clove oil in it and I know for a fact clove oil is deadly on anything it gets near, the stuff has an anti-itch med in also it works the best for me anyway.
I get chiggers constantly anytime I am outside and around grass so my ankles and waist are always itching and scratching.
I didnt like the chigger rid although it works its like having blobs of fingernail polish all over or glue. The chiggerex is a creme its much better product imho.
As far as how to prevent them stay inside the house!
I get chiggers constantly anytime I am outside and around grass so my ankles and waist are always itching and scratching.
I didnt like the chigger rid although it works its like having blobs of fingernail polish all over or glue. The chiggerex is a creme its much better product imho.
As far as how to prevent them stay inside the house!
hill
Gold Member
Yeah, and there's a Benatryl itch relief topical gel that works pretty good for temporary relief from the itching. You smear it right on the bit places, and it's become my number one for when it gets really almost intolerable.
Calamine lotion is sold both with and without an itch reliever. Make sure to read the label, or you'll think it ain't worth what it costs..
Someone mentioned a clove oil product and that it is poisonous? I don't know about poisonous but clove oil is an old time remedy for toothache. They still sell little bottles of it for putting right into your mouth, so the poison can't be too bad.
Chiggers seek out and climb to the top of grass/weeds where they are in the ideal position to crawl onto anything that brushes by. So one of the best defenses is to keep grass and weeds mowed down. They don't seem to be able to figure out what to do in a large mowed or bushhogged area since nothing is "tall". We have tons of chiggers in central TN, but in areas that we frequent we just keep the weeds down and there is almost no problem from chiggers in these areas.
Once on you, they crawl to "edges" (pants cuffs, top of socks, waistbands, collarbands, etc.) where they can get on fresh skin. They'll usually crawl down past the "edge" to where it is dark, hot, moist, and they have "cover" to push against. Permanone works great on exterior clothing and boots to prevent them from crawling around to find an edge. We always spray down boots really well in the spring, and maybe one repeat application mid-summer. It lasts a long time when soaked into leather. Don't use Permanone on skin, use DEET. DEET sprays will cause them to either die or just drop off (I don't care which). We use the "heavy" 40% or more stuff. If you are only going in grassy/weedy areas, a good coating around ankles, spread up to the knees is usually sufficient. MAKE SURE to pull down those socks and coat under them good. If you don't, they'll get to the top of the sock edge and then go down inside. This is how all the ankle bites happen! Make sure to have a good solid coat all around the knees, particularly the BACK where pants provide good "cover". This will also minimize chances that they crawl UP your legs to much more sensitive itch spots! If you'll be out in forested areas or where there's HIGH weeds (blackberry vines!!) you'll also need to go around your neckline, waistband, armbands. This will prevent the majority of bites.
They do NOT burrow into/under your skin as most folks believe. They DO inject saliva with really nasty enzymes that essentially dissolve your flesh and then they slurp up the goo. Somewhat similar to brown recluse spiders, but not quite that bad. It is the resulting dissolved flesh wound that itches so bad and takes so long to heal.
Showering thoroughly as soon as practical after being in a known exposure area is helpful, but I really don't understand why, since their damage (it seems to me) is usually done within at most an hour or so. Wash particularly well in those dark, hot, moist areas where there has been pressure from clothing!
Hope this saves ya at least a few bites!
Once on you, they crawl to "edges" (pants cuffs, top of socks, waistbands, collarbands, etc.) where they can get on fresh skin. They'll usually crawl down past the "edge" to where it is dark, hot, moist, and they have "cover" to push against. Permanone works great on exterior clothing and boots to prevent them from crawling around to find an edge. We always spray down boots really well in the spring, and maybe one repeat application mid-summer. It lasts a long time when soaked into leather. Don't use Permanone on skin, use DEET. DEET sprays will cause them to either die or just drop off (I don't care which). We use the "heavy" 40% or more stuff. If you are only going in grassy/weedy areas, a good coating around ankles, spread up to the knees is usually sufficient. MAKE SURE to pull down those socks and coat under them good. If you don't, they'll get to the top of the sock edge and then go down inside. This is how all the ankle bites happen! Make sure to have a good solid coat all around the knees, particularly the BACK where pants provide good "cover". This will also minimize chances that they crawl UP your legs to much more sensitive itch spots! If you'll be out in forested areas or where there's HIGH weeds (blackberry vines!!) you'll also need to go around your neckline, waistband, armbands. This will prevent the majority of bites.
They do NOT burrow into/under your skin as most folks believe. They DO inject saliva with really nasty enzymes that essentially dissolve your flesh and then they slurp up the goo. Somewhat similar to brown recluse spiders, but not quite that bad. It is the resulting dissolved flesh wound that itches so bad and takes so long to heal.
Showering thoroughly as soon as practical after being in a known exposure area is helpful, but I really don't understand why, since their damage (it seems to me) is usually done within at most an hour or so. Wash particularly well in those dark, hot, moist areas where there has been pressure from clothing!
Hope this saves ya at least a few bites!
That would have been me the post just above you there! :thumbsup:
I wasn't saying it was poisonous to us although I see how that could be extrapolated from my comment in a stretch.
What I meant was it will certainly kill a bug that happens to still be chewing on you is all not that it is harmful to us. Besides if it was poisonous to us they sure wouldn't be selling it. Clove oil is used in the ornamental fish business to anesthetize KOI and goldfish etc and it will kill them also should they need euthanized or the operator isn't paying attention. I have a KOI pond and have used it many many times to knock fish out to treat wounds etc and I have put a few down humanely using it also. (my deadly comment)
I have one of those ancient red cross tooth ache kits with the clove oil in it and it is not a pleasant thing putting that stuff anywhere in your mouth yuck a bug sure wont survive it.
Last edited:
I've thought of that too. :laughing:
We've also had a big problem in our lakes from invasive aquatic plants from South America, congesting the lakes and waterways to the point of depleting oxygen and sunlight, killing fish and other aquatic life.
So now, they're thinking of importing the natural insect enemy of those plants.
After reading that in the newspaper, I'm wondering what damage those insects might do to our native plants. :confused2:
Last edited:
DanD78
Platinum Member
When I get them around where my socks were tight I will scratch the area till it get a little relief then cover the area with Asorbine Jr.. Burns like heck for a little bit but is a one time treatment in my case.
Dan
Dan
This sure is an interesting topic and I've learned a lot. I was surprised to see that no one suggested a wad of wet chewing tabacca' on the itchy spots.
Thanks for your contributions. This is like sitting in front of the feed store and getting real life input from the old timers.
One thing I have gotten from a doctor friend of mine, after my ankles were scratched raw and were getting infected, was to mix triple antibiotic and Preparation H in a 50/50 ratio and putting that on the affected/infected areas. It not only helped the infection but also helped the itch - for a short while.
Thank you one and all.
Clem
Still recovering and now with a list of things to try to get relief in Arkansas.
The best suggestion was to stay indoors! :laughing:
Thanks for your contributions. This is like sitting in front of the feed store and getting real life input from the old timers.
One thing I have gotten from a doctor friend of mine, after my ankles were scratched raw and were getting infected, was to mix triple antibiotic and Preparation H in a 50/50 ratio and putting that on the affected/infected areas. It not only helped the infection but also helped the itch - for a short while.
Thank you one and all.
Clem
Still recovering and now with a list of things to try to get relief in Arkansas.
The best suggestion was to stay indoors! :laughing:
Wattsleft
New member
Calamine is ok if that's all you have, but there are a couple of over the counter products that seem to work for me. Chiggarid and Iveydry. Chiggarid is basically like clear fingernail polish. Burns like four yards of Texas asphalt, cure is as bad as the cause.. Ivey dry is a clear spray that is great for poision and works just as well on bug bite. It is not too smelly, burns only alittle, and stops the itch FAST!!
It contains antihistamines,which stop the itch. You can also try taking Claritin or benedril. Both contain antihistimes and help control the itch..
I also spray my shoes,pants legs, etc with a DEET repellant. DEET was designed for the military to combat bugs in the jungles. I started using it bowhunting and have never stopped. Pure DEET (from the surplus store) can make you dizzy. I would reccomend a outdoors store brand(like Gander Mt or Bass Pro) with a smaller percentage of the stuff.
Hope this helps....
It contains antihistamines,which stop the itch. You can also try taking Claritin or benedril. Both contain antihistimes and help control the itch..
I also spray my shoes,pants legs, etc with a DEET repellant. DEET was designed for the military to combat bugs in the jungles. I started using it bowhunting and have never stopped. Pure DEET (from the surplus store) can make you dizzy. I would reccomend a outdoors store brand(like Gander Mt or Bass Pro) with a smaller percentage of the stuff.
Hope this helps....
beppington
Elite Member
Hey watch it!!! I'm only 42! :laughing:
foggy1111
Elite Member
For tics.....We have really good success with permathin (permanon) based products on our clothes. I am told it works on chiggars too.
We have bought a Repel brand for gear and clothes......and it's proved to be the best thing since sliced-bread. We wont go into the woods without treating our clothes first.....and it lasts for weeks...even after washing your clothes once (we have not risked more washings).
Always read and follow label directions. :thumbsup:
This year we have used Absorbine JR for gnats, dryer sheets for gnats and flying bugs, Permathin, Deet Products and Skin So Soft. Geesh.....what did the settlers do? :confused2:
We have bought a Repel brand for gear and clothes......and it's proved to be the best thing since sliced-bread. We wont go into the woods without treating our clothes first.....and it lasts for weeks...even after washing your clothes once (we have not risked more washings).
Always read and follow label directions. :thumbsup:
This year we have used Absorbine JR for gnats, dryer sheets for gnats and flying bugs, Permathin, Deet Products and Skin So Soft. Geesh.....what did the settlers do? :confused2:
beppington
Elite Member
CharlieS
Gold Member
Workstead
Being just north of you around Paragould, i can certainly sympathize with you as this seems to be a bad year for chiggers.
What i've found works best for me is first off, spray the potentially exposed skin with a good insect repellant, deep woods off for example.
next i spray my clothing with a high quality horse spray. any that contain pyrethrins will work, (i use Pyranha) but spray it only on the outer clothing, sock cuffs, pant cuffs, around the waist, and so on. (as a plus its one of the best i've found for the horses too)
Dont forget shirt collars and hats also.
As long as i remember this procedure i get very few chigger "bites".
If i've been out in the grass, i try to shower asap when i come in, try spraying yourself down with a household cleaner such as 409 then soap down and rinse. the ammonia in the household cleaner helps kill off any chiggers or ticks. and don't forget to not put the same clothing back on, as it could have stray chiggers looking for a meal.
the best i've found to temporarily kill the sting and itch of bites is absorbine jr. and i've heard preperation H is effective in numbing the bites though i havn't tried it.
Being just north of you around Paragould, i can certainly sympathize with you as this seems to be a bad year for chiggers.
What i've found works best for me is first off, spray the potentially exposed skin with a good insect repellant, deep woods off for example.
next i spray my clothing with a high quality horse spray. any that contain pyrethrins will work, (i use Pyranha) but spray it only on the outer clothing, sock cuffs, pant cuffs, around the waist, and so on. (as a plus its one of the best i've found for the horses too)
Dont forget shirt collars and hats also.
As long as i remember this procedure i get very few chigger "bites".
If i've been out in the grass, i try to shower asap when i come in, try spraying yourself down with a household cleaner such as 409 then soap down and rinse. the ammonia in the household cleaner helps kill off any chiggers or ticks. and don't forget to not put the same clothing back on, as it could have stray chiggers looking for a meal.
the best i've found to temporarily kill the sting and itch of bites is absorbine jr. and i've heard preperation H is effective in numbing the bites though i havn't tried it.
