Chiggers: The Invisible Itch
Ankles itching after a hike? It's Chiggers. Learn why the 'burrowing' story is a myth, how to treat the bites, and how to spot them in the grass.
You go for a hike. You come home. You feel fine.
Four hours later, your ankles, waist, and behind your knees are itching so bad you want to scream. You look, and it's covered in red welts. But you see no bugs.
Welcome to Chiggers.
They Aren't Insects
Chiggers are the larval stage of a mite (Trombiculidae). They are microscopic. You can't see them with the naked eye.
The "Burrowing" Myth
People think chiggers burrow under your skin and stay there. False.
They don't burrow. They inject an enzyme into your skin that liquefies your cells. Then they suck up the "soup." Your body reacts by hardening the skin around the bite into a straw-like tube (stylostome).
It takes your body a few hours to react, which is why you don't itch until you are already home.
The Nail Polish Myth
Don't paint your bites with clear nail polish. Since the chigger isn't inside your skin, you aren't suffocating anything. You are just putting chemicals on an open wound.
How to Stop the Itch
- Shower Hot: The moment you get home from tall grass, take a hot soapy shower. You can wash the chiggers off before they bite.
- Scrub: Use a washcloth. They are fragile.
- Sulfur: If you are hiking in the South, dust your socks with sulfur powder. It smells like rotten eggs, but chiggers hate it.