Q. My mother has over 100 chigger bites, and the itching is driving her crazy. What can she do to get some relief? Is there any way to prevent this from ever happening again?
A: Chiggers are a type of mite. The saliva they inject into bites causes itching. With 100 bites, your mother may need to see a dermatologist who might prescribe an oral corticosteroid like prednisone.
Hot water is an effective remedy to stop itching. One reader advises: “I nuke a folded, damp washcloth in the microwave until it is steamy hot, about 25 seconds, and dab it briefly on the bite. The itch stops immediately for hours. Be very careful not to scald the skin, and handle the hot cloth with a paper towel.” Another reader insists that daubing the bites with Listerine mouthwash eases the itch.
For prevention, flowers of sulfur (sublimed sulfur from a pharmacy) can be sprinkled on socks, shoes and pants legs to deter chiggers. One gentleman keeps a shallow pan of sulfur powder on his back porch and steps into it on his way out to the back yard. Spraying legs and feet with DEET also works.
