Patient Comments: Chiggers - TreatmentWhat treatment has been effective for your chigger bites?
Comment from: teezerisme, 19-24 Female (Patient)
Published: August 06
I do not agree that nail polish is not an effective treatment. I have had chigger bites on my legs for 3 weeks now. I did not realize they were chigger bites (I thought they were mosquito or bed bug bites) so I left them alone and cleaned my apartment, bedding, and clothing multiple times with no different results. Each morning I would wake up with another bite. When a friend suggested it might be chigger bites I cover all off my spots with nail polish. The next morning I have 10 new red bumps (where the chiggers all shifted to). I covered those and the surrounding tissue in nail polish. The itching stopped that day and I have had no more bites. Nail polish works! Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: btoussa, 45-54 Female
Published: July 27
My feet had many chigger bites, and I soaked them in Epsom salts. The Epsom salts help to remove the toxins and speed the healing. Tea tree oil also is a great natural remedy to help itching and swelling. Benadryl and ibuprofen help reduce the inflammation. I had a really tough attack. Now, it's almost two weeks later and they are still healing. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Related Medications: ibuprofen
Comment from: mamasue, 65-74 Female (Patient)
Published: May 22
I work outside a lot and get chigger bites. The only thing that reduces the itching and treats them effectively is nail polish. Corticosteroid cream does not help. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Alan, 55-64 Male (Patient)
Published: May 17
I've been applying an OTC product called After Bite Itch Eraser. It's basically Ammonia 3.5% with some "natural" oil – I suspect olive or mineral oil. It burns a bit if you've been scratching, but relieves the itch in about 20-30 minutes. So far, (48 hours later), a single application on each bite has been effective. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Laughingfalcon, 45-54 (Patient)
Published: April 09
Get a magnifying glass. If you have a chigger, you will see a tiny red dot, which looks like a teeny drop of blood. You might also need good lighting – use a flashlight. Once you see the red dot, scrape it away with your fingernail. The bite will still itch a little but will go away sooner. If you get it soon enough it can go away immediately. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Capt. Tim, 45-54 Male (Patient)
Published: April 02
I have read numerous articles for treatment and have tried everything from Epsom salts to hand sanitizer, but the only thing that has relieved the itching is Absorbine Jr. Read the label, it states: "It is also an effective first aid antiseptic for relief of non-poisonous insect bites." What a relief! Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: In florida, 65-74 Female (Patient)
Published: March 13
Cover the bites with vaseline. It stops the itching immediately. I don't know if the little guys are suffocated or it just relieves the itching, but it works. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Chiggers - Symptoms and Signs
Question: What were the symptoms and signs of your chigger bites?
Chigger Bites - Prevention
Question: Please share tips for preventing chigger infestations and bites.
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I had four little bites right where the waistband of my jean skirt met my waist and after three days of horrible itching from such little bites my cousin said they looked like chigger bites and that I should put nail polish on it. I had been using OTC cortisone cream, neosporin, taken a benadryl, a bath in epsom salt all within the last three days and nothing was making the itch go away. I decided to give the nail polish a try, worked excellent. The blisters are gone and they don't itch at all after only an hour or so after trying it.