CategoriesArthropod/Vector

Chigger & Mite

Chigger & Mite Detox Information

Chiggers are not bugs or any other type of insect. Chiggers are the juvenile (or larval) form of a specific family of mites, the Trombiculidae. Mites are arachnids, like spiders and scorpions, and are closely related to ticks. Chiggers dine on us only in their childhood and later become vegetarians that live on soil. Chiggers are born red, they do not become red from feeding on blood as some believe. An engorged, well fed chigger changes to a yellow color.

One of the greatest misconceptions about chiggers is that they burrow into our skin and eventually die within the tissues, thus causing the persistent itch. Chiggers are not equipped to burrow. Chiggers do bite us, much like ticks do. Chiggers attach by inserting minute specialized mouth parts into skin depressions, usually at skin pores or hair follicles. The chigger's piercing mouth parts are short and delicate. They can only penetrate thin skin or where the skin wrinkles and folds. That's why most chigger bites are around the ankles, the back of the knees, around the groin, under the belt line and in the armpits.

The bite is actually not the source of the itch.

The reason the bite itches so intensely and for such a long time is that the chigger injects saliva into its victim after attaching to the skin. This saliva contains a powerful digestive enzyme that literally dissolves the skin cells it contacts. It is this liquefied skin tissue, not blood, that the chigger ingests and uses for food. A chigger usually goes unnoticed for one to three hours after it starts feeding. During this time period, the chigger quietly injects its digestive saliva. After a few hours your skin reacts by hardening the cells on all sides of the saliva path eventually forming a hard, tube-like structure called a stylostome.

The combination of salivary enzymes and the stylostome irritates and inflames the surrounding tissue and causes the characteristic red welt and intense itch. The longer the chigger feeds, the deeper the stylostome grows, and the larger the welt will eventually become. The concept that the welt swells and eventually engulfs the feeding chiggers is also a myth. Most people assume the small red dot inside a welt (usually under a water blister) is the chigger body, but it is actually the stylostome tube. Often the first time you brush or scratch the bite site, you knock off the chigger (which consequently kills it).

Itching usually peaks a day or two after the bite occurs. This happens because the stylostome remains imbedded in your skin tissue long after the chigger is gone. Your skin continues to itch, an allergic reaction to stylostome, for many days. The stylostome is eventually absorbed by your body, a slow process that can take a week to 10 days or more.

The itching reaction human skin has to chigger bites occurs because we are not their correct hosts. Chiggers that specifically prey on humans in Asia and the Pacific Islands cause no itching! It is small comfort to learn that North American chiggers only bite humans by accident. Although North American chiggers can feed on most animals, they prefer reptiles and birds.

The best prevention against chigger bites is simply taking a warm soapy bath with plenty of scrubbing as soon as possible after exposure. If you bathe immediately while the chiggers are still running over your body, you can wash them off before they bite. A bath will also remove any attached and feeding chiggers before you start to feel the itch. Warm soapy water is all that is necessary to remove and kill chiggers. Attached chiggers are removed by even the lightest rubbing. If you are not close to a bath or shower facility, you can remove attached chiggers by rubbing down with a towel or a cloth.

The absolute most effective and time-proven repellent for chiggers is sulphur. Chiggers hate sulphur and definitely avoid it. Powdered sulphur, called sublimed sulphur or flowers of sulfur, is available through most pharmacies. Dust the powdered sulphur around the opening of your pants, socks and boots. If you plan to venture into a heavily infested area, powdered sulphur can be rubbed on the skin of your legs, arms and abdomen. Some people rub on a mixture of half talcum powder and half sulphur.

Our Chigger/Mite Detox Remedy effectively dissolves the stylostome, the components in chigger saliva. It will also detoxify the effects of the chemicals people use and react to in the attempt to stop the itching, such as benzocaine, camphor-phenol and ammonium hydroxide.

Remember that our Liquid Detox is one of the most effective remedies for treating/healing bites and wounds. It is powerful at helping reduce pain, swelling and itching, and is very effective at preventing infection. You can apply it directly to the bite or wound or soak the absorbent part of a band aid (3-5 drops) in Liquid Detox and apply it to the bite or wound.

Chigger Prevention
It is not effective and can actually be quite dangerous to apply household products such as kerosene, turpentine, ammonia, alcohol, gasoline or dry-cleaning fluid to attached chiggers. The nail polish application is also a myth. If it seems to relieve any symptoms it is only because it temporarily seals off the wound from oxygen exposure.