How to Treat a Chigger Bite

Chiggers are the larva of the harvest mite, commonly found in temperate climates. Like mites, they tend to bite the surface of the skin. Here's how to treat the area if you are bitten.

Instructions

• 1

  Wash the area around the bite with hot soapy water as soon as possible.

• 2

  Scrub the area with a wash cloth to help remove other chiggers that might be on the skin in the area of the bite.

• 3

  Apply ice to treat minor swelling in reaction to the bite. Apply ice for 10 minutes; remove it for 10 minutes; repeat until the swelling goes down.

• 4

  Apply an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to the area of the bite to treat itching.

• 5

  Take an oral antihistamine to reduce the allergic reaction that your body is having to the bite if you're still itchy.