People’s Pharmacy | Multiple Strategies to Prevent Chigger Bites

Q. You’ve written about treating chigger bites, but you should really think about prevention. We live in the country. When I’m going to be walking in tall grass and weeds, I wear my snake boots which I’ve sprayed with Sawyer’s permethrin. It’s available at Walmart in the camping aisle. You can also spray your pants with it – but not while you’re wearing them! This will last through several washes. Before going outside, I spray myself with a picaridin repellent – Repel Tick Defense (not DEET).

If I’ve been doing yard work, I’ll take a shower as soon as I come inside. I think the soap and water rinse the chiggers away. Also, I throw my clothes in the washer with hot water before heading to the shower. A. Wearing permethrin-treated clothing and picaridin repellent can be effective against ticks and mosquitoes as well as chiggers. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is also effective. Your idea of showering as soon as you come in the house is excellent as well. In addition to washing off the chiggers, it gives you a precious opportunity to check for ticks and remove them immediately.

Continue reading to learn more about preventing chigger bites, written by Joe Graedon, M.S., and Teresa Graedon.