Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Swimmer's Itch

Thanks to Bob Lusk's article in the current issue of Pond Boss, I have finally learned the true cause of the incredibly intense itching that I had been experiencing. I say "had" because a few years back, thinking that some sort of mite from my pond water was burrowing into the skin of my forearms, I found relief by using permethrin, a 2% solution of which is now in Bengal Roach Spray. All of you label readers know that Bengal's original exotic formulation, which gave me itch relief for years, was changed a couple years ago and that original solution is no longer available, although it might be still made for the military. While that "old" Bengal was better, the new 2% permethrin still works for me. I have found that while a soap and water wash is a great preventative, it won't help after the little parasites have settled in. The steroid cream, ice compresses and all that other stuff only gives you something to do while you itch and scratch, and scratch, and continue scratching. Of course, I'm not suggesting that you use permethrin, but unless you're sensitive to it, you'll probably be EXTREMELY happy if you decide to try it. Ahhhhh. Blessed relief at last. (if you decide to try Bengal, to prevent a freeze burn, hold the can a few inches from the site you're spraying)

Hey Dudley have you tried it on those mean chiggers we get here in the South?

Bob

Dudley,

I would stick to the article's advice and dry off as soon as possible. I would also suggest using some rubbing alcohol or strong shampoo as soon as you get out of the water. Using a roach, termite, bug killer spray may not be safe.

You may want to check out the bad news on this stuff on the internet. Here is a sample quote.

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified permethrin as a carcinogen because it causes lung tumors . It causes chromosome aberrations in human cells..."

Hope the cure is not worse than the itch.

Regards,
Dennis

Permethrin 5% is commonly used in the treatment of scabies, Dennis, and I think you'll be happy to use it if and when you begin itching.

Bob, I haven't used it on chiggers (I don't even know what chiggers are) but if they're an insect, it'd probably do them in.

A Louisiana-ian (spelling -1) who don't know what a chigger is??? Hmmmm. Come see me in Texas and I will show you. They are tiny red mites that live in grass. But quickly relocate to human flesh in order to make you itch. They tend to like to get under tight clothing before taking up residence. I remember an old blackberry picking excursion years ago in which my mother failed to spray herself with Off before wading into the berries and weeds. The next day she was covered in chiggers. She showed me her back. You could see exactly where her bra straps had been, it was now a neat pattern of red bumps, all itching. Her words were, "I know they were all little boy chiggers, from where they decided to bite!" You don't want chiggers.

If you can't find 2% permethrin, I guess you could use gas. Just dip your arms in gas and then go outside and have a cigarette while it evaporates. My point is that permethrin sounds dangerous. Better to use something labeled for humans. Alcohol maybe? That should kill any little guests if used before they burrow in.

Don't really use the gas. Or it will be, "Im just sittin here smoking; but shucks officer, if you had been here sooner, you would have seen me when I was still on fire." (That was for you Condello)

red bugs

I know about red bugs. If you guys used the proper scientific patois, I would not have been confused. Lets get on the same page in the future. If you had said Family: chiggers, Genus: bugs, Species: red, I would have immediately known where we were. Not being sensitive to those little critters, I don't care twit about them, but you can bet the farm that I am always on the lookout for those microscopic parasitic shistosomes that give me a maddening cercarial dermatitis.