Hydrocortisone Creams
Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid medicine that works to calm down the immune system in the body. You can apply a hydrocortisone cream directly on the bitten area to alleviate pain and itching. It is easy to purchase 1% hydrocortisone cream over the counter at any pharmacy or drugstore. Keep in mind to dab this cream only on the bitten area instead of the surrounding skin. In other words, try to apply as little as you can. Consult your healthcare provider before applying the cream on pregnant women or children under 12 years old. Hydrocortisone creams can be applied every 4 to 6 hours if necessary. [1]
Cold Shower
Another home remedy to chigger bites is to take a cold shower. Although it may be a bit unpleasant, cold water may help alleviate inflammation and itching. Make sure to scrub the body with soap to get rid of any remaining chiggers on your body and digestive enzymes that would stay on the skin’s surface. Lather and rise the skin a couple of times to kill all the chiggers. In case you do not want a cold shower, consider applying a cold compress or taking a cold bath instead. [2]
