Jennifer Troiano, Washington State University’s Elson S. Since humans are a dead-end host, the critter dies shortly after it gains access to the body.
![swimmers itch bumps swimmers itch bumps](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/6500f46dfa18af501438795515cd677dd3123233/c=0-264-1147-1793/local/-/media/2017/09/30/USATODAY/USATODAY/636423493686314171-swimmer-s-itch.jpg)
Take solace in the fact that the itching isn’t caused by a serpentine parasite living under your skin. They need just the right combination of snails, waterfowl and warm water to thrive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not all lakes and waterways are home to schistosomes. An antihistamine such as Benadryl can also relieve symptoms. To quell the itching, options include applying a cool compress, bathing in Epson salts, rubbing on hydrocortisone cream or a homemade paste of water and baking soda, Troiano advised. Scratching is discouraged because it makes the itching more intense and can lead to secondary infections, she explained.
SWIMMERS ITCH BUMPS SKIN
Itching can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.Įach parasite lodged into the skin creates a bump, which doesn’t spread and is not contagious, said Troiano. These parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans). Those unlucky enough to contract swimmer’s itch will know it when the tingling starts and red spots start to appear, typically within a few hours. What is swimmer’s itch Swimmer’s itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites that infect some birds and mammals. This can remove the parasites before they have a chance to penetrate the skin,” she said. “Drying off with a towel immediately after leaving the water and, if possible, rinsing off in a shower, is an easy way to help prevent swimmer’s itch. Oftentimes, they’re children playing in shallow water where the organisms tend to congregate, said Troiano, adding that kids are less likely than adults to towel dry after coming to shore, also making them susceptible.
![swimmers itch bumps swimmers itch bumps](https://www.crutchfielddermatology.com/caseofthemonth/images/swimmers-itch.cc.10.52.jpg)
But sometimes they unintentionally encounter humans along the way. Schistosomes live their life cycles migrating from small snails to ducks and geese - and then back again. Caused by tiny wormlike parasites called schistosomes, “they penetrate the skin and trigger an immune response in the form of red spots that can persistently itch.” Though generally harmless, the red pimply rash is maddenly itchy, she said. The ailment is widely reported around the Pacific Northwest each summer, especially during extended periods of warm weather when the parasites flourish and more people are recreating in water, said pediatrician Jennifer Troiano, clinical assistant professor at Washington State University’s Elson S. Hot summer temperatures have warmed up the region’s lakes and watering holes, making conditions ripe for swimmer’s itch, medically known as cercarial dermatitis.
![swimmers itch bumps swimmers itch bumps](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Kpu8RysB-Cs/hqdefault.jpg)
– A waterborne parasite with a forked tail is getting under our skin.