There’s no quick cure for swimmer’s itch, but you can prevent it. This medication tends to make people sleepy, so it might be better to take it before you go to sleep. So do not use it on the face (where skin is naturally thinner) for more than 5 days in a row.ĭiphenhydramine (Benadryl): Benadryl can help with the itching. Keep in mind that prolonged use of steroid cream can thin out the skin. Hydrocortisone : You can apply over-the-counter topical steroid cream directly to the rash to help with inflammation and itchiness. You can then put this on the rash to help with itching.Īnti-itch lotions: These lotions (like calamine) can also help relieve itchiness. In general, 2 cups for a full tub of water works well.īaking soda: Try mixing together baking soda with water until you get a paste consistency. This can sometimes help with itchiness as well. Oatmeal baths: If the rash covers a large area on your body, soaking in oatmeal baths can help with the itchiness.Įpsom salts: Another bath additive to try is Epsom salts. But to avoid cold injury to the skin, don’t do this for longer than 15 minutes each hour. You can put the ice packs directly on the skin. They can cover larger areas, and you can refreeze them. Bags of frozen vegetables, like peas, are good for this. Ice packs or cool compresses: Cold often soothes itchiness. But you still may want something that relieves the itch. So you don’t need any specific treatment for the parasite. But the good news is that the larvae do not cause an infection in humans. Swimmer’s itch can be uncomfortable and aggravating. Home and over-the-counter remedies for swimmer’s itch We may receive compensation when a user decides to leverage these services, but making them available does not influence the medical content our editorial staff provides. We also provide access to services offered by GoodRx and our partners when we think these services might be useful to our visitors. See our editorial policy for more detail. GoodRx Health information and resources is reviewed by our editorial staff with medical and healthcare policy and pricing experience. Itchy skin that develops within 1 hour after swimmingĪ rash with small, raised bumps that starts in exposed areas of skin (areas that are not covered by a swimsuit) You might have swimmer’s itch if you have:Ī rash that starts after swimming in a natural body of water, especially freshwater So it’s helpful to note when and where your rash started. Your healthcare provider will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms. And you can’t see the larva that burrow under the skin. There’s no specific test to diagnose swimmer’s itch. Because swimmer’s itch is an allergic reaction, the rash can be more severe every time you get get it again. This rash tends to be very itchy for about 1 week before it starts to get better. Over the course of the first 24 hours, the rash can become very itchy. People experience mild itchiness and may notice some small, raised bumps. The symptoms of swimmer's itch usually start within 1 hour of swimming. Once under the skin, your body can react to the larva and cause itching. This microscopic larva does not cause an infection in humans, but it can burrow under skin. The infected snails release the larval form of the parasite (the “baby” stage, right after eggs hatch) into the water. The parasite infects snails that often live in shallow freshwater, like lakes and ponds. Swimmer’s itch is an allergic reaction to a parasite that can live in freshwater. We’ll explain how it happens and what you can do to treat it. And the itching can last for up to 1 week after a quick dip. This parasite does not cause an infection, but it can be quite uncomfortable and bothersome. It generally happens in freshwater, but it can occasionally happen in salt water. Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) is an itchy rash that can happen after swimming in natural bodies of water.
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