Anyone living in the Midwest can attest to how hot it has been this summer. Record-breaking temperatures and low rainfall have made this a very long summer. Last Saturday, the temperature in Missouri, where I live, finally cooled to a pleasant 90 degrees, so my boyfriend and I packed a lunch and our dog and headed to Big Sugar Creek State Park to do some hiking.

The Ozark Chinquapin Trail is about 3.25 miles long and winds through the Elk River Break Natural Area. The trailhead is currently the only facility at Big Sugar Creek State Park. After filling out our registration card, so that rangers would know who we were and when we left, we set out. The trail follows a dry, rocky creek bed as it winds up through glades and forest. The trail is narrow, with steep drop-offs on each side, but the change in elevation is slow; overall, it started out as a great hike. We decided to take the connector trail back down, because we were running low on water.

It was on this connector trail that we discovered we were covered in chiggers. Absolutely covered. We quickly hiked out and went to a local camping/swimming spot we had passed on our way to the trailhead. We thought we could drown the chiggers before they latched on. That plan worked for my boyfriend and our dog, but sadly, not for me. I am currently covered in hundreds of chigger bites. As I try not to scratch my skin off, I thought I would share what I have learned about chiggers with all of you.

Contrary to many popular beliefs, chiggers do not burrow into the skin. They attach themselves to skin pores and feed on skin cells. Most bites occur in folds of skin, like behind the knees, and on thin skin, like on the ankles. After the chiggers are done feeding, typically within a few days, they fall off, and what you are left with are red bumps and intense itching. Treatment is aimed at relieving the itch, not curing the bumps. Those should go away after a couple of weeks.

Oral antihistamines and hydrocortisone creams are effective at relieving the itch. Tea tree oil can also be used. However, remedies like fingernail polish and alcohol are based on the mistaken assumption that chiggers burrow into the skin, and are therefore not effective.

The best way to treat chigger bites is to prevent them. They are common in tall grass and weeds, so if you can avoid these areas, you should. As we head into fall and many people head to the trails to enjoy cooler weather, be sure to dress appropriately. Wear long pants and socks, and if you are going to be hiking through tall grass, don't be afraid to make a fashion statement and tuck your pants into your socks. You just may save yourself from painful itching later!

For more information on chiggers, please visit http://www.medicinenet.com/chiggers_bites/article.htm. In the meantime, I am going to practice self-control and resist the urge to rub my ankles on the edge of my desk while I work.