Every swimmer faces a very basic problem in their life that is itching. It is also called Cercarial Dermatitis (a type of skin infection that looks like an allergic skin rash). There are so many ways to cure this skin infection. Below we have discussed swimmers itch treatment home remedies, why it happened, what are its symptoms, and what happened after swimmers get a skin infection.
Before discussing the swimmers itch treatment home remedies first we discuss what problem is that and what is the great reason that a swimmer gets this kind or type of infection.
What is a swimmer’s itch?
Cercarial dermatitis is a type of skin infection that looks like an allergic skin rash, skin rash can develop after swimming or wading in natural bodies of water. To a microscopic parasite that can live in the water, the rash is an allergic reaction. In the lakes and ponds, the swimmer’s itch is most common, but it occasionally occurs in saltwater. The parasites are the cause of the swimmer itch and they are found in life in animals such as waterfowl. These parasites can live in the water so we can release them into the water but the human body isn’t suitable to host, so while the parasites are in the skin will die soon.
The itching problem is a very uncomfortable problem in humans, but usually on its own in a few days, it clears up. But if you want to use some prescription medications or over-the-counter, you can control itching by using these in the meantime or you can also do swimmer’s itch treatment with home remedies.
Symptoms of Swimmer’s Itch
After swimming, you may start feeling the symptoms of the swimmer itching. There are some serious symptoms by which you can find out the itching problem. It will start after swimming within a minute to 2 days after swimming in contaminated water.
Some Common Symptoms of Swimmer’s Itch
- You’ll feel itching on your skin.
- You’ll feel tingling on your skin.
- You’ll feel a burning sensation in your skin.
- You’ll feel small reddish pimples on your skin, which can develop into blisters.
Because of an allergic reaction to infection, the swimmers got an itch problem in the skin. In case if you swim more or wade in contaminated water then you develop more serious symptoms.
When you swim in the contaminated water then there are greater chances to get the more intense and immediate symptoms of swimmer’s itch. And be sure that after swimming in fresh or saltwater, a swimmer’s itch is not the only rash that may occur. Some people think that this problem can spread from one person to another, but it is not true because a swimmer’s itch is not contagious. So it can’t be spread from one person to another.
Swimmers itch treatment home remedies
You can resolve the symptoms in a few weeks at your home without going anywhere. And that is the good news that you can treat your swim itch problem on your own. Just by using some home remedies. This swimmer’s itch treatment can ease skin irritation and discomfort. Mostly the skin infection or swimmer’s itch doesn’t need medical attention but if within a few weeks the rash doesn’t improve then you need a healthcare professional to treat your rash. And if you have developed any serious symptoms then you need a doctor or healthcare professional treatment for swimmer’s itch.
Best home remedy for swimmer’s itch
- Epsom salt or baking soda baths: In your bath water and soak, dissolve the salt or soda.
- Baking soda paste applied directly to the rash: With the help of baking soda and water, you can mix them together and create a mixer that you can directly at the rashes.
- Oatmeal baths: using a blender, into a fine powder blend the one cup of oatmeal and dissolve in bathwater. At most grocery and pharmacy retailers, you can buy the oatmeal bath packets.
To control the itching and to decrease inflammation, you can also use the over-the-counter anti-itch and cortisone cream. Calamine lotion is also a good choice to control the itching and to decrease inflammation.
If in case these lotions and topicals are not sufficient to remove or control the itching then you can take another product also and that is an oral antihistamine medication, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Lifestyle and Swimmers itch treatment home remedies
These tips might help reduce the swimmer’s itch:
- Apply a cream or medication to the affected area where you feel itchy.
- Don’t scratch the affected area or itch area.
- Cover itchy areas with a clean, wet washcloth.
- Soak in a bath sprinkled with Epsom salts, baking soda, or oatmeal.
- Make a paste of baking soda and water, and then apply it to the affected areas.
Tips to prevent the Swimmer’s Itch
In the highly populated beach es areas, swimmer’s Itch is most common where duck and snails are commonly found. If You want to avoid that problem then try to avoid these beaches and in the first place, it will decrease your chances of coming in contact with the parasite. Try to swim in the deeper water and the moving water such as rivers.
Don’t be panicked if you get the dreaded itch and for the rest of the season swear off swimming. Your bumps will itch for one to two days then they’ll just be red and ugly but not painful. If your skin is more sensitive the more susceptible you are towards the parasites. You will get swimmer’s Itch again if you have had it once.
Kids spend their maximum time in the water and air dry. So, they are very susceptible to swimmers itching. After every swim, they need to towel off aggressively.
You can also protect yourself from a swimmer’s Itch problem by creating a waterproof barrier. It will help you to prevent the parasites from burrowing into your skin. By using baby oil, you can create a waterproof barrier on your skin. By using some swimmers itch treatment home remedies you can protect your skin.
Conclusion
It is a very common problem of swimmer’s Itch. Every second person who did swimming had this problem. If you follow the above-discussed swimmers itch treatment home remedies, you can overcome it very easily.
We suggest you use baby oil before you go swimming. That is the best remedy from all swimmers itch treatment home remedies, that way you can protect your skin from swimmer’s Itch problem.
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