DEAR DR. GOTT:
I live in Missouri. Warmer weather is my family’s favorite time of the year and with spring approaching we wonder if there is anything that can be done about chiggers. Every spring, summer and fall, we itch and find ourselves covered with unsightly rashes following outdoor activities. Is there anything you can recommend so we can continue to hike and do the things we enjoy so much?

DEAR READER:
Chiggers are not bugs, but juvenile forms of a particular family of mites (which are arachnids similar to spiders and scorpions) and are closely related to ticks.

They are very tiny and are almost impossible to see with the naked eye. When a number gather for a feed at the same location of skin, they become visible only because of their bright red color. [Read more...]