#PREVENT SWIMMERS ITCH SKIN#

#PREVENT SWIMMERS ITCH SKIN#

Rinse after swimming. Rinse exposed skin with clean water immediately after leaving the water, then vigorously dry your skin with a towel.You may be more likely to develop swimmer's itch if you spend a lot of time in warmer water near the shore. Avoid the shoreline, if possible. If you're a strong swimmer, head to deeper water for your swim.Also avoid swimming or wading in marshy areas where snails are commonly found. Choose swimming spots carefully. Avoid swimming in areas where swimmer's itch is a known problem or signs warn of possible contamination.The parasites that cause swimmer's itch live in the blood of waterfowl and in mammals that live near ponds and lakes. Swimmer's itch rarely leads to complications, but your skin can become infected if you scratch too vigorously. And, your sensitivity can increase each time you're exposed to the parasites that cause swimmer's itch. Some people are more sensitive to swimmer's itch than others are. Children may have the highest risk, since they tend to play in shallow water and are less likely to dry off with a towel. The more time you spend in infested water, the higher your risk of swimmer's itch. Swimmer's itch isn't contagious from person to person, so you don't need to worry about catching swimmer's itch from someone who has this itchy rash. These snails live near the shoreline, which explains why infections occur most often in shallow water. Before infecting birds, other animals or people, the hatched parasites must live for a time within a type of snail. The parasite's eggs enter the water via their hosts' feces.

You might be referred to a health care provider who specializes in skin conditions. If you notice pus at the rash site, consult your doctor. Talk to your doctor if you have a rash after swimming that lasts more than three days. Signs and symptoms of swimmer's itch typically worsen with each exposure to the parasites. Swimmer's itch usually affects only exposed skin - skin not covered by swimsuits, wet suits or waders. It may appear within minutes or days after swimming or wading in infested water. The itchy rash associated with swimmer's itch looks like reddish pimples or blisters. In the meantime, you can control itching with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Swimmer's itch is uncomfortable, but it usually clears up on its own in a few days. Humans aren't suitable hosts, so the parasites soon die while still in your skin. These parasites can be released into the water. The parasites that cause swimmer's itch normally live in waterfowl and some mammals. Swimmer's itch is a rash usually caused by an allergic reaction to parasites that burrow into your skin while you're swimming or wading in warm water. Also known as cercarial dermatitis, swimmer's itch is most common in freshwater lakes and ponds, but it occasionally occurs in salt water. Swimmer's itch is an itchy rash that can occur after you go swimming or wading outdoors.

Prevent swimmers itch