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Signs & Symptoms of Swimmer's Itch

Swimmer's itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, is an allergic reaction that occurs on the surface of your skin. It is caused by parasites that live in some lakes and ponds. Cercaria, the infecting parasite, is released into the water by infected snails, and they dig into your skin trying to make you their next host. Birds can host the parasite, but humans are unsuitable, so the parasites quickly die. However, these pests leave behind an irritating rash known as "swimmer's itch."

  1. Symptoms

    • Irritation from the parasite begins to appear anytime within 12 hours of swimming. Skin will begin to tingle and itch, and little red bumps will start to appear in affected areas. Depending on how severely your body reacts to the parasite, these bumps may turn into blisters. Legs and arms that are affected also might look swollen.

    Location

    • Shallow lake or pond water is the most common place to contract swimmer's itch because that is where the infected snails usually live, but any open body of water is susceptible. A clean and well-maintained swimming pool is usually a safe place to swim. Swimmer's itch is most common in the summertime. Water will remain infected until the parasites cannot continue the cycle (snail to bird to water to snail) and die out. Check beaches and ponds for signs that indicate unsafe water.

    Duration & Infection

    • Swimmer's itch usually will take care of itself after a couple of days. Try to avoid scratching as much as possible because blisters, if severe, can become infected. Since swimmer's itch is an allergic reaction, if you re-expose yourself by going back into the infected water, your rash will get worse or reappear.

    Treatment

    • In most cases, the infected area will heal itself in a couple of days; in the meantime, you can use over-the-counter products to reduce the itching. Helpful remedies to reduce itching include Calamine lotion, corticosteroid cream or a cool compress. If you have been staying out of the water and the rash persists for more than a week, it may be time to see your doctor or dermatologist.

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