Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Relieve the symptoms yourself at home
• Method 2 of 3: Consult a physician
• Method 3 of 3: Identifying a sand flea bite
• Tips
• Warnings

Sand fleas are small mites that bite you when you walk somewhere where plants grow where the sand fleas hide between. Usually sand fleas bite you in areas where your skin is thin, such as your ankles, your waist, your groin, your armpits and your knees. Many people think that sand fleas stay under your skin after biting you, but luckily that is a myth! If you have been bitten by sand fleas, you can relieve the symptoms yourself at home. Treatment by a doctor is only necessary in very exceptional cases. When in doubt, there are several ways to determine whether you have indeed been bitten by sand fleas.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Relieve the symptoms yourself at home

1. As soon as you notice that you have a sand flea bite, take a cold shower. A cold shower may not sound pleasant, but it can help reduce the swelling that a sand flea bite causes. And that way the itching will also be less! Rub your entire body with soap to get rid of any sand fleas that may be left behind, along with any digestive enzymes that may come out of the bite that may be left on your skin.
   • Repeat this pattern of soaping and rinsing a few times. That way, you have the greatest chance of killing any sand fleas that may be left behind.
   • If you don't want to take a shower, you can also sit in a cold bath or apply cold compresses to the bite, but it is less effective to get rid of sand fleas or digestive enzymes. If you take a bath, you can add a few spoons of colloidal oat flakes to the water to relieve the itching.
2. Apply hydrocortisone ointment to the bite to relieve the itching. Ointment with 1% hydrocortisone is available without a prescription. Only apply the cream to the bite and not to the surrounding skin. Use as little of the cream as possible.
   • Before applying hydrocortisone ointment to a child under 12 or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor for advice.
   • You can reapply the cream every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
3. As an alternative to hydrocortisone ointment, use calamine lotion. Calamine lotion can also help relieve itching caused by sand flea bites. Shake the lotion bottle and put some lotion on a cotton ball. Dab the lotion on the bite and let the lotion dry before covering the skin where you were bitten with clothing.
   • Before applying calamine lotion to a child under 12 or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor for advice.
   • You can reapply the calamine lotion every 4 hours as needed.
4. Take an antihistamine to reduce itching and swelling. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an excellent choice, but you can also choose a remedy that will not make you drowsy, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin). These agents ensure that your body reacts less strongly to the sand flea bites, so that you will have less itching and swelling.
   • Before taking antihistamines, consult your doctor, especially if you are taking other medications at the same time.
   • Follow all instructions on the package or in the package insert regarding dosage. Keep in mind that you can take certain antihistamines every 4 hours, but there are also antihistamines that you only take once a day.
   • Taking antihistamines may make you feel sleepy.
5. Use camphor oil as an alternative anti-itch remedy. You can simply buy camphor oil at the drugstore. You can even use Vicks Vaporub as the active ingredient in it is camphor! You can just dab it on the bites to relieve the itching. Only be careful if you have sensitive skin, as camphor can irritate your skin. If so, you better take another drug.
   • You can reapply the oil several times a day as needed.
6. Soak your skin in an oatmeal bath for itching. Add 85 grams of fine oat flakes or colloidal oat flakes to a warm bath. Sit in it for 15 minutes and then rinse your skin with clean water.
   • Do not sit in the bath for more than 15 minutes and do not take such an oatmeal bath more than once a day, otherwise your skin can dry out. And dry skin is more likely to itch.
   • Colloidal oat flakes that are specially designed for bathing can be found at the drugstore or you can order them online. You can also grind old-fashioned oatmeal yourself to put in your bath.
7. Make a baking soda paste for itching. Another alternative anti-itch remedy is baking soda or baking soda. Place the baking soda in a clean bowl. Add a little water and form a thick paste while stirring. Add extra baking soda or water as needed, until the mixture has a pasty consistency. Spread the mixture on the bites and let the paste dry. Then wash it off with water.
   • You don't have to weigh the amount of baking soda exactly. All that matters is that you have enough paste to cover all the bites.
8. For another alternative treatment, hold a wet aspirin against the bite. The aspirin may reduce pain, itching, and swelling. The aspirin just needs to be wet to have the desired effect.
   • You can also crush an aspirin and make a paste with a little water. Spread the paste on the bites and let it dry completely before rinsing your skin again.
9. Try not to scratch, as scratching can cause the bites to get infected. Scratching can break the skin on and around the bite, increasing the risk of inflammation. Moreover, scratching does not even lessen the itching!
   • Trim the fingernails very short if you have trouble stopping scratching.
   • You can paint a protective layer over the bites with nail polish or that white, liquid craft glue to prevent scratching.
   • If you did scratch the skin, apply an anti-inflammatory antiseptic.
10. Wash the clothes you were wearing at the time of the bite in hot water. The sand fleas may still be in your clothes, so they could bite you again! As soon as you notice that you have been bitten by sand fleas, wash your clothes in hot water with detergent. That way you kill the sand fleas and minimize the chance of them spreading.

Method 2 of 3: Consult a physician

1. If the symptoms do not improve after 3 days, make an appointment with your doctor. It is normal for the itching to get worse in the first 2 days after the bite, but after about 3 days you should notice improvement. If the symptoms don't get better or you notice the skin around the bite starting to swell, pus comes out, or the area hurts, it's best to see a doctor.
   • Sometimes the doctor can give you a steroid injection for severe itching and to prevent swelling of the skin.
2. See your doctor if you see signs of inflammation. Sand flea bites rarely get infected, but sometimes it does happen. Inflammation is usually the result of scratching the bite, which can break the skin. If this is the case for you, the doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. Symptoms that can indicate inflammation are:
   • Fever
   • Complaints such as flu or cold
   • Swollen glands
   • Redness
   • Swellings
   • Pus
   • Pain
3. Go to the doctor if you have symptoms that indicate the so-called summer penile syndrome (literally: summer penis syndrome). If the sand fleas have bitten your groin, the skin around your penis may be swollen and itchy. You may also have problems urinating. If so, you should see a doctor.
   • Your doctor can give you something to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
   • This condition can last from a few days to a few weeks, so for best results it is recommended that you start treatment as soon as possible.

Method 3 of 3: Identifying a sand flea bite

1. If you suddenly feel very itchy, be aware of sand flea bites. You may have extreme itching before you even realize you've been bitten. This is because the bite doesn't show on your skin until a few hours after biting. Itching is often the first sign that you have been bitten by sand fleas.
   • With sand flea bites, the itching is at its worst about 1 or 2 days after being bitten.
2. Note if there is a red spot 1 to 3 hours after the bite. The spot can be flat or shaped like a bump. Sometimes a pimple or blister develops, but that is not always the case.
3. See if you see multiple bites close together. Sand flea bites are sometimes easy to confuse with a rash or a skin disease because they often cluster on the skin. This is quite normal if you have been bitten by sand fleas, especially if you have been outdoors for extended periods of time.
4. Find out if you have been outdoors for a long time. Most sand flea bites occur after coming into contact with a colony of sand flea larvae, which need to attach to a host. And unfortunately humans are ideal hosts! You often encounter the bully in grassy areas or near water. They are most common from late spring to early fall.
5. Notice if the area in your groin swells. Unfortunately, sand fleas like to bite you in the crotch area because the skin is easier to bite there. Sometimes this can lead to summer penile syndrome, where you experience itching, swelling and difficulty urinating.
   • The symptoms can last from a few days to a few weeks.

Tips

• Apply a non-toxic, skin-friendly insect repellent to your ankles, waist, and any other areas where your skin is thin to keep sand fleas at bay.
• Sand fleas don't stay under your skin after biting you! That is a myth. Do not use agents such as nail polish, bleach, alcohol, or turpentine on the bite to kill the sand flea, as this will only irritate your skin more.
• If you go to an area where sand fleas are suspected, wear loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Keep your cuffs closed and tuck the seams of your trouser legs into your socks if necessary.

Warnings

• If you develop severe skin inflammation from the bites, a severe allergic reaction to a bite, or if there are signs of inflammation around the bite, see your doctor.