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Or you may be referred immediately to a specialist in skin conditions (dermatologist).Cercarial Dermatitis, also known as Swimmer’s Itch, is a rash that spreads to the entire body after swimming or wading in a lake, pond, or an ocean during the summer months. You're likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider.
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Apply a corticosteroid cream or an anti-itch lotion, such as those that contain calamine.If the itching is severe, your health care provider may recommend prescription-strength lotions or creams. Swimmer's itch typically clears up on its own within a week. There are no specific tests to diagnose swimmer's itch. The condition can look like poison ivy rash and other skin conditions.
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Your health care provider will likely diagnose swimmer's itch by looking at your skin and talking with you about your activities and symptoms. Don't feed birds on piers or near swimming areas. Rinse exposed skin with clean water right after leaving the water. Also avoid being in marshy areas where snails are often found. Avoid being in water near the shore where swimmer's itch is a known problem or where signs have been posted warning of the risk. Preventionįollow these tips to avoid swimmer's itch: Swimmer's itch usually isn't serious, but your skin can become infected if you scratch the rash. Being sensitive to the parasites that cause swimmer's itch.Forgetting to dry off with a towel after getting out of the water.Spending time in water that's infested with certain parasites.Risk factorsįactors that can increase the risk of swimmer's itch include: Swimmer's itch isn't contagious from person to person. The snails then release the parasites into the water, where they can infect humans. When the young parasites hatch, they live and grow in a type of snail that lives in shallow water. The parasites' eggs get into the water through the animals' waste. These parasites are found in some animals that live near ponds and lakes, including geese, ducks and muskrats. Swimmer's itch is caused by an allergic reaction to parasites that burrow into your skin from warm water. You might be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist). If you notice pus at the rash site, check with your health care provider. Talk to your health care provider if you have a rash after swimming that lasts more than a week. Your sensitivity to swimmer's itch can increase each time you're exposed to the parasites that cause it. Usually the rash affects skin that's not covered by swimsuits, wetsuits or waders. Symptoms may begin within minutes or as long as two days after swimming or wading in contaminated water. Swimmer's itch symptoms include an itchy rash that looks like pimples or blisters. In the meantime, you can control itching with medicine. Swimmer's itch usually clears on its own within a few days. These parasites can't survive in people, so they soon die. Swimmer's itch is usually caused by a reaction to tiny parasites in the water that burrow into your skin while you're swimming or wading in warm, calm water. It's most common after being in freshwater lakes and ponds, but you can get it in saltwater too. Swimmer's itch is a rash that can occur after you go swimming or wading outdoors. Swimmer's itch is an allergic reaction to tiny parasites that burrow into your skin while you're swimming or wading outdoors.