How To Treat & Prevent Swimmer's Itch

Cercarial dermatitis, or swimmer's itch, is an allergic reaction to exposure to a parasite commonly found in areas of salt and freshwater. The parasite is primarily carried by birds and other mammals, but can also contaminate water through the presence of snails. The parasite can cause a rash and blisters in humans, which can occur within one hour of exposure to contaminated waters. Most cases of swimmer's itch do not require medical intervention and can be treated with at home remedies. However, frequent exposure to the parasite and occurrences of swimmer's itch does make the body more sensitive to the parasite, making swimmer's itch harder to treat after multiple occurrences.