https://community.usms.org/swimming/f/open-water-training-and-technique/25120/swimmer-s-itch-duck-itchAnyone ever suffered from swimmer&#39;s itch? www.cdc.gov/.../factsht_cercarialdermatitis.htm I went for a nice two+ mile lake swim on Saturday and am now covered. :bitching: The other people I was with did not get it (although several of them were wearingen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/thread/267841?ContentTypeID=1Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:23:22 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:eff1fbc5-51a3-4e47-9301-23ad3318aaa1FindingMyInnerFishWhether it&#39;s a reaction to parasites (gross!) or the other possibly culprit, sea lice, I suggest antihistamines. I&#39;ve had several run ins with sea lice (tiny jelly fish larvae) and my sensitive skin always reacts. The good news is that I&#39;ve never experienced an escalation in symptoms. Sometimes I feel the stings during the swim (as I did during this year&#39;s GCBS) and sometimes not till after. They can get trapped in your suit and then, as your suit dries, they get distressed and sting you. The result is little red spots that are insanely itchy. The solution is to rinse off with clean water right after your swim. If it&#39;s too late for that, don&#39;t waste time with vinegar or baking soda, go cortisone and antihistamines. I had this problem after my bay swim this year--water was unusually warm, which I&#39;ve heard is a factor. I developed not only a rash but a fever--both calmed down in a few days. Used anti-histamines which seemed to work well. Later in the summer, I developed poison ivy, which did not respond to otc remedies, and for that the dr. gave me a stronger dose of topical cortisone. Any good suggestions for warding this stuff off even before starting a swim?<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/267784?ContentTypeID=1Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:26:30 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:df71775d-633f-443f-bd04-a8ed5cd68f79Former MemberWhether it&#39;s a reaction to parasites (gross!) or the other possibly culprit, sea lice, I suggest antihistamines. I&#39;ve had several run ins with sea lice (tiny jelly fish larvae) and my sensitive skin always reacts. The good news is that I&#39;ve never experienced an escalation in symptoms. Sometimes I feel the stings during the swim (as I did during this year&#39;s GCBS) and sometimes not till after. They can get trapped in your suit and then, as your suit dries, they get distressed and sting you. The result is little red spots that are insanely itchy. The solution is to rinse off with clean water right after your swim. If it&#39;s too late for that, don&#39;t waste time with vinegar or baking soda, go cortisone and antihistamines.<div style="clear:both;"></div>https://community.usms.org/thread/267739?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:14:54 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:dd165da3-198b-4b7d-a66a-d03a1e8d8a52Former MemberWe&#39;re definitely getting to the time of year when Swimmer&#39;s Itch appears again (at least here in CT) - in fact, I noticed a bite on my butt yesterday. My experience is that if you can shower off immediately after swimming, your chances of developing the itchy pimples goes down. Just toweling off doesn&#39;t seem to have the same preventative effect. If showers don&#39;t exist where you swim, consider bringing jugs of water to pour on your face/head/torso when you come out. I have not had any worsening of symptoms due to constant exposure. I would urge you to try swimming again, rinsing off thoroughly upon emergence and see if that makes a difference.<div style="clear:both;"></div>