Grey Bruce Public Health is sharing ways that local swimmers can prevent skin irritation while enjoying local beaches and waterways.
Swimmers itch, which presents as an allergic reaction and rash, is caused by microscopic parasites in the water that are released by infected snails.
Those parasites can then burrow into the skin, but soon die because humans are not a suitable host.
Grey Bruce Public Health Senior Health Manager Andrew Barton explained, “When they get into a person, they can’t survive that, so they die off. But in the process, particularly for people that are allergic to it, it can cause quite a nasty rash, and that can be quite itchy.”
Grey Bruce Public Health shared that to avoid swimmer’s itch, avoid swimming and wading where it’s known to be a problem, avoid swimming or wading through marshy areas where snails are commonly found, and towel dry after leaving the water using a clean, dry towel to rub skin dry vigorously will help to kill most of the parasites.
Swimmer’s itch can cause the skin to tingle, burn or itch, which can begin minutes after exposure. Small, red pimples can appear on the skin within 12 hours, and can develop into small blisters or a rash.
Due to the itch caused by those reactions, scratching the affected skin may lead to a secondary bacterial infection.
“The problem comes from that itchy response that we have, so really it’s dealing with those symptoms,” Barton said. “So really, it’d dealing with those symptoms… A number of different things: a cool compress, calamine lotion, bathing in Epsom salts or baking soda.”
The parasites are typically found in shallow water, close to shorelines with many aquatic plants.
Children tend to be more at risk of developing swimmers itch because they typically spend more time in shallow water.
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