Swimmer's Itch?!

Swimmer's Itch?

Over the summer I have been tubing in the lake by our cabin a lot. I saw I had some ugly red marks on my chest. Now they are on my stomach, lower back, arms, and legs. They are moving up my neck and towards my shins! Is it swimmer's itch? Because they are very rarely itchy. I have some in my armpits that are very painful and swollen. What could make this go away? And is swimmer's itch caused by bacteria in the water or actual bugs in the water that bite you?

Thanks for any information!

Swimmer's itch is a patchy red pinpoint skin rash associated with itching on the parts of the body that have been in the water. Swimmer's itch is usually not severe. After the initial transient itching it will disappear without treatment. The itching occurs within 48 hours and may last up to 7 days. Rarely, it can be severe if a large proportion of the body is affected. The major, although not the only, cause of swimmer's itch are trematode parasites of aquatic/migrating birds. The life cycles of these parasites involve snails as the first host and aquatic birds or some mammals as the final host.

The larval parasite called a "cercaria" is released by aquatic or amphibious (moves both on land and water) snails and causes dermatitis when it mistakenly penetrates a person's skin rather than it rightful host, usually a duck. Swimmer's itch occurs in both freshwater and in the marine coastal environments.

Treatment may not be necessary when there are only a few itching spots. An antihistaminic or mild corticosteroid cream purchased over the counter in pharmacies can be beneficial. If the initial itching is severe, then scratching can cause abrasions and skin infections may develop. If the symptoms persist for longer than 3 days, a dermatologist should be seen. Prescription medications may help reduce the itching