Last September, my camera and I followed 11 agricultural journalism students into woods, prairies, caves and other pockets of southeastern Missouri. I emerged with plenty of photos from the trip, as well as a rash of chigger bites all over my ankles, waist area and, oddly, shoulders.
Over the past five months, I’ve visited my general practitioner three times and a dermatologist four times. Four packs of prednisone and a number of other prescriptions later, the final diagnosis? The bites have been aggravated into dermatitis, and the only way they’re going away is if I stop scratching them.
That’s the problem — they itch like nothing else.
Yesterday, I began to apply a prescription of Cordran Tape.
Self-portrait. Chigger bites on my right shoulder.
The tape is medicated on the underside, and it prevents me from scratching and protects the bites from being irritated by my clothing. After five months of nothing working or helping except the prednisone — which is not a drug anyone should take often — this tape is a godsend.
I’m really hoping these bites clear up before spring arrives and I should start retiring long sleeves and footed tights.
Words and Light 
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