2025 Guide: Bugs That Burrow Under Skin - Symptoms, Treatment & Prices

Various parasites, such as ticks and chigoe fleas, have the ability to burrow beneath human skin, lay eggs, or become embedded, requiring specific removal methods depending on the species involved.

Many insects can invade the human body through natural openings or by burrowing under the skin’s surface, with some even reproducing beneath it. Understanding these pests and how to avoid them is crucial.

Common Bugs That Penetrate Human Skin in 2024

Humans provide a warm and secure environment for certain insects that burrow into skin, making our bodies their habitat.

Ticks

Ticks, arachnids with eight legs resembling small spiders, range in color from brown to black and can vary in size from a pinhead to a marble after feeding. They prefer warm, hidden areas on the body like armpits or hairy regions for feeding.

While ticks do not fully burrow under the skin, their mouthparts can embed into the skin during feeding, remaining attached for up to 10 days. The primary health risk arises from diseases transmitted by ticks, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others.

Symptoms of tick-borne illnesses include itching, rash (often with a bullseye pattern), fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, skin ulcers, and swollen lymph nodes.

Ticks are widespread across the U.S., especially in wooded areas. Prompt and careful removal is essential to prevent complications. Use tick repellents, wear protective clothing, and inspect yourself and pets after outdoor activities for prevention.

Human Itch Mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis)

This microscopic mite burrows beneath the upper skin layer, where adult females lay eggs and live undetected for weeks. Transmission occurs mainly through direct skin contact with infested individuals or contaminated environments.

Visible signs include tiny raised tunnels on the skin and redness from scabies. Intense itching and rashes typically appear days or weeks after infestation, commonly in skin folds such as between fingers, elbows, armpits, neck, and groin.

Diagnosis often involves skin examination, sometimes confirmed by microscopic analysis of skin scrapings. Treatment requires prescription topical medications combined with thorough cleaning and isolation to prevent spread.

Chigoe Fleas (Tunga penetrans)

Known by various names like jiggers and sand fleas, these tiny fleas native to Central and South America live in sandy soils. Only pregnant females burrow into the skin, attaching and laying up to 100 eggs beneath it over two weeks, swelling to about 1 cm before being shed with dead skin.

Infection symptoms include swelling, itching, irritation, ulcers, and bacterial infections, collectively called tungiasis. Severe infestations can impair walking and lead to serious infections like tetanus or gangrene.

Screwworm Flies and Their Impact

Screwworm flies, also called tumbu or mango flies, native to tropical Africa, lay eggs on skin surfaces or wounds. Larvae burrow into tissue for up to 10 weeks, causing painful lumps and tissue damage that often requires surgical removal.

Bugs That Lay Eggs Under Skin

Some insects inject larvae beneath the skin rather than burrowing themselves, causing infestations needing medical attention.

Lice

Lice live primarily on the scalp or body surface, sometimes embedding eggs just below the skin. They cause itching, rashes, and can transmit diseases like typhus.

Loa Loa Worms

Transmitted by deer and black flies in tropical regions, these worms invade tissue under the skin and even the bloodstream. Loa loa infections may be symptomless or visible as worms moving beneath skin or across the eye, occasionally resulting in severe complications.

Onchocerca volvulus

Transmitted by black flies, this parasite causes onchocerciasis, leading to itching, rashes, nodules, and potentially blindness.

Effective Removal and Treatment Methods

Home Remedies

Home treatments are generally ineffective for burrowing bugs. Manual removal is sometimes possible for ticks and lice but requires caution to avoid leaving parts behind.

Preventive measures include maintaining cleanliness, using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and prophylactic medications when appropriate.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Options

Limited OTC products exist for severe infestations. Lice treatments are the most accessible OTC options but should be followed by medical consultation if ineffective.

Prescription Treatments and Medical Care

Prescription antiparasitic and antibiotic medications are often necessary to treat infections and infestations caused by these bugs. Severe cases may require surgical intervention and advanced medical therapies.

When to Consult a Doctor

Seek medical attention if you experience persistent or spreading rashes, growing nodules, cellulitis, fever, difficulty breathing, vision changes, or seizures following a bite or suspected infestation.

Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent serious complications from these parasitic infections.

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