Maggots are the larval form of flies. They are often found in decaying organic matter, carcasses, garbage, and even wounds. While the thought of a maggot touching your skin may seem unpleasant, they are generally harmless to humans.
Can maggots burrow into your skin?
No, maggots cannot burrow into or under intact, healthy skin. Maggots do not have teeth or means to penetrate unbroken skin. They can only enter the body through existing wounds or openings.
However, if there are small cracks, lesions, or ulcers on the skin, maggots may be able to work their way into these openings. Maggots used for maggot therapy take advantage of this to help clean out necrotic or infected tissue in non-healing wounds.
What does it feel like when a maggot touches your skin?
You may not feel anything at all if a maggot briefly crawls across intact skin. Maggots have small soft bodies and tiny hook-like mouthparts.
However, if maggots are present on a wound or sore, you may feel an itching, tickling, or crawling sensation. As they feed, their mouthparts may cause a pinching feeling. If there are many maggots clustered on the skin, their movements and feeding may cause general irritation or discomfort.
Can maggots transmit diseases by touching skin?
Maggots themselves do not spread infectious diseases directly. However, they can pick up bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites from decaying organic matter and transport them elsewhere.
If maggots have been in contact with something contaminated, it is possible for them to transfer pathogens onto the skin, increasing infection risk in open wounds. Some potential diseases include tetanus, gangrene, and E. coli.
The most common pathogens transmitted by maggots are bacteria that normally live in their gut such as Proteus, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Clostridium species. Maggots can regurgitate these bacteria onto wounds or dead tissue.
What should you do if a maggot touches your skin?
If a maggot briefly touches intact skin, the risk of infection is very low. Simply wash the area with soap and water.
If maggots have prolonged contact with broken skin or a wound, take these steps:
- Wash the area thoroughly with mild soap and water to remove maggots.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent bacterial infection.
- Cover with a sterile bandage.
- Watch for signs of infection like increased pain, redness, swelling, pus, or fever.
- See a doctor if infection occurs.
Can you safely remove maggots from skin?
It is not recommended to try removing maggots yourself, especially from an open wound. You may push the maggots deeper, break them apart, or damage the tissue further.
See a doctor to have maggots properly removed from wounds. They will likely apply a topical anesthetic, use tweezers and irrigate the wound to flush out and extract all maggot fragments. Antibiotics may be prescribed.
However, for intact skin, you can try gently removing maggots with tweezers or gloved hands, then sterilize the area well. Seek medical care if signs of infection develop afterwards.
Are maggots harmful to the skin?
In most cases, brief contact with intact skin does not cause any lasting harm. However, there are some risks and concerns with maggots on the skin:
- Infection risk: Maggots can transmit pathogenic bacteria into wounds, leading to invasive infection.
- Tissue damage: Maggot secretions contain enzymes that break down tissue. In wounds, this can destroy healthy tissue as well as dead tissue.
- Toxins: Rotting maggot masses can produce toxin that irritates skin and wounds.
- Allergic reaction: Some people may develop localized skin inflammation, rash, or itching after contact.
Can maggots be beneficial to wounds?
Yes, maggot therapy has been used since ancient times to help clean out damaged or infected tissue in non-healing skin ulcers and wounds. It may be used to treat:
- Pressure ulcers
- Diabetic ulcers
- Venous ulcers
- Post-surgical wounds
- Traumatic wounds
- Gangrene
Sterile medicinal maggots are applied to the wound and contained in place with dressings. As they feed on dead tissue, their secretions break it down and disinfect the area. This stimulates healing.
However, maggots must be used carefully under medical supervision. Benefits include:
- Debridement of necrotic tissue
- Disinfection of bacteria
- Stimulation of tissue growth
- Promotion of blood flow
Conclusion
Brief contact with intact skin is harmless, but maggots should be promptly removed. Seek medical care if they have prolonged contact with open wounds due to risks of bacterial infection and tissue damage.
While maggot therapy has some benefits for chronic skin wounds, maggots should only be used under the guidance of medical professionals to maintain sterility and prevent complications.