Each summer more and more people go to Lake Wilderness to swim, but each summer swimmer’s itch occurs.

According to Al Frank, the Parks Operation Manager for Maple Valley, it is not uncommon to have this occur in the lake during this time of year.

Swimmer’s itch, according to a public notice from Maple Valley, is a dermatitis that is neither dangerous or contagious, but is very uncomfortable.

Symptoms of swimmer’s itch include a skin rash that itches or burns, small reddish pimples and small blisters. It is caused by an allergic reaction to a certain microscopic parasite that infect some birds and mammals, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDC also states on its website these parasites come from infected snails that release the parasites into the water. While the parasites usually prefer a bird or mammal, it is not uncommon for it to burrow into a human’s skin causing the allergic reaction.

According to Frank, feeding ducks and geese at the lake does not help with this common occurrence of swimmer’s itch.

“We usually have it about halfway through the summer and with this hot weather it becomes more present,” Frank said. “People feed the ducks which is the cause of the swimmer’s itch and we request park participants not to feed the waterfowl, but people still do.”

Swimmer’s itch is easily treatable.

CDC said to treat swimmer’s itch, use a corticosteroid cream, apply cool compresses to the affected area, bathe in Epsom salts or baking soda, soak in colloidal oatmeal baths, apply baking soda paste to the rash and/or use an anti-itch lotion.

The website said it is also good to avoid scratching the rash because this could cause an infection.

Itching may last up to a week, but will gradually go away, the CDC website said.

In order to prevent this, the CDC website said to towel off “aggressively” after each swim, shower right after swimming, do not attract birds to the swimming area — i.e. by feeding them — and do not swim near marshy areas of the lake where snails are commonly found.

Frank said the city will provide water for a public outside shower in order to help prevent swimmer’s itch.