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Scabies is an itchy, contagious skin condition. It can be very uncomfortable, and needs to be treated to stop it from spreading.
If you have scabies symptoms, talk to us. Buy scabies treatment online with us and get access to our expert aftercare to make sure treatment is going well.
Scabies is a skin condition caused by mites that creates a pimply, itchy rash. The mites are parasites that burrow under your skin and cause the itching, pimpling and irritation you see in scabies.
You catch scabies from other people who have it, from prolonged contact with their skin. This allows the mites to travel from their skin to yours. It needs to be treated for it to disappear and to stop it from spreading to others.
Anyone can get scabies. It’s spread mostly through skin-to-skin contact. So you’re more likely to get it if you work or live closely with a lot of people, like nursing homes. It’s also often spread in adults through sex and contact sports. It’s thought to be more common among people aged 10-19 and those who are female.
The best way you can prevent yourself from getting scabies is to avoid close contact with other people who have it. If you’ve recently developed scabies, you should tell other people you’ve been in close contact with in case they also develop symptoms.
Scabies is a very common skin condition. It’s one of the most common skin conditions in the world and affects up to 200 million people at any time. Catching scabies doesn’t mean you have poor hygiene - the infestation is under the skin and can’t be washed off. It just means you’ve come into contact with a person who has it.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Scabies is caused by the itch mite sarcoptes scabiei, which is a type of parasite. It burrows into the skin and lays eggs there. You usually catch scabies from another person when prolonged contact allows pregnant female mites to transfer from their skin to yours. The impregnated females will then lay eggs under your skin and the infestation will grow.
The main symptom of scabies is the rash it produces. The rash often starts on the hands or fingers and usually begins as raised, red pimples. It often then spreads, and may spread across the whole body if not treated. It can cause dark spots on darker skin. The other main symptom of scabies is itchiness. It’s usually extremely itchy, especially at night.
The biggest risk of untreated scabies is transmitting it to other people. You should also try not to scratch it too much, as breaking the skin could lead to secondary eczema or a skin infection like impetigo. If the bacterial infection isn’t treated, it can spread and become dangerous.
If you have a compromised immune system, like if you have HIV, are undergoing chemotherapy, or have an autoimmune disease, catching scabies could be even more dangerous. This can lead to you developing crusted scabies (also known as Norwegian scabies), which is a more severe kind. It can be much harder to treat, so you should see your clinician as soon as possible if you have scabies symptoms and are immunocompromised.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Scabies is often treated with a topical insecticide like permethrin to kill off the mite infestation. You may also need medication to reduce itching and swelling, so that you don’t scratch at the rash before it goes down. This is often best achieved with a topical steroid, like hydrocortisone. An oral or topical antihistamine may also sometimes be used. Sometimes, people with a more advanced scabies infestation or who have other health conditions too will need oral steroid tablets as well.
The best treatment for scabies will depend on your symptoms, how long you’ve had the condition for and other aspects of your health. You’ll need to talk to a clinician to get the best advice. You can tell us about your health and we’ll recommend some scabies treatments that might be right for you.
It’s always best to treat scabies, as otherwise it will usually continue to spread. If you don’t treat it, it could last for months. This can cause complications, like skin infections. If you don’t treat your scabies, you’re also likely to spread it to other people.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Epidemiology of scabies prevalence in the U.K. from general practice records. British Journal of Dermatology, 164(6), pp.1329-1334.
Scabies: Biology.
Scabies: diagnosis and treatment. BMJ, 331(7517), pp.619-622.
The efficacy of permethrin 5% vs. oral ivermectin for the treatment of scabies. Annals of parasitology. 59(4), pp.189-94.
Antihistamine that relieves itching caused by scabies. Lasts for 4-6 hours.
An antihistamine that helps relieve itching associated with scabies.
Kills scabies mites and eggs within a single eight-hour application.
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