Scabies
goodtoknow says: Scabies sounds worse than it actually is. It's a red, blotchy rash that's caused by a tiny mite that burrows into your skin and lays eggs that hatch after a few days. It can affect anyone of any age. Many people react to the mites causing itching and scratching. You can only catch scabies by close skin to skin contact, holding hands is the commonest cause, but sex or sleeping in someone else's bed is risky too. Creams from your pharmacist will kill the mites and stop the rash within two to three weeks.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of scabies from patient.co.uk, read on.
Scabies can affect anyone of any age. It causes a rash and itch. It can be passed on to others. Treatment with a cream or lotion will usually clear scabies, but you need to apply it properly.
What causes scabies?
Scabies is caused by a mite (a tiny insect). The female mite tunnels into the skin and lays eggs. The eggs hatch into mites after a few days.
How do you get scabies?
You need close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person to catch scabies. The mites live in skin but die after a short time if they are away from the skin.
Most cases are probably caught from holding hands with an infected person. The hand is the most common site to be first affected. Sleeping in the same bed, and sexual contact are other common ways of passing on scabies.
Sometimes outbreaks of scabies occur in nurseries or residential homes where people are in close contact.
Next: What are the symptoms of scabies?
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vikas kestwal, about 1 year
i am suffering from scabies i have peculair kind of eleavated hard painless white sists type skin i feel itching in night mostly
Report this commentColin, over 2 years
I was diagnosed with scabies two days ago and was given some Lyclear cream tu rub into my entire body from the neck down, this done and fingers crossed has now killed of the mites, but I notice from your article that they lay eggs which hatch out after a couple of days. Will the cream used still be effective and kill them also or do I need to re-apply more cream. Also you say that they are contracted by holding hands or intimate contact, can they be contracted any other way as my wife and I hardly ever hold hand and neither of us go around with others, I am 55 and my wife if 54. I found the first signs of mine on my hands after coming home from holiday in Skegness Butlins.
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dave, about 1 year
Is it possible for my dogs to contract scabies from us? Can our children go to school with scabies? And is it safe for friends and family to come and visit? Thanks
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