Scabies FAQs

What are Scabies?

'Scabies' is a contagious skin condition caused by miniscule parasitic mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) burrowing their way into the skin. The most commonly affected areas are the hands, wrists, and in-between the fingers, though Scabies may also affect the feet, penis, breasts, and shoulder blades. The burrowing mites will produce a red rash of spots and pimples, and an intense itching sensation. The scratching of this itch may create sores which can then become infected by bacteria. This itching is worse at night and spreads far beyond the location of the actual mites themselves.

Why do we get Scabies?

Scabies is transferred by human to human contact. How prolonged this contact has to be is not certain. It is debatable, for example, whether a quick handshake is enough to spread the mite. Sexual partners, and fellow householders are most at risk of contamination. The mites and their eggs may also be spread via shared objects like bed linen, clothing, and towels. Scabies are very common amongst school children, and are easily spread in such circumstance of frequent contact. New sufferers will pick up fertile females or eggs, which will burrow into the skin and hatch around three weeks later. Whilst you may pick up similar mites from a pet, they are not human Scabies, will not survive on the human body for long, and do not need treating.

How do we identify Scabies?

Identifcation of a Scabies infestation is not always easy. Scabies can often resemble other skin conditions such as eczema, and a sufferer will typically have less than ten mites on their entire body, making them hard to locate. With symptoms of itching, you should look for burrows on the wrists and potential rashes. A doctor is best qualified to diagnose suspected Scabies, and they may take a skin sample or examine the burrows. A small, zig-zag mark on the skin may mark the path of the mite and her eggs. All family or household members should be examined.

How do we treat Scabies?

Scabies mites will continue breeding and not die out, so treatment is necessary. There are many treatments for Scabies, simple to use and with effective results, most containing either Permenthrin or Malathion as their active ingredient. Malathion is generally washed off twenty four hours after application. The most popular Malathion-based products are Derbac & Quellada. Permenthrin is generally applied for eight hours. The most popular Permenthrin-based product is Lyclear Dermal Cream. You should always adhere to the products' instructions to be safe and increase the treatment's efficiency. Whilst treatments do kill mites, they will stay under the skin until broken down, so itching may not subside for around 2 weeks – do not assume the treatment has failed. A second treatment is often necessary 1 week after the initial application. To calm the itchin sensation of Scabies, you should use Eurax HC Cream.

How to prevent Scabies?

Before treatment, any potentially infested items such as towels, bedding, and clothing should be thoroughly washed on a hot cycle. You should notify all family members and those who the infected person has had contact with, and especially your children's schools if applicable. Upon an outbreak, everyone should be treated at the same time. Regular checks and examinations should be made in the ensuing months to avoid re-infestation. Children should avoid school until the first treatment has been applied. Saunas are believed to help avoid possible reinfection.

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