Scabies is a skin condition that can be terribly uncomfortable; its main symptom is the intense itching caused by the movement of mites that burrow into the skin. It is an infestation of mites and their eggs into the skin. Scabies is contagious, so persons who have had some kind of skin to skin contact with a patient may have contracted scabies, as it spreads quickly. These mites are called Sarcoptes Scabiei and they can take up to 6 weeks before causing skin reactions after initial infestation. Scabies rash may look like pimples or mosquito bites but the intense itching alerts the patient to the possibility of it being scabies. The burrowed skin (where the mites penetrated the skin) look like track marks; they are usually in a line. One can have scabies on any part of the body such as the navel, breasts, genitals, between the fingers, head, neck, waistline, face, palms and may be the soles of the feet. Persons with scabies may experience rashes that look like acne or mosquito bites, intense itching, grey lines along with red bumps on the skin, red skin and scaly skin. Here are some types of scabies:
Typical Scabies
Typical scabies is a type of scabies where the patient has up to 15 live female adult mites under on the skin. They itch a lot and appear as rashes on the hands, wrists, and legs but does not spread to the face and scalp.
Nodular Scabies
This is a type of scabies found in the genital area of an infected person. This type of scabies can be quite embarrassing as one has intense itching in the genital area. Rashes also appear on or around the area. The itching is caused by the mites moving beneath the skin. The itching may, however, cause more harm. Excessive itching may lead to a secondary skin infection such as impetigo. The itching gets more intense at night.
Infantile Scabies
Infantile scabies is a type of scabies seen in infants and children. Scabies in children can be quite serious as children cannot resist the urge to itch the affected area. Infantile scabies is caused by dust mite. Babies can get scabies by skin to skin contact with a mite infested person, sharing clothing or bedding with someone with scabies or contracting scabies from infected pets.
Complicated Scabies
This is a type of scabies that becomes complicated because of a bacterial infection one may get as a result of itching the rash that a person with scabies would most likely have. The bacterial infection causes the skin to start to blister, thereby, resulting in skin sores that could lead to septicemia, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease. Scabies can become life-threatening if not properly treated and cured.
Institutional Scabies
This type of scabies can be found in persons who live in residential facilities such as prisons, boarding homes, rest homes, hospitals, and camps. It is important to conduct a full skin check on residents of these facilities if there is a case of scabies reported. This can prevent a breakout of scabies if handled properly.
Crusted Scabies
This can also be called Norwegian scabies. They are often found in persons who have a weak immune system, persons such as the disabled, debilitated and elderly. A person with a weak immune system can be called an immunocompromised person. Persons who have this type of scabies have thick crusts that contain large numbers of scabies mites and their eggs underneath the skin. Persons with crusted scabies are usually given the aggressive form of treatment because of its severity.
How to Prevent Scabies
- Avoid skin to skin contact with persons infected with scabies. It is advisable to avoid touching persons who have scabies because it is contagious. The mites that cause scabies can survive in beddings, clothing, and furniture for up to 72 hours. So avoid using the personal belongings of people who have scabies. Personal belongings such as towels, hairbrushes, and even shoes as one may have scabies on the soles of their feet.
- One must wash all clothes, bedding, and towels suspected to have been infested with mites. Wash all these items before getting treated in hot water. They should also be dried in a high-temperature dryer to further ensure that any mites on them die before reuse. One may dry clean items that can`t be washed at home.
- Starving mites is also a good way to prevent spreading scabies. One any put items that cannot be washed in a plastic bag and keep them away from easily accessible places for more than 72 hours. Mites cannot survive that long in high temperatures.
- Clean the entire house by vacuuming every room in the house and throwing the bag of the vacuum cleaner away just to be safe and to prevent reinfestation.
- Scabies can be transmitted from one sexual partner to another. It is advisable to get tested for sexually transmitted infections to avoid contracting scabies. Condoms will not protect one from contracting scabies from a sexual partner.
How to Treat Scabies
Mites are parasites that cause scabies. The only approach to treating scabies is to kill the mites and their eggs. Here are some medications (skin lotion and drugs) usually used to treat scabies.
Permethrin cream (Elimite)
This is a chemical treatment that comes in form of a cream. This cream contains chemicals that are capable of killing mites and their eggs. It is usually applied from the neck down, left to work and then is washed off the next morning. Adults and children from the age of 2 months can use it; it is also safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers to use permethrin.
Lindane Lotion
Lindane lotion is also a chemical treatment. It is a strong medication that people resort to when other medications do not work. It is used on a person with scabies from the neck down but must be washed out after 8 hours. Studies show that lindane can cause seizures if left to be absorbed into the skin for too long. It is not safe for children below the age of 10, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and persons who weigh less than 110 pounds (50 kilograms).
Crotamiton (Eurax)
Crotamiton is a medication that comes in form of a lotion or a cream. Studies show that crotamiton may not be totally effective in treating scabies as it has been reported to have failed a couple of times. It may not be safe for children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and adults above the age of 65. It is advisable to use at the recommendation of a qualified doctor.
Ivermectin (Stromectol)
This is a strong oral medication that may be recommended for persons who are immunocompromised (altered immune system), persons with crusted scabies (Norwegian scabies), and persons who lotion and cream resistant. Persons who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kilograms), mostly children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers are advised to stay away from Ivermectin.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, acaricidal (ability to kill mites) and antipruritic (relieves itching) properties that can help relieve the intense itching one would most likely have from having scabies. The tea tree oil may not be able to kill the eggs if used before the mites are killed, but it sure would reduce the itch. It is, however, important to know if one is allergic to tea tree oil, in order to avoid further complications.
Soak the Skin
One may soak in an oatmeal bath or a tub filled with cool water. This would help reduce inflammation and itching.
Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion is one that has soothing properties. It soothes the skin and reduces the pain and itch one may get from skin conditions such as scabies.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera plant contains gel. This gel has healing and soothing properties that can reduce itching and even kill mites that cause scabies.
Clove Oil
Clove oil has some properties that make it an effective insecticide. It has antioxidant, anesthetic and antimicrobial properties that help speed up the healing process. A study shows that clove oil has been tested and proven to have properties that can kill mites.
Final Words…
Scabies is a serious skin condition that no one would want to have. It is an itchy and uncomfortable skin condition that is contagious. It is, however, important to watch out for people who itch excessively and try to avoid skin to skin contact with them. If one starts to experience the symptoms of scabies, see a doctor immediately for treatment. One must also encourage family members or people a person with scabies may have come in contact with within the calculated infestation period to get tested and treated if need be.
