What Is Scabbies?
Scabbies (also spelled scabies) is an infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite known by the Latin name Sarcoptes scabei. This infestation is common, found all around the world, and can affect people of all races and social classes. Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities, and nursing homes.
What Do Scabbies Do to You?
Scabies mites burrow into the skin using their mouths and front legs. They don’t actually carry disease, but their presence in the body creates an immune system response that we call scabies. Scabies usually manifests as a rash or pimple-like irritation at the site of infestation. The spots are itchy and you can also get infected sores from scratching the affected areas. The rashes are often found between the fingers, in the fold of the elbow or knee, the armpit and genital regions.
Scabies is caused by direct, prolonged contact with an infested person. Another common misconception is that because scabies sores can be found on the hands it is possible to get scabies by shaking an infested person’s hand.
While it is technically possible to get scabies this way, it’s highly unlikely, because a mite would have to be on the surface of that person’s skin and crawl onto you to infest you. Mites can crawl about an inch a minute, so if you shake hands or hug for a long time you could contract scabies. More intimate contact or being close to someone with scabies for a long period of time would make it a lot more likely that you would get scabies. Scabies mites cannot jump, so just being in the same room with someone who has scabies does not mean that you will get it, too.
It’s also possible to get scabies from clothing or linens used by an infested person. If you sleep in the same bed someone with scabies has slept in, for instance, or wear clothes after them or share a towel, you could pick up the mites. It is thought that mites can live on clothing, carpeting and other fabrics for two to five days under normal room temperature and humidity. If the room is cooler than 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher than 90 percent humidity, mites will thrive for longer periods of time. These mites that have been living off host tend to be less effective at burrowing, especially after the first day or so and if conditions in the room are warm and dry.
How To Treat Scabbies
Scabbies do not go away on their own. You must treat them or risk the discomfort they cause and the embarrassment of spreading them to others. There are many remedies for scabbies – not all of them are that effective. The best remedies we’ve ever seen are in a great report called the 24 Hour Scabies Remedy Report.