Scabies can be quite a severe skin disease that can and in fact does spread from person to person. The actual disease is triggered by a very small insect called a mite. The scientific name for the mite is Sarcoptes scabies. This insect is actually very small, microscopic in size. It can not live without the constant temperature of the human body for more than 24 hours. What it does is that it actually borrows into the skin where it lays eggs that eventually hatch after a 3 to 5 day period. After hatching the newly formed mites spread to other parts of the body where they create havoc. It is a wrong belief to think that scabies is formed because of being dirty.



It is a very well known fact that scabies is highly contagious. Healthy people can also take it if they have prolonged skin contact with people who have developed it. Also there are other contaminants that can spread the mite to people. Clothing, bedding and towels should be avoided in the case of scabies.

The most common symptoms that indicate the presence of scabies are itching and grayish-white lines or tracks that zigzag on the skin surface. A lot of areas of the body can be affected by the ravages of the disease. The incubation period of the illness is of about 1 -2 month, but in the case of people who develop it again, symptoms can appear as soon as 2 days after coming into contact with a contaminant. Other symptoms may include redness of the skin, swelling and puss.

Usually the mite can be eliminated after one course of treatment. The time it takes for the mites to be killed is quite short, but the itching may continue after treatment for a few more days.

It is best to ask a professional doctor about the medication needed to treat the scabies. Doctors can prescribe the correct drugs that must be used.

The patient is required to use the medication given as best as possible in order to properly eliminate the scabies. It is indicated to take a warm bath just before applying the cream. This can help soften the lesions and also wash of some of the mites. The cream must be put on the whole body so that no mite escapes. If the face is involved it is best to be very careful around sensitive areas like the eyes and mouth. It is indicated to keep the medication out of the reach of children. Clothe, bedding and towels must all be properly washed in order to get rid of the mites. Also it would be a very good thing fumigate the entire house to be sure that no other contaminants are left.

Extreme care and attention should be given by the former patient if the risk of getting infected is to be as small as possible.