Scabies is a fiercely itchy skin condition that may complicate in skin infections and may disturb the sleep of the infected persons. The mite can be found between the layers of the skin where the females burrow their eggs.



The symptoms are more severe in some people than in others. Usually all the members in a family or other close contact group are infected. The female mite is attracted by odour and warmth in the folders of the skin, where she lays the eggs and produce secretions that cause the allergy.

The newly infected person may have the first symptoms only after few weeks, in the re-infection the symptoms appear immediately. The most obvious symptom is itching, especially during the night. Usually the face is not infected, except in children. If the scabies is more advanced the skin is crusty and the itch is given by bumps, pimples an tiny bites.

Scabies affects particularly the folds of the body on the wrists, arms, between the fingers, around the nipples, on the buttocks, and on the penis, it is important also to search under the rings, bracelets, nails.

As treatment is recommended the cream Elimite to be applied from the head to the soles of the feet on the whole body through massage, and under the nails. The nails must be kept short. The cream must be left overnight but removed the second day by bathing and shampooing. Mild itching may appear and burning sensation but those are only minor reactions to medication. The rash and itch won't disappear immediately, but the one application has good results in 95% of the cases, if not, a second application is required a week later.

To prevent the re-infestation it is indicated to wash all the clothes, bedding, towels and linens. Usually all the pesticides do not help because scabies is contagious only if an infected person spreads it by close contact. Antihistamines and steroids orally or topically help for the itch. The itch may be stopped if one soaks in warm water until the skin of the finger tips becomes?raisins? and then scrubs the ares that itch, this way the debris and dead mites are eliminated and the skin may remake quickly.

There are a few alternative treatments such as: oral invermectin pills which has good results in scabies outbreaks. Sometimes selsun lotion and sulfur ointments are usefully when Elimite fails. Lindane was used before, but now it has proved to be toxic.