Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabeii. A skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow under the skin, producing small red bumps and severe itching. The mites easily spread from person to person, especially among people who share close living spaces. The treatment is usually with a topical cream or shampoo. In Australia the treatment is changed on a yearly basis to counteract development of resistance.



With first time infections it generally takes 4-6 weeks for symptoms to appear. For those who have had previous infections, the symptoms can appear within days. Scabies is a contagious disease which is spread via towels, linen, clothing and poor hygeine so it extremely important to practice good hygeine at all times to prevent cross infection. Washing all clothing, towels etc on hot wash will help to kill off any bacterium present and prevent it from recurring. Do not be tempted to share towels or bed linen with anyone you suspect of having Scabies as this could only re-infect you again.

Diagnosis is most commonly made by looking at the burrows or rash. A skin scraping may be taken to look for mites, eggs, or mite fecal matter to confirm the diagnosis. If a skin scraping or biopsy is taken and returns negative, it is possible that you may still be infested. Typically, there are fewer than 10 mites on the entire body of an infested person; this makes it easy for an infestation to be missed.

The treatment kills the mites, but their bodies are still in the skin and as it is this that we are allergic to, the itch persists until our own natural defense systems break down and get rid of what is left of the mites. This process takes about two weeks and therefore the itch continues for about two weeks after the treatment.

You need close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person to catch scabies. The mites live in skin but die after a short time if they are away from the skin.

Most cases are probably caught from holding hands with an infected person. The hand is the most common site to be first affected. Sleeping in the same bed, and physical contact are other common ways of passing on the mite.

Sometimes outbreaks of scabies occur in nurseries or residential homes where people are in close contact. Head remedy; itching with burning or soreness after scratching Sulphur 3X or 6X, 4 hourly. Pustular eruptions; specially on bends of elbows; itching worse from heat and at night Sulphur 30X and Mercurius Sol.30X, 4 hourly (alternatively). With soreness in folds of skin; involuntary urination while coughing or walking; better in humid climate Causticum 30X or 200X 4 hourly. Eruptions on bends of knees; pustular with burning and itching; better by warmth Arsenic Alb.30X or 200X, 4 hourly (3 Doses)

First you need to get an acurate diagnosis and then get some prescription medicine to take of whatever is going on.

There is no known home remedy for the treatment of scabies.

- Creams and lotions used to treat scabies are available by prescription only.

- On the day treatment is started, items which can be washed (clothing, bedding, towels, etc) may be washed in hot water and dried in the dryer. Clothes that can not be washed may be ironed or dry-cleaned.

- Furniture and carpets should be vacuumed and common surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected.

- Items which can not be cleaned or washed may be sealed in a plastic bags for 2 weeks.

- Brushes and combs may be soaked in hot water (at least 130 degrees) or alcohol for at least 10 minutes.

Get lice shampoo and put it on your body before going to bed and then wash it off the next morning. You man need to do this a few nights but it works. Anyone who is diagnosed with scabies, as well as his or her partners and persons who have close, prolonged contact to the infested person should also be treated. If your health care provider has instructed family members to be treated, everyone should receive treatment at the same time to prevent reinfestation.