Understanding Scabies

Scabies is a common and highly contagious skin condition caused by the Sarcoptes scabies mite. It can affect people of all ages and is often spread through close personal contact. The World Health Organization estimates that scabies affect around 400 million people yearly. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for scabies is essential for effectively managing and preventing its spread.

Causes of Scabies

Scabies is caused by the infestation of the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. These mites are microscopic and burrow into the upper layer of the skin, where they lay eggs. The infestation leads to an allergic reaction, causing itching and discomfort. Scabies is typically spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infested person, making it common in crowded living conditions and among family members or sexual partners.

“Crusted scabies, by contrast, is more contagious than conventional scabies. Although <20 mites typically are found on a host with conventional scabies, a person with crusted scabies, formerly called Norwegian scabies, can harbor thousands of mites in just a small area of skin. The large number of mites present in crusted scabies greatly increases the chances that a person with crusted scabies will pass mites to others by both direct and indirect routes of transmission.”

Symptoms of Scabies

The most common symptom of scabies is intense itching, which is often worse at night. The itching is the result of the body’s allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs and their waste. Other symptoms include a pimple-like rash and the appearance of thin, irregular burrow tracks made up of tiny blisters or bumps on the skin. These burrow tracks are often found in the folds of the skin, such as between the fingers, around the waist, on the wrists, elbows, or knees and on the soles of the feet.

Treatment of Scabies

Scabies is typically diagnosed through a physical examination by a professional dermatologist at Marietta’s Kayal Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists. Treatment usually involves the use of prescription creams, lotions or oral medications to kill the mites and their eggs. To prevent reinfestation, it’s important to treat all infested individuals and their close contacts at the same time. Additionally, thoroughly washing or dry-cleaning all bedding, clothing and towels used by the infested person is essential to prevent the spread of scabies.

Preventing Scabies

Preventing the spread of scabies involves practicing good hygiene and avoiding close personal contact with infested individuals. It’s important to wash and dry clothing, bedding and towels used by infested individuals on the hottest temperature settings to kill any remaining mites. Vacuuming carpets and furniture and disposing of the vacuum bag afterward can also help eliminate any mites that may have fallen off the infested person.

Marietta Scabies Treatment

Understanding scabies is crucial for effectively managing and preventing its spread. Kayal Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists wants all area residents to recognize the causes and symptoms of scabies and to know we have treatment options. Contact us for more information or if you suspect you or someone close to you has a scabies infestation needing treatment.