Scabies
An intensely itchy rash, worst at night, caused by a human mite that burrows into the top layers of the skin.
Being updatedThe clinic is checking this page against its current practice. Everything here is from the patient leaflet; please ask at your consultation before you rely on a detail.
What it is
Scabies is a common skin condition caused by a human mite which burrows into the top layers of the skin. The mite cannot be seen, but the person’s skin reacts to it, causing an itchy rash.
People with scabies complain of severe itching all over the body, which is worst at night and interferes with sleep. There is also a rash that looks like red bumps, and it can sometimes become infected. The most commonly involved areas are between the fingers, the elbows, armpits, around the navel, the groin and the knees. In adults the face is not affected; children can develop lesions over the face too. In some people the signs are confined to the genitals.
Crusted scabies, also called Norwegian scabies, usually occurs in people with weak immune systems. They have a thick crust covering large areas of the body, hundreds to thousands of mites on their skin, and are highly contagious.
How it spreads
People get scabies by skin-to-skin contact. It also spreads by sharing a towel, bedding or clothing with a person who has it. Anyone can get scabies, even people who are clean and neat, and several members of a family may be infected all at the same time. Children, close contacts of infected people, healthcare providers, people living in hostels, old age homes and adoption centres, and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk.
How we treat it
Your doctor will start treatment as soon as the diagnosis is made, and the itching usually settles over a few days to weeks. The medication commonly prescribed is permethrin cream, applied over the body as your doctor directs, usually overnight. The next morning you bathe and wash all clothes, towels and bed sheets, dipped in hot water. Your doctor may also prescribe a tablet called ivermectin. The treatment may have to be repeated after a week. You may need an antihistamine to control the itch and help you sleep.
What you can do
All members of the family should be treated at the same time.
Written from the clinic's own patient leaflet, by Dr. D. A. Satish.
Common questions
- What skin conditions do you treat?
- The clinic's own patient leaflets cover acne and acne scarring, psoriasis, vitiligo, lichen planus and lichen planus pigmentosus, rosacea, urticaria, hidradenitis suppurativa, pityriasis rosea and keratolysis exfoliativa; fungal infections including tinea and pityriasis versicolor; shingles, cold sores, warts, scabies and molluscum contagiosum; male- and female-pattern hair loss; and the skin signs of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Dr Satish's stated special interests are clinical dermatology, acne, aesthetic dermatology and photodermatology.
- Can my skin condition be cured?
- That depends entirely on the condition, and your doctor will tell you honestly what to expect. Some conditions clear completely with treatment — fungal infections, scabies and pityriasis versicolor among them. Some settle on their own, such as pityriasis rosea, which takes six to eight weeks. Others are long-term conditions that treatment controls rather than cures: Dr Satish's psoriasis leaflet states plainly that treatment can clear or greatly improve psoriasis in most cases but does not cure it. This clinic does not guarantee a cure or a specific outcome for any treatment.
Please note
The information on this website is for general education only. It is not a substitute for a consultation, a diagnosis or a prescription. Always see a qualified doctor about your own condition.
Results of any medical or cosmetic treatment vary from person to person. This clinic does not guarantee a cure or a specific outcome.