Just hearing the name Scabies is enough to make people cringe and itch. Scabies is not very common, but is extremely uncomfortable and contagious. Fortunately, there are very effective scabies treatments.

What is scabies?

Scabies are small 8-legged mites. They are very small, about 1/3 millimeter long, and tunnel under the skin. Once under the skin, they feed on blood, lay eggs, and cause intense itching. The itching is usually worse at night.

How does the scabies rash spread?

Scabies mites usually spread through direct skin-to-skin contact. The most common way is by shaking hands with an infested person. Other ways to get it include: sexual contact, or close contact such as hugging an infested person. It is much more unlikely, but the scabies rash can also spread by coming into contact with undergarments or bedclothes that have been contaminated by an infected person immediately beforehand.

What are the symptoms of scabies?

The most common symptom of scabies is intense itching. The most common places for the scabies rash to appear are: webs and sides of your fingers, the wrists, elbows, armpits, waist, thighs, genitalia, and the buttocks. Young children also will have the rash on their head, neck, feet and hands.

When do symptoms appear?

Scabies symptoms usually appear 2-6 weeks after exposure. However, those who have had the scabies rash before can have symptoms within 1-5 days.

Can you get scabies from a pet?

The scabies on dogs and cats are different from the scabies that are on humans. You cannot get the scabies rash from a pet. The mites on animals do not live on humans.

Scabies treatment

Fortunately, there are medicated lotions that are very effective treatments for scabies. These scabies treatments will eliminate the scabies rash within a day or two. It is important though to make sure the treatment you use also kills the scabies eggs, or the infestation will begin again when they hatch.

All bedding and underclothes of the infested person should also be washed in hot water. Everyone that lives with the infected person, as well as sexual contacts, should be treated at the same time. This will prevent re-infestation from persons who are infected but do not show any symptoms yet.

This article was written by Scott Mogul, the editor for www.healthy-skin-guide.com

For more information about the scabies symptoms, and scabies treatment, please visit http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com and see our Scabies section.