Scabies is a contagious, itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites. Bites from these tiny burrowing mites called Sarcoptes scabei can be intensely itchy. This skin condition can happen to anyone whose skin has been burrowed by these tiny mites.
Causes of Scabies
Scabies is found worldwide and affects people of all races and social classes. Scabies can spread rapidly under crowded conditions where close body-to-skin contact is frequent. Institutions such as nursing homes, extended-care facilities, and prisons are often sites of scabies outbreaks. So basically, you can get scabies by coming into contact with an infected person’s skin. Scabies patients are strongly advised to isolate themselves and continue taking medications until the rashes and itching subside.Scabies can be spread to every single member of a particular home if the person whose skin was burrowed by tiny mites was not isolated and medicated.
Victims of these tiny mites are advised to apply the prescribed and recommended gels and lotions to the affected areas so the intense itching can be reduced. The need to scratch may grow stronger at night. One will definitely feel discomfort and soreness if they don’t take the suggested medications before bed.
Rashes That Look Like Scabies But Aren’t
There are other skin conditions and rashes that might resemble scabies but are not scabies. Most of the time they can be confused for each other. Here are three rashes/skin conditions that look like scabies but aren’t scabies.
Psoriasis
This is a skin condition in which cells of the skin build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches. Psoriasis is thought to be an immune system problem. Triggers include infections, stress, and colds.
Dermatitis
The most common cause of dermatitis is contact with something that irritates your skin or triggers an allergic reaction. For instance, poison ivy, perfume, lotion, and jewelry containing nickel.
Prurigo nodularis
Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease where an extremely itchy, symmetrically distributed rash appears most commonly on the arms, legs, the upper back and/or the abdomen. The itch associated with PN is so severe that it often interferes with sleep and psychological wellbeing.
Symptoms of Scabies
The first time a person gets scabies, there are usually no symptoms. Symptoms can really take up to 4–8 weeks to develop after they are infested. During this period of development, the infection can still be passed on to another person, though there are no visible symptoms.
Having sexual or skin-to-skin contact with an infected person will get you infected as well. Every single member of a household is required to take the scabies medications once there’s an infested person. There are no symptoms, so it will be difficult to point out who has been infected. Taking medications and isolating themselves will be their best available option.
Skin-to-skin contact doesn’t only get you infected; using bedding, clothing, and towels used by an infected person will also get you infected. Anytime during the three days before treatment, clothing and materials used by an infested person should be decontaminated by washing in hot water and drying in a hot dryer, by dry-cleaning, or by sealing in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours. Scabivirus mites generally do not survive more than 2 to 3 days away from human skin.
How Can Scabies Be Treated?
The use of insecticide sprays and fumigants is not recommended. There are recommended insecticides like Permethrin. Permethrin kills the scabies mite and eggs. Permethrin is the drug of choice for the treatment of scabies. Two (or more) applications, each about a week apart, may be necessary to eliminate all mites. Permethrin can be used on children aged 2 months or older.
There are specifically made products that kill scabies mites. They are called scabicides because they are made to kill this particular species of insect. These scabicides can be prescribed by your healthcare provider. There are no over-the-counter products that have been approved and tested to treat scabies. The instructions contained in the box or printed on the label should always be followed carefully. Always contact a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure how to use a particular medicine.
Scabicide lotions and gels should be applied from the neck down. When treating children, the lotion should be applied to their entire head and neck because scabies can affect their face, scalp, and neck as well as the rest of their body. Only permethrin or sulfur ointment may be used on infants. You should monitor the infection closely. Skin sores that become infected should be treated with an appropriate antibiotic prescribed by a doctor.
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