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Scabies is an itchy rash caused by mites. It's spread through close skin contact, and anyone can get it. It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading.
The symptoms of scabies are:
The spots may look red. They are more difficult to see on brown or black skin, but you should be able to feel them.
Tiny mites lay eggs in the skin, leaving lines with a dot at one end.
The rash can appear anywhere, but is common between the fingers.
The rash may then spread and turn into tiny spots. This may look red on white skin.
The rash may leave dark spots on the skin. This may look darker than your usual skin colour on brown or black skin.
The scabies rash usually spreads across the whole body, apart from the head and neck. It often affects skin between the fingers, around the wrists, under the arms, and around the waist, groin and bottom.
However, older people and young children may develop a rash on their head, neck, palms and soles of their feet.
People with a weakened immune system can sometimes get a rare and very contagious type of scabies called crusted scabies. The main symptom is a crusted, flaky rash that often affects the elbows, knees, hands and feet.
Many other things can cause itchy skin and rashes in babies and children.
Scabies is not usually a serious condition, but it does need to be treated.
A pharmacist will recommend a cream or lotion that you apply over your whole body, including your scalp and face (apart from the area around your eyes).
Let the pharmacist know if you're breastfeeding or pregnant.
You'll need to repeat the treatment 7 days later.
Scabies is very infectious, but it can take up to 8 weeks for the rash to appear.
Everyone in your home needs to be treated at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms. But do not use pharmacy treatments on children under 2 years old, they will need to see a GP.
Anyone you've had sexual contact with in the past 8 weeks should also be treated.
If you or someone in your family has scabies there are things you can do to reduce the risk of it spreading.
wash all bedding and clothing in the house at 60C or higher, and if possible in a hot dryer, on the first day of treatment
put clothing that cannot be washed in a sealed bag for at least 3 days until the mites die
do not have sex or close physical contact until you have completed the full course of treatment
do not share bedding, clothing or towels with someone with scabies
Adults and children aged 5 years or over can go back to work or school as soon as they have started treatment. It’s important to avoid close contact with other people for the first 24 hours.
Children under 5 years old can go back to nursery or pre-school 24 hours after the first treatment.
Although the treatment kills the scabies mites quickly, the itching can carry on for a few weeks.
Scabies spreads through close skin contact, including sexual contact. You cannot get scabies from pets.
People who live or work closely together in nurseries, university halls of residence or nursing homes are more at risk.
Anyone can get scabies. It has nothing to do with poor hygiene.
Scratching the rash can cause skin infections like impetigo.
