Avoiding Scabies
Scabies is an incredibly irritating skin condition caused by mites. This highly contagious condition causes a severe itch to those who suffer from it and can be difficult to treat. Its symptoms can be similar to other skin diseases, so it’s important to understand exactly what the condition is.
Scabies is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, a microscopic mite which burrows into your skin to lay its eggs. After a few days, the eggs hatch, and the larvae climb to the surface of your skin, spreading out to a larger surface area. Your skin develops an allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs and their waste, causing it to itch.
The symptoms of scabies include severe itching, which is generally worse at night, and small red bumps and blisters in a line. While scabies is generally located on your body where skin touches skin, it can appear in many places, including the knees, waist, armpits, soles of your feet and between your fingers. Children, however, get it mostly on the face, neck, scalp, palms and soles.
If you think that you are experiencing the symptoms of scabies, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Differentiating scabies from other, less serious skin diseases can be difficult to do on your own, so it’s vital that a doctor see it. The most common treatment for scabies is using one of several prescription creams to kill the infestation. You cover your entire body from the neck down in the medication for at least eight hours, and while the itching may not stop for a few weeks, it should kill all of the mites. Since scabies is highly contagious, doctors generally treat entire families for the condition, regardless of how many of them have shown symptoms.
It’s easier to prevent getting scabies than it is to treat it, however. Avoid sharing clothes, sheets or any other material that may come into contact with your skin. Also, if you suspect someone in your family and/or home has contracted the mites, wash all of your clothes and sheets in hot water and then dry them on high heat. This should kill any mites that could be living in the fabric and prevent them from affecting other people.
If you need more serious help with skin issues or something else that is troubling your skin, we are here to help. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.
Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.
