Sarcoptes scabiei, commonly known as scabies, is an easily spread skin disease that is caused by a very small species of mite. While there is a negative stigma surrounding the condition, it affects people worldwide, with no regard to culture, gender or age. Spread by direct contact with infected people, scabies can affect whole families when one member is suffering with the disease.
Facilities such as nursing homes and child care centers are popular sites for outbreaks, since there is such a great deal of communal space and shared living quarters. However, scabies does not usually occur after sharing clothes or bedding, but rather through skin-to-skin contact.
The itchy rash that appears during a scabies outbreak is because the mites burrow into the skin and deposit their eggs. After 21 days, the eggs mature and this is what causes the allergic response. The scabies mite burrow appears similar to a pencil mark on the skin. Other symptoms of the condition include itching, notably at night and rashes that appear between the fingers.
If you feel you or someone in your family is suffering from scabies, contact a member of our team here at Knoxville Dermatology Group as soon as possible. The condition’s effects are especially detrimental in babies, showing up as pimples or small blisters on the body. A board certified dermatologist, such as a one of our physicians at Knoxville Dermatology Group can perform an examination of your skin and do necessary skin tests such as scrapings or biopsies.
Most cases of scabies are curable with the proper attention and medical care. Don’t let a possible case go untreated. Give us a call today.
Are you experiencing itching or some of the other signs of a potential scabies outbreak? Skin health should be taken seriously, but we’re here to help. 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.
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