Scabies

A tiny mite that has been in existence and infesting humans for at least 2,500 years is responsible for causing scabies.

It isn’t very easy to detect the condition, up until you have fierce itching skin and a red rash.

There is no group of people that is more susceptible; it can strike anyone regardless of race, age, or personal hygiene. The mite that causes scabies is microscopic and can barely been seen by the human eye.

It’s a tiny, eight-legged creature with a round body and burrows itself into the skin of its host. After several weeks, an infected person develops an allergic reaction that causes severe itching that is often severe enough to keep a person awake all night. Human scabies is usually caught from close contact with another infected person.

The first symptom of scabies infection you will notice is itching, and it will be especially troublesome at night. Little red bumps that look like hives will appear. As the condition worsens, the skin may be scaly or crusty. Scabies prefers warmer sites on the skin, and are more likely to be found in areas such as skin folds, between the fingers, or under the nails, on the elbows or wrists, the buttocks or belt line, around the nipples, and on the penis.

The mites may also hide in or on bracelets, watchbands, and the skin under rings. The infestation may involve the entire body in children including the palms, soles and scalp.

If you know that you have scabies, there are some easy home treatments to remove it completely. They're essentially microscopic lice, and you don't need a prescription in order to get rid of them.

Home Remedies for Scabies:

Permethrin Cream:

Apply Scabies Cream to the skin from the neck down at bedtime and wash it off the next morning. Dermatologists recommend that patients apply the cream to cool, dry skin over the entire body and leave it on for eight to fourteen hours. A second treatment is necessary a week later. Permethrin cream is available "over the counter" and is a pesticide commonly used to treat lice or other insect infestations. Follow the product instructions completely.

Lindane Lotion:

Apply 1% lindane lotion from the neck down before going to bed and wash it off in the morning. The lotion may be reapplied a week later if needed. Lindane should not be used on infants, small children, if you are pregnant or nursing, and on people with seizures or other neurological diseases.

Sulfur and Crotamiton:

The mites live in and on the skin. They don't suck blood. Sulfur and crotamiton make skin very dry. Applying this solution for about a week is very effective in getting rid of the mites.

Apply Sublimed Sulfur Powder to dry the skin and keep the mites at bay. Antihistamines can be taken for the itching.

Bedding, clothing, and any other items that the infected person may have contacted must be washed on dry cleaned in order to be certain of eradication of the mites. In addition, anyone who may have been in contact with the infected person must be treated.