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Conditions

Scabies

A scabies inflammation on the arm (Photo courtesy of Sven Teschke/Wikipedia)

Scabies is a common and highly contagious skin condition caused by human scabies mites, which are microscopic, eight-legged creatures with round bodies that have infested humans and caused misery for around 2,500 years. It is spread by close physical contact, especially in overcrowded living conditions or during sexual contact, and occurs when the female mite burrows into the outer layer of skin to lay its eggs. When the larvae then hatch and grow into mites, the skin produces an allergic reaction and intense itching develops (usually 2-6 weeks after infestation), resulting in a rash of raised, pinkish-red spots that appear on the body and limbs. Scabies can affect people of any age but is most common in children and young adults. Your personal hygiene has no bearing on the condition, but like most conditions involving the dreaded louse or mite, you cannot simply wash them away. However, prescription or over-the-counter creams and lotions are available – but check with your GP.

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Me and my boyfriend both had scabies and were treated. It appeared to go and we stopped itching and had no sign of it. I have now got a different looking rash. A patch on my leg and a patch on my arm with small spots scattered around my arms. My boyfriend suffers with exzma but I know you cannot catch it but im wondering if it is mild exzma but I have never suffered with it before. Help its sooo itchy!





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hello i have got very small red spots they started appering on the outterside of my arms but now they are all over my body they are so itchy and are starting to go scabie from me scratching them can anyone help me please





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Hi Guys, I am a 25 year old male with a rather embarrassing problem. Approx 4 years ago I was dignosed with having scabies, which was treated using Derbac M lotion. As part of the treatment my GP also advised me to take Piriton tablets for the itching(caused by the dead mite)so I did. I thought the problem had gone as the itching and redness had gone but after a few weeks (when I stopped taking Piriton) the itching came back. Since then I have been taking Piriton almost every other day as it seems to prevent the itching. I haven't been back to my GP as I am embarrassed for being so irresponsible and not returning in the first place. Now whenever I stop taking Piriton I will get itchy all over but mostly in areas of the body that sweat (pubic, underarm, neck, behind knees etc..). If I scratch the areas the skin becomes raised, a little like hives. I've lived with this for so long and I'm really worried that I may have done more damage by not seeing my GP again or indeed by taking Piriton all the time. Also, none of my close friends or relatives have mentioned anything about itching so I don't think I've passed anything on but not sure. Could I have been misdiagnosed or could the scabies have never gone away? Or indeed, could I now be addicted to Piriton?! Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.





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Hi, on my thy area and sometimes even on my lower leg, I have these itchy little skin coloured bumps. When I squeeze them, what appears to look like 'eggs' come out. The only way I can really discribe the 'eggs' is that they appear as a almost perfect oval shape, they are clear or sometimes tinted a bit yellow, and they look kinda shiny. Sounds horrible I know, and it's just disgusting to think I may have something burrowing it's eggs into my skin. Of course I itch it, and afterwards they look like little red bumps. Rather horrible, is this scabbies? Or is it something else? I do wash everyday, so what is going on with me.





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hi i'm 21 and when i was about 12 i caught scabies off a friend i had treatment and it went away but i was left with horrible scars on my legs but ever since i suffered from scabies i keep breaking out in rashes on my legs and its when i shave my legs and if i don't shave my legs the rash will start to clear up with sudocrem but it never clears completely its always there no matter what and i don't know what it could be i don't think its scabies because my partner never gets a rash or itches but since last saturday i got a rash on my hips and arms and my armpit and the rash is drying out and its leaving my skin looking brown/purple colour i'm only asking on here because like someone on here said their doctor said they didn't know what it was and never sent them for any tests like most gp's don't its like they expect you to just live with it where as the doctors on embarrassing bodies send people for tests even if its just a simple swob i think they are brill any idea on what could be wrong with my skin would be great cos i'm nearly 6 months pregnant and want it sorting before she is born





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i had scabies for six months and they were a total nightmare! there is no quick solution but the best thing you can do is keep using creams like derbac m regularly, and another thing is to have a serious spring clean! you need to change all the sheets, flip and flea spray your mattress, anything you have had contact with, and you will need to wash them regularly. everytime you reapply your cream you should make sure you are getting into clean clothes and a clean bed at night! i know its horrible, and it takes over but persistance is what is going to ged rid of them! good luck!





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I have a small rash over my pubic area, it has been there for 2 months and wont go away. What creams can i use to get rid of it.





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I have had scabies for over 3 months now, its really killing me. I went on a camp, and after i came back, i had a few mosquito bites, a few days later i went to a sauna, red dots appeared, they itched, though i was able to sleep at nights. I firstly thought it was mosquito bites, doctors said they were an allergic reaction to a particular insect or bug. I went to an asian doctor, they said the same. I have seen over 5 doctors, then i went to my family doctor and he said it might be scabies, i am currently taking ascabiol lotion, it is not working :( It is getting worse, and when scratched, water comes out and dries out hard. It is so itchy, i just want to get rid of it, please help me!





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i have had a rash across the tops of my shoulders up my nech and all over my scalp i am ripping my head to pieces the doctor said it could be scabbies, had treatment still the same, then i was given steroid tablets to take for a week that hasnt help, the doctor said he dosnt know what it is i havent change anything in my everyday life soap powder shampoo ect,have you any suggestions please.





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my two daughters have been diagnosed with scabies by our doctor, we have used derbak m lotion and permethrin creamrted, however they are gettin worse rather than better. my eldest child started with the itch when we came back from egypt in july, and it has carried on from then, my youget daughter is finding it realy hard to sleep with the itchin, ive tried everything and done everything the doctor hs told us to do. is there anybody who can help me please im at the point were i dont n wot to do anymore?





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Scabies is a contagious skin condition that causes intense itching. It is caused by tiny mites called sarcoptes scabiei, which burrow into the skin. Read More »

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