- Also called:
- sarcoptic itch
- Related Topics:
- skin disease
- parasitic disease
- Sarcoptes scabiei
- On the Web:
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - Scabies (Oct. 25, 2026)
scabies
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What is scabies?
Scabies is a skin condition caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Infestation results in intense itching, especially at night, and is spread through close contact. The mite burrows into the skin, lays eggs, and causes an allergic reaction, leading to a rash with solid elevations, pustules, and crusted areas.
Scabies is common in crowded areas and can affect anyone, regardless of hygiene. Treatment involves medicated lotions applied from the neck down to kill the mites. It is important to treat entire families or groups living together to prevent reinfestation.
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What causes scabies?
Scabies is a skin condition triggered by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite spreads through close physical contact. After a female mite burrows into the skin, it lays eggs that hatch into larvae. The larvae then mature into adults.
The primary symptom, intense itching, arises from an allergic reaction to mite proteins, feces, and eggs. Scratching can lead to secondary skin lesions, including papules, pustules, and crusted areas. Transmission occurs through skin-to-skin contact or via contaminated items like clothing or bedding.
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How does scabies spread from person to person?
Scabies spreads through close person-to-person contact. The Sarcoptes scabiei mite, barely visible to the naked eye, transmits from one individual to another via skin-to-skin contact or through contaminated clothing or bedding. This condition is common in crowded areas and resource-poor communities, but it can also occur in places with good hygiene. The female mite burrows into the outer layer of the skin, creating tunnels where it lays eggs. The resulting allergic reaction to mite proteins and feces causes intense itching and a rash, which can disrupt sleep. Wearing clean clothes, washing frequently, and medicinal lotions can prevent its spread.
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What are common symptoms of scabies?
Scabies, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, leads to skin inflammation and severe itching, especially at night. The mite spreads through close contact, thriving in crowded areas and often affecting schoolchildren and nursing home residents.
The burrowing of the mite causes intense itching within days to a month, leading to secondary skin lesions like papules, pustules, and crusted skin. A rash may appear on areas without burrows, such as the buttocks and abdomen, due to an allergic reaction to mite proteins. Transmission occurs through skin contact or contaminated items. Treatment involves medicinal lotions like permethrin or crotamiton applied from the neck down.
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How do doctors diagnose scabies?
Doctors diagnose scabies by identifying its unique traits, such as skin inflammation and severe itching, especially at night. The culprit is the itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), which spreads through close contact. The mite burrows into the skin, creating tunnels that appear as dark, wavy lines, most commonly between fingers and toes, wrists, elbows, armpits, under the breasts, and on male genitals. These tunnels cause intense itching, leading to secondary skin lesions like papules, pustules, and crusted areas. A rash may also appear on other body parts due to an allergic reaction to the mite's proteins and eggs.
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What treatments are used to cure scabies?
Scabies, a skin condition marked by severe itching, is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite scabies. It spreads through close contact and can be effectively treated with various medications applied from the neck down.
Effective treatments include permethrin, a safe synthetic drug, and crotamiton, an anti-itch lotion. Lindane lotion is also effective but carries toxicity risks. Sulfur-containing ointments can work but are less favored for cosmetic reasons. For those unresponsive to topical treatments, or who have crusted scabies, oral ivermectin may be prescribed. Treating entire families or cohabitating groups is recommended, as early infestations might be asymptomatic.
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scabies, skin inflammation accompanied by severe itching, particularly at night, caused by the itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei, variety hominis). The mite passes from person to person by close contact. While scabies occurs worldwide, it is most common in areas that are affected by overcrowding and poverty, particularly in countries with tropical climates. The disease also afflicts many schoolchildren and residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, with periodic epidemics occurring even among persons with strict habits of hygiene and adequate living conditions.
Sarcoptes scabiei attains a length of about 0.35 mm (0.014 inch) and is barely visible to the unaided eye. Despite its small size, it has quite formidable mouthparts and eight very powerful legs. With its hind legs, the female of the species hitches itself to the skin and, with its mouthparts thus closely applied to the skin, cuts its way down into the outer epithelial layer. The mite then tunnels horizontally and gouges out an easily recognizable burrow up to several inches long and usually not very straight. These burrows sometimes are visible as dark wavy lines. The female mite prefers the skin between the fingers and toes, on the wrists and elbows, in the armpits, below the breasts, and on the male genitals. It does most of its moving at night. Sometimes it is visible at the far end of one of its burrows. The female mite lays eggs that hatch into larvae. The larvae emerge from the skin and molt several times through a nymph stage before they become adults and mate. The development from egg to laying adult frequently takes about three weeks.
The initial lesion produced by the burrowing mite becomes intensely itchy after a few days to about a month, and the scratching usually leads to secondary skin lesions consisting of papules (solid elevations), pustules, and crusted skin areas. In addition, a rash breaks out on parts of the body where there are no burrows—on the buttocks, over the shoulder blades, and on the abdomen. The rash is the result of an allergic reaction to mite proteins, feces, and eggs. It is intensely irritating and interferes with sleep.
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Transmission of the mite is by skin-to-skin contact and by contamination of clothing or bedding. Transmission can be prevented by wearing clean underclothes and by frequently changing one’s clothes and washing—conditions not always possible in overcrowded or resource-poor communities. Effective treatment consists of covering the affected person from neck to feet with medicinal lotion that kills the mite. Several medications are available. One percent lindane lotion (gamma-benzene hexachloride) is effective but can be toxic. Permethrin, a synthetic drug based on chemicals derived from the chrysanthemum, is effective and quite safe, even in pregnant women and in very young children. Crotamiton, a prescription anti-itch medication, is another scabicidal lotion that can be applied to the entire body. Sulfur-containing ointments may also work, but they are not well accepted for cosmetic reasons. Ivermectin, taken orally, may be prescribed for individuals who do not respond to lotions or creams or for patients who suffer from crusted scabies. It is desirable to treat an entire family or a group of people living together, for often the early burrowing stage of the disease causes no irritation, and a person can be infested without knowing it.