What is it?
Scabies is a skin condition caused by small parasites. Scabies mites are tiny, insect-like parasites that infect the very top layer of your skin. It is easily passed from skin to skin contact, usually during sex.
Scabies mites burrow under your skin and lay their eggs. The eggs then lead to more mites. They are very small, so you might not see them. However, you will most likely notice the itching they cause. They are easily cured.
How do I know if I have it?
Symptoms include itching, rashes, and burrow lines (dark, small curling lines under your skin).
The rash itself can consist of tiny blisters or pimple-like bumps.
The most common symptoms of scabies include a rash and intense itching that gets worse at night
Common affected sites?
- webbing between fingers
- wrist
- elbow
- armpit
- nipple
- penis
- waist
- buttocks
How to get tested for it?
You can get tested at your doctor’s office or local health clinic. If you are itching and have rashes on your body, you should get them checked out.
How do you contract it?
Scabies is spread by touching. It is commonly spread through sex. Scabies spread in crowded places where you have close skin contact (schools, prisons, nursing homes).
After the initial exposure to scabies, it can take up to six weeks for symptoms to appear. The symptoms usually develop more quickly in people who’ve had them before.
How to reduce your risk?
Scabies is incredibly contagious so the only way to prevent it is to not have close, intimate contact with anyone. That’s not exactly realistic, so it’s probably best to avoid touching or sharing clothes with anyone you know that is infected until they finish treatment.
Condoms unfortunately don’t protect you from scabies. Scabies sounds scary but try not to stress about them. They are very easy to treat.
How to treat it?
Scabies is treated with prescription medication that kills the mites and their eggs. It is called “Scabicide.” It is usually prescribes in the form of a cream. You rub the scream everywhere from your neck down and then wash it off after a few hours.
Along with taking your medication it is important to wash and dry all of your bedding, towels and any clothes you’ve worn while being infected. Wash everything on the hottest setting that’s safe for your clothes and then dry them on hot as well.
Vacuuming carpets and furniture where you’ve laid around or hung out.
Tell your sexual partners so that they can get checked and potentially get treatment. Don’t engage in any sexual activity or contact until you finish treatment.
How to prevent spreading it?
Follow your doctor’s care on treating it. Don’t have sex until you’ve finished treatment and wash everything properly.