Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
If you find yourself with an itchy, red rash, you may wonder if it is eczema or scabies.
Both conditions can cause itching, red patches, and crusty, flaking skin. And both are more common in children than in adults, but that is where the similarities end.
Eczemais an inflammatory skin condition that has both environmental and genetic factors. Although eczema might run in families, it is not contagious.
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Sexual contact is not required for transmission and condoms will not prevent the spread of scabies between two people who otherwise have close skin contact.
Here’s what you should know about scabies vs. eczema, including causes, symptoms, and treatment options for each.
Scabies symptoms
Thesymptoms of scabiesinclude an intense itching that might be most noticeable at night. Itchiness comes from an allergic reaction to the proteins and feces of mites.
In many cases, people with scabies will develop a rash that is red in appearance. You might notice lines, orburrows, connecting the red spots of the rash—this is one way to distinguish scabies from other skin conditions. The rash can include pimples or pus spots and may progress to blisters.
In severe cases, known as crusted scabies, the rash will develop a thick, gray crust on the skin.
Eczema Symptoms
The primarysymptoms of eczemaare dry, inflamed, and red skin. The skin might appear scaly and may develop pus-filled blisters or areas that ooze. Sometimes the skin can crack. All of this causes itchiness and pain.
Hands, particularly around the nails and in the skin between the fingers
Arms, particularly at the elbows and wrists
The genital area, including the buttocks
Where Eczema Most Often AppearsThe faceHands and feetInsides of the elbowsBehind the knees
The face
Hands and feet
Insides of the elbows
Behind the knees
What Causes Scabies?
In order to contract scabies, you must be in close contact with someone who has mites on their skin or in close contact with fomites, objects that have come in contact with another person who has scabies.
The condition passes when a mite crawls from another person’s skin onto yours or from a shared object onto your skin. Usually, this requires prolonged contact, like cuddles between a parent and child or close contact between two people who are physically intimate. Sexual exposure is not required.
Pets do not spread human scabies. The condition is only passed from human to human or from fomites.
Can You Get Scabies from AnimalsAnimals cannot carry human scabies, so the condition can only be passed from human to human.
Can You Get Scabies from Animals
Animals cannot carry human scabies, so the condition can only be passed from human to human.
Scabies outbreaks are common in places where there is close contact between at-risk groups, including:
What Causes Eczema?
The medical community isn’t exactly surewhat causes eczema. Some research has shown that people with eczema are more likely to have a genetic predisposition that causes the skin to have less of a barrier. Because of this, allergens and irritants can cause the skin to become inflamed.
Eczema cannot be cured, but the condition typically occurs with flare-ups (when symptoms are worse) and periods of remission (when symptoms subside). Many people with eczema learn to identify their triggers, which might include:
Learning your triggers can help you prepare for and avoid outbreaks.
In most cases, scabies and eczema are both diagnosed after speaking with a healthcare provider about your symptoms and undergoing a physical exam.
A person can still be infested even if the mites, eggs, or fecal matter are not found. So, while finding a mite can diagnose the condition, absence of a mite does not exclude it.
Your treatment plan will vary based on whether your rash is scabies vs. eczema.
While treatment for eczema focuses more on controlling symptoms, treatment for scabies focuses on killing the mites and their eggs.
Treatment is essential for stopping the spread of scabies, and healthcare providers usually recommend that people who live with someone diagnosed with scabies get treatment even if they haven’t started exhibiting signs.
Treatment for Eczema
How Do You Treat Scabies?
Scabies Treatment for Those in Close ContactIt is recommended that once a person is diagnosed with scabies, everyone in their home—as well as their sexual partners—should also be treated, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Scabies Treatment for Those in Close Contact
It is recommended that once a person is diagnosed with scabies, everyone in their home—as well as their sexual partners—should also be treated, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Most often, scabies is treated with a skin cream that is applied from the neck down. The most common treatment for scabies is 5% permethrin cream, which is approved for use in people older than 2 months of age. The cream is put on once at night and washed off in the morning. Your healthcare provider might recommend repeating this treatment two weeks later if signs of scabies are still present.
In severe cases, a healthcare provider might also prescribe an oral antiparasitic medication called ivermectin.
Children and babies who have scabies might need a parent to apply the ointment to their face and scalp as well. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether this is necessary for your child.
Even with treatment, it can take up to four weeks for scabies to resolve. In that time, your healthcare provider might recommend the following to control symptoms and make you more comfortable:
There is little that you can do to prevent either scabies or eczema.
If you are predisposed to eczema, you’ll likely deal with the condition throughout your life. However, identifying your triggers and avoiding them can help you prevent additional flare-ups.
Ways to prevent eczema outbreaks include:
In addition, be sure to treat the entire family for scabies at the same time. Remember, other family members, including babies, might have the condition but may not yet be showing signs.
People who work in day care centers, nursing homes, and hospitals, as well as those who are immunocompromised, are at higher risk for scabies. If you fall into one of these groups and experience a rash, you should reach out to a doctor immediately. That way you can get treated promptly and avoid passing scabies to others.
A Word From Verywell
Rashes can be itchy, disrupting your sleep and making you miserable. They can also be embarrassing when they cause red patches that affect how you feel about your appearance.
Sometimes one type of rash may look like another. It’s important to see a a doctor to diagnose your condition and provide proper treatment.
Asking your healthcare provider about rashes, particularly if they’re in a vulnerable area like your genitals, can be uncomfortable. However, healthcare providers are adept at addressing rashes and getting you the treatment you need to resolve them quickly.
Should you tell someone you have scabies?
Scabies passes quickly between people who are in close contact with one another. In adults, scabies can be passed through partners who are physically intimate or who share objects that can carry scabies. If you are diagnosed with scabies, you should alert your family members and those with recent physical contact, since they may need treatment for scabies as well.
Remember that there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Can you self-diagnose scabies?
7 Home Remedies for Eczema
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: signs and symptoms.MedlinePlus.Eczema.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: signs and symptoms.MedlinePlus.Eczema.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: signs and symptoms.MedlinePlus.Eczema.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: signs and symptoms.
MedlinePlus.Eczema.
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