Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Scabies GuideWhat Causes Scabies?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Scabies Guide
Those who have hadscabiesmay only need to hear the name of this condition to reimagine the notable symptoms it causes. The main one is an extremely itchy (and unforgettable) rash caused when theSarcoptes scabieimite burrows itself beneath the skin. The rash may be red or purple and paired with pimples or pus.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoScabies rash on hand.Raimo Suhonen / DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Lines (burrows) may also be present, which can help differentiate a scabies rash from another skin concern. Pain, inflammation, and infection can also result, sometimes indicating more severe or advanced cases.
As scabies can be passed from person to person, it’s important to recognize its signs and symptoms and seektreatmentearly.
Scabies often causes avisible rashthat’s usuallyseen between the fingers, on the wrists, in the armpits, around the waist, and in the genital area.The rash is not unique, however, as it resembles that ofdermatitis,psoriasis,hot tub folliculitis, andpityriasis rosea.
Common SignsCharacteristics of the rash can (but may not always) include:Red or purple colorTiny lines, known as burrows, connecting colored areasSmall pimplesBumpy skinVisible white pus
Common Signs
Characteristics of the rash can (but may not always) include:Red or purple colorTiny lines, known as burrows, connecting colored areasSmall pimplesBumpy skinVisible white pus
Characteristics of the rash can (but may not always) include:
These symptoms begin after an incubation period and are associated with the mature stage of the parasite, during which it tends to settle deep in the skin.
You are considered contagious and can spread the parasite to others from the time you pick up the infection yourself (during the incubation period) until about 24 hours after you begin treatment.
Scabies can be quite uncomfortable, and that’s especially so when the rash is associated with apainful sensation,which usually develops as the result of superficial scratches, deep skin wounds from scratching, or bacterial infections that may develop.
If you experience pain in addition to itchiness, it can be reduced with topical or oral pain medication as your scabies resolves.
It is uncommon, but the scabies rash can progress to be quite severe, withredness,inflammation or blisters(pictured) in some areas throughout the body.This intense reaction is expected to be more severe if you have an allergic response to the parasite.
If you have a more intense than usual reaction to scabies infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe either topical or oral anti-inflammatory medication.
Scabies normally involves the arms, legs, trunk, breasts, and genitals, and involvement of the scalp, face, palms of the hands, or soles of the feet is rare in adults. It may, however, occur in very young children who have scabies.
In severe situations, scabies can cause areas of skin to develop crusted sores. This complication, known asNorwegian scabies, is an advanced form of the condition that typically develops in people who have a weak immune system.
The crusted skin contains a higher concentration of mites than what is normally seen with scabies. This condition is more difficult to treat and is highly contagious.
Scabies lesions can becomeinfected with bacteria, particularly after intense scratching leads to open sores and wounds. These bacterial infections are not normally contagious, but they can spread and cause scarring of the skin.
Bacterial skin infections require a different treatment than the treatment used for scabies itself. If you notice redness, swelling, or warmth of the skin, you may have a bacterial skin infection in addition to scabies.
In areas of the world where scabies is common, people often suffer from recurrent infections. Recurrent infections may be uncomfortable, and make it difficult to eliminate the infection from the household.
Those who suspect they might havescabiesand those who simply are around someone who has beendiagnosed with scabies, regardless of their own symptoms or lack thereof, should see a healthcare provider.
If You Have Excessive Itching
If you experience severe itching that does not quickly resolve on its own, a medical evaluation is necessary. Scabies may or may not be the cause of your itching, but severe itching can be treated regardless of the cause.
If You Develop a Rash
If you suddenly develop a rash, this can be a sign of scabies or another health problem. Your healthcare provider can identify the cause of your rash and initiate the appropriate treatment for you.
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If You See the Mite or Burrows on Your Body
If You Have Been Exposed to Scabies
If you know that you have come inclose contact with someonewho has scabies, you should be treated. This includes spouses, sexual partners, or anyone with whom you have had prolonged skin-to-skin contact. However, you should also know that a quick hug or handshake is not likely to put you at risk of contracting scabies.
Because there is a delay in scabies symptoms after exposure to the mite, you should see a healthcare provider even before you begin to experience itching or notice a rash.
The first time you’re infected with scabies, it will take from two to six weeks for symptoms to develop—what is known as a delayed, or type IV, allergic reaction.If you have had scabies before, you’ll startitchingwithin one to four days, because your body will have “learned” how to react to the mites during your first infection.
No. The only way to get rid of scabies is with topical medication that kills the mites. If you don’t treat scabies, the eggs laid during the initial infestation will hatch, reproduce, and lay more eggs. This is why it’s important to treat anyone who’s had close contact with someone diagnosed with scabies, as they can become infected without knowing it.
No. It typically takes about four weeks after treatment for scabies to heal completely. In the meantime, the itching and rash may worsen somewhat in response to the medication used to kill the mites.
Scabies Causes and Risk Factors
11 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.Micali G, Lacarrubba F, Verzì AE, Chosidow O, Schwartz RA.Scabies: Advances in Noninvasive Diagnosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10(6):e0004691. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004691Chandler DJ, Fuller LC.A Review of Scabies: An Infestation More than Skin Deep. Dermatology (Basel). 2019;235(2):79-90. doi:10.1159/000495290Su WJ, Fang S, Chen AJ, Shan K.A case of crusted scabies combined with bullous scabies. Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1533-1535. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2668Crusted scabies. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563Tidman AS, Tidman MJ.Intense nocturnal itching should raise suspicion of scabies.Practitioner. 2013;257(1761):23-2.American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Signs & symptoms.Marwa K, Kondamudi NP.Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Lavery MJ, Stull C, Kinney MO, et al.Nocturnal pruritus: the battle for a peaceful night’s sleep.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(3):425. doi:10.3390/ijms17030425Thompson R, Westbury S, Slape D.Paediatrics: how to manage scabies.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-12-3. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-12-3American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Diagnosis and treatment.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Scabies—Resource for Health Professionals.” Atlanta, Georgia.Stiff KM, Cohen PR.Scabies Surrepticius: Scabies Masquerading as Pityriasis Rosea. Cureus. 2017 Dec 19;9(12):e1961. doi: 10.7759/cureus.1961.
11 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.Micali G, Lacarrubba F, Verzì AE, Chosidow O, Schwartz RA.Scabies: Advances in Noninvasive Diagnosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10(6):e0004691. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004691Chandler DJ, Fuller LC.A Review of Scabies: An Infestation More than Skin Deep. Dermatology (Basel). 2019;235(2):79-90. doi:10.1159/000495290Su WJ, Fang S, Chen AJ, Shan K.A case of crusted scabies combined with bullous scabies. Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1533-1535. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2668Crusted scabies. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563Tidman AS, Tidman MJ.Intense nocturnal itching should raise suspicion of scabies.Practitioner. 2013;257(1761):23-2.American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Signs & symptoms.Marwa K, Kondamudi NP.Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Lavery MJ, Stull C, Kinney MO, et al.Nocturnal pruritus: the battle for a peaceful night’s sleep.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(3):425. doi:10.3390/ijms17030425Thompson R, Westbury S, Slape D.Paediatrics: how to manage scabies.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-12-3. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-12-3American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Diagnosis and treatment.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Scabies—Resource for Health Professionals.” Atlanta, Georgia.Stiff KM, Cohen PR.Scabies Surrepticius: Scabies Masquerading as Pityriasis Rosea. Cureus. 2017 Dec 19;9(12):e1961. doi: 10.7759/cureus.1961.
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.
Micali G, Lacarrubba F, Verzì AE, Chosidow O, Schwartz RA.Scabies: Advances in Noninvasive Diagnosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10(6):e0004691. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004691Chandler DJ, Fuller LC.A Review of Scabies: An Infestation More than Skin Deep. Dermatology (Basel). 2019;235(2):79-90. doi:10.1159/000495290Su WJ, Fang S, Chen AJ, Shan K.A case of crusted scabies combined with bullous scabies. Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1533-1535. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2668Crusted scabies. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563Tidman AS, Tidman MJ.Intense nocturnal itching should raise suspicion of scabies.Practitioner. 2013;257(1761):23-2.American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Signs & symptoms.Marwa K, Kondamudi NP.Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Lavery MJ, Stull C, Kinney MO, et al.Nocturnal pruritus: the battle for a peaceful night’s sleep.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(3):425. doi:10.3390/ijms17030425Thompson R, Westbury S, Slape D.Paediatrics: how to manage scabies.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-12-3. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-12-3American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Diagnosis and treatment.
Micali G, Lacarrubba F, Verzì AE, Chosidow O, Schwartz RA.Scabies: Advances in Noninvasive Diagnosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10(6):e0004691. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004691
Chandler DJ, Fuller LC.A Review of Scabies: An Infestation More than Skin Deep. Dermatology (Basel). 2019;235(2):79-90. doi:10.1159/000495290
Su WJ, Fang S, Chen AJ, Shan K.A case of crusted scabies combined with bullous scabies. Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1533-1535. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2668
Crusted scabies. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.
Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563
Tidman AS, Tidman MJ.Intense nocturnal itching should raise suspicion of scabies.Practitioner. 2013;257(1761):23-2.
American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Signs & symptoms.
Marwa K, Kondamudi NP.Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Lavery MJ, Stull C, Kinney MO, et al.Nocturnal pruritus: the battle for a peaceful night’s sleep.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(3):425. doi:10.3390/ijms17030425
Thompson R, Westbury S, Slape D.Paediatrics: how to manage scabies.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2020-12-3. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-12-3
American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: Diagnosis and treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Scabies—Resource for Health Professionals.” Atlanta, Georgia.Stiff KM, Cohen PR.Scabies Surrepticius: Scabies Masquerading as Pityriasis Rosea. Cureus. 2017 Dec 19;9(12):e1961. doi: 10.7759/cureus.1961.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Scabies—Resource for Health Professionals.” Atlanta, Georgia.
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