Scabies Rash

Scabies rash is a very itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into your skin. Scabies can affect people of all ages and from all incomes and social levels. Even people who keep themselves very clean can get scabies rash. Many people who get scabies rash are not even aware of why they have it or what caused it.

The most common way that scabies rash is contracted is through close human interaction. Whether it is from a hug, sleeping together or other contact, scabies can be passed very easily from one person to another. In addition to human contact, a small percentage of individuals contract scabies from touching something that the mite is on. This form of transmission is much rarer, mainly because the mite has a life span of less than forty-eight hours when it is away from a host human.

Some experts believe that the scabies mite can live up to 3 days without human body contact. When a mite reaches an area of rough or wrinkled skin (elbows, knuckles, knees), it burrows under the skin. Scratching can spread scabies mites to other areas of the body, but simply touching another part of the body while mites are on the hands may also spread them.


How to Recognize Scabies Rash?

1. Know if you are at risk.

Scabies is almost always spread by prolonged, close, skin-to-skin contact with a person who is already affected.
Scabies in adults is often spread through sexual contact.
Scabies can spread quickly in crowded places, such as day care centers and nursing homes.

2. Recognize the symptoms of a scabies infestation. If you have been infected for the first time, you may not have any symptoms for 2-6 weeks. If you have had a scabies infestation before, symptoms will appear rather quickly (1-4 days). The most common symptom of scabies is an intense itch (especially at night) and a rash that affects a great deal of the body.

3. The most common sites of an infestation for an adult are:

Webbing between the fingers
Wrist
The fold of the elbow or knee
Armpit
Nipple
Shoulder blades
Breast
Waist
Butt
Penis

The sole of the foot
The palm of the hand
Head
Face
Neck

5. Be aware that very small tunnels are sometimes visible on the skin. These are caused by the mite burrowing beneath the surface of the skin. They will appear as thin gray, brown, or red lines on the surface of the skin.

6. See a doctor if you believe you may be infected with scabies. If you are found to have scabies, advise anyone you have had close contact with that they should be treated also.


Scabies rash - Scabies Diagnosis:

The diagnosis of scabies is often difficult as it looks similar to a skin rash in the initial stages. A medical diagnosis is made by scraping the skin to observe under a microscope in order to locate the mite or find eggs. However, it is possible that the results of a skin scraping or a biopsy may return negative but it is still very much possible that you may be infested with the mite. In a typical case, there are only up to 10 mites on the entire body and it is possible to miss them. The constant scratching also causes the characteristic nodular bumps and redness that indicate the infected areas and may occur anywhere except the facial region.


Scabies on Babies (Scabies Rash):

If your baby gets scabies rash, he'll develop an extremely itchy rash of scattered red bumps, usually between the fingers, around the wrists, and on the outside of the elbows, armpits, lower abdomen and genitals. It may also show up on the kneecaps and the sides of the feet. Older children and adults don't tend to get the rash on their palms, soles, scalp or face, but your baby might.

The only way to avoid scabies rash is to avoid contact with anyone who might have it. That can be tricky, especially if your baby is around other children and has several carers. If your baby has scabies rash, you can help prevent a re-infestation by making sure all family members and others in close contact with him are treated at the same time that he is.


Home Remedies for Scabies Rash:

One of the most effective natural treatments for scabies rash comprises of applying fresh juice of apricot leaves over the affected area.

Take fresh or dried neem leaves and make a paste from them. Add in equal quantity of turmeric powder, mixed with mustard oil. Apply the mixture on the affected area, leave for one hour and wash off.

Take dried bark of a peepal tree and grind it, to form a fine powder. Strain the powder with a sieve and apply it on the lesions, as a dusting powder.

Buy 400-500 gm drumstick leaves and extract their juice. Mix in equal amount of sesame seed oil. Boil the solution till the water dries up. Cool and apply over the infected areas.

Wash the clothes as well as the bedding of the infected area in hot water, on a daily basis. Thereafter, leave them in the sun to dry, rather than making use of dryers.