how to tell if scabies is going away how to tell if scabies is going away

How To Tell If Scabies Is Going Away: 101 Guide

Scabies is an infestation of the skin which are generally caused by human itch mites. This mite is scientifically known as Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis.

The scabies mites, mainly microscopic, make their home by burrowing into the upper layer of the skin. The Scabies mites 1also lay their eggs in this layer of the human skin. Due to this, the people face severe itching symptoms of scabies, and it appears to be a pimple-like skin rash.

The scabies mite usually spreads from direct skin contact or prolonged contact with another infected person.

These mites are found worldwide, and they are people of all races and social classes. They are known to spread rapidly, especially if they are under crowded conditions when people are close by, and skin is in frequent contact.

Institutions which include nursing homes, care facilities, and prisons, are the common sites for the scabies outbreak. Even child-care facilities are a common sight for the scabies infestation.

There are more than 200 million cases of scabies worldwide since this highly contagious condition can be quickly passed on from person to person. Though it is a bothersome condition, one can eliminate this condition by eliminating scabies from the human skin with the proper treatment.

The million-dollar question that people ask is if they have scabies infection or not, and if yes, how to tell if scabies is going away?

Let us learn more about these scabies mites and find the answer to this million-dollar question.

1. Crusted Scabies Or Norwegian Scabies

The crusted scabies is the upgraded version of scabies mites that are potent enough to occur in those people who are immunocompromised or, in simple terms, have a weak immune system.

Crusted scabies mites can also live in the elderly, debilitated, or disabled.

scabies
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This scabies is often called Norwegian scabies2 and is more common in people with thick crusts of skin and contains many mites and eggs.

Persons who already have scabies on their skin can spread the infestation to some other person from skin-to-skin contact or through contaminated items, including clothing, furniture, and bedding.

However, the person who has been contaminated with crusted scabies will not show some of the common scabies symptoms, including an itchy rash and itching.

If someone is contaminated with these rashes must get immediate medical attention to kill the scabies mites and free the person from this nightmare of itching.

2. Symptoms Of Scabies

It can take up to 2-5 weeks for the symptoms to appear after the person has been exposed to scabies. However, people who have had scabies before will have the symptoms quicker than other persons who have it for the first time.

Persons who get contaminated for the second time will show symptoms of scabies within the first five days.

The most common symptoms of scabies are the itchy rash on the skin and intense itching, which gets worse as the day passes and is more severe at night time. However, if you scratch continuously on the infected area, it can cause soreness in the infected area.

However, if someone faces this condition, they will require some additional treatment to get rid of the sore skin due to scabies rash. Generally, the doctor prescribes antibiotic lotions for it.

scabies
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Some of the common areas where scabies mites live in older children and adults are:

  • Armpits

  • Penis

  • Waist

  • Buttock

  • Between fingers

  • Nipple

  • Elbow

  • Wrist

Even babies and toddlers can show scabies rash in these areas. In addition to this, the elderly or immunocompromised person can show up with this condition on :

  • Face

  • Neck

  • Head

  • Hands

  • Soles of the feet

However, the rash appears to have

  • Tiny bites

  • Bumps under the skin

  • Bumps similar to pimples

  • Hives

Sometimes, you may find burrow tracks on the skin made by the scabies mite. Often they look like tiny raised discolored lines.

3. Causes Of Scabies

Scabies outbreaks happen due to the infestation of some tiny eight-legged mites called scabies. The scabies bugs are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

However, the effects of these scabies are visible and are accompanied by severe itching.

The scabies mite burrow the human skin from the top layer to live and feed to lay eggs. The female mites are responsible for laying eggs on the skin.

When the skin reacts to the colony of these mites and their waste products, your skin starts to react with these mites, and then it develops an itchy rash on the skin on the surface of the skin.

about scabies
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Scabies mites can spread from person to person with ease, especially between people with close contact. Though the condition is not a sexually transmitted disease, it can pass from

  • Furniture

  • Bedding

  • Clothes

If your sexual partners have scabies, you are most likely to get some of these mites on your skin since skin-to-skin contact is the most common way for these scabies to spread.

4. Can Scabies Spread From Animals?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that scabies mites do not spread from animals. However, some mites can affect your pet, forming a new condition known as “mange.”

If you come in close physical contact with an animal suffering from Mange, then the mites on that animal can irritate the skin and, in worst cases, itching.

cat with scabies
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Though these types of mites will not be able to reproduce on your skin since they will eventually die, they can cause you severe skin irritation, so it becomes crucial to treat your pet to manage your condition.

If this continues with your pet, it causes the life of your pet. Moreover, it will let you come in frequent contact with the mites.

5. Types of Scabies

Out of all the mites, there is only one type of scabies mites that can cause an infestation in human beings. This scabies mite is known as Sarcoptes scabiei.

However, these mites are potent enough to cause several other types of infestations.

5.1. Typical Scabies

It is the most common infestation from scabies mites that can cause an itchy rash on the wrists, hands, and even in some other body parts.

However, these infestations are not successfully infested on the human scalp or the face.

5.2. Nodular Scabies

Scabies from this category can develop raised bumps or lumps over the skin. It can be very itchy, mostly seen around the armpits, groin, and genitals.

5.3. Norwegian Scabies

Some scabies mites can develop from some other form of infestation. These kinds of scabies are known as Norwegian scabies or crusted scabies. This type of mite is mostly seen all over the globe, and it is hazardous and spreads very quickly.

People who suffer from this type of infestation develop skin with thick crusts, and it contains hundreds of mites and their eggs.

The crusted scabies can be thick and gray, and they are easy to crumble when they are touched. Moreover, mites are suspected of developing in people with less potent immune systems.

Even people who have HIV3, use steroids, have some medications, and are under chemotherapy can develop this kind of scabies.

Scabies mites can easily invade the immune system of immunocompromised people, and mites can multiply their numbers rapidly. However, the pattern of these mites is very identical to that of ordinary scabies.

6. Is Scabies Mite Visible?

Scabies mites are very hard to detect with the naked eye. When in the full-fledge situation, these tiny mites can reach a height of only 0.45 millimetres, which is only 1/56th of an inch.

In simple terms, scabies can be the size of a pin tip. So, it becomes tough for the human eye to detect scabies without any use of microscopic lenses.

7. Complications Faced From Scabies

Scabies is very contagious and spreads very rapidly. Mites can easily lead to a community outbreak. Moreover, continuous scratching over the skin due to intense itching can lead to bacterial infection.

In addition to this, for people who have an impotent immune system, bacterial infection can cause some severe health complications. It can cause

boy with scabies
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In addition to all this, constant itching can lead to insomnia 4in some people.

8. Diagnosis Of Scabies

Your healthcare provider may be able to identify your scabies rash in the very first place simply through a physical exam, performing a test on your affected area of skin.

However, in some cases, the medical support wishes to confirm the diagnosis performed by eliminating a mite from your skin with the help of a noodle.

Suppose the scabies are outnumbered and seen regularly, then your doctor will most likely take a small section of your skin to perform some test on the obtained tissue sample from your skin.

However, experts will perform this test under a microscope to confirm the presence of the scabies mites or their eggs on your skin.

The doctors prescribe the scabies ink test or the Burrow Ink Test for some people. It often helps the examiners find the burrowed paths made by the mites in your skin.

scabies diagnosis
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The doctors drop some ink from a fountain pen on the infected person’s skin, which appears to be infected, to perform this test. The ink is later wiped out.

The ink is dropped over the infected skin to confirm the presence of scabies on the suspected person. If the ink falls into the burrowed tunnels, the ink will remain, and the caves will be visible to the naked eye.

9. Treatment

Treating scabies usually involves losing the infestation with the help of some prescribed ointments, lotions, and creams. They need to be applied directly to the infected skin

. There is even some oral medication available to treat scabies infestation.

9.1. Ointments, Lotions, And Cream Treatment

To treat human scabies rash, doctors usually instruct the patients to apply the medication at night. Since the mites are most active at night, it might be vital to treat your entire body, from the neck to your feet. The ointments are supposed to be wiped off by the morning.

However, it would be best to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully. In the worst cases, you may need to repeat the instructions every day.

The common medications which are given to stop the spread of scabies and treat skin infections can be :

applying ointment
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9.2. Medications To Relieve Itching

You can also be prescribed additional medications to help with skin infections from itching. Medication that doctors will give you can be :

  • Diphenhydramine or Benadryl or pramoxine (It is a lotion that can help control the itching)

  • Antibiotics kill the scabies mites and help to stop scratching your skin

  • To reduce swelling and itching, you can be prescribed steroids

However, doctors may take aggressive steps to treat scabies and disease control in the worst cases. You can be given a tablet named ivermectin or Stromectol if you 

  • Find no improvement with reduced symptoms after the first treatment

  • Suffering from crusted scabies or classic scabies

  • Scabies covers most parts of your body

Sulphur is a widely given ingredient. It is even available to purchase at any medical counter, and it is sealed as soap, cream, or lotion.

10. How To Tell If Scabies Is Going Away?

You can treat scabies with the help of medicines. It can kill scabies mites and their eggs a lot quicker and easier. So, patients will be able to return to school or their work organization within their first week of treatment.

However, the itch and skin sores will last for a few times even after treatment. It is generally an allergic reaction that will be active in your skin.

However, if the skin condition does not improve even after several weeks of successfully treated scabies, you must visit the doctor to learn more about your skin conditions.

It is straightforward to tell if the scabies is getting away from you or not. To know that, you have to be sure about some things. It includes checking skin-coloured lines, signs and symptoms, skin surface red bumps, and tiny blisters.

If you have temporary itching and a new rash that is not a concern, you can be sure that the scabies is getting away from you.

However, even after successfully treating human scabies, you have to be sure of something to avoid being affected by scabies again. It includes checking your pet’s scabies and skin-to-skin contact with another person.

Since prevention is the best method to avoid anything, then treatment is, if you prevent scabies around you, you will be sure that scabies is getting away from you.

11. How to Prevent Scabies Mites?

11.1. Linen Should be Clean

Scabies mites live for only 2-3 days away from the human skin. They contact the skin from bedding, towels, and clothing used by a person who has scabies. It would help if you decontaminated it by washing it with hot water and then drying it using the hot cycle or dry-cleaning.

 11.2. Avoid People with Scabies

Sharing the same bed with sexual partners with scabies can spread mites into your skin. So, please avoid people with scabies. Use cream or lotion to kill the mites and get initial treatment if you feel you are caught with scabies mites.

11.3. Scabies can Spread in Swimming Pools

Scabies often can be spread in swimming pools. However, scabies is very uncommon to spread from the swimming pool unless you can contact a person who has crusted scabies.

11.4. Make Sure Your Pets Are Clean

Sometimes, you can get different types of scabies from the animals. So make sure your dog does not get affected by scabies by having a weakened immune system.

 11.5. Avoid Crowded Places

Scabies is mainly spread in crowded areas, so make sure you stay safe from the people who have scabies. It can catch you in an instant.

11.6. Be Cautious in Health Care Institutions

Scabies is also found in people from nursing homes and other institutions. So be very sure to have close contact with the people from these areas. If you doubt the signs and symptoms of scabies, mites, and eggs, you should rush to your healthcare professional and seek treatment.

11.7. All Family Members Should go for Check-Up If any One Member is Infected

Scabies infest the entire family. So, if one of your family has been infested with scabies, then it becomes indispensable for all the family members to go for a scabies mites check, or else you cannot kill the mites or get rid of them.

12. Some Natural Treatments For Scabies

There are many traditional remedies to treat scabies and mite eggs. Since the traditional side effects can cause some side effects, most of them do not pay much heed to traditional treatments.

Natural Treatments For Scabies
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However, they will develop a strong resistance against scabies, which can benefit you.

12.1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is essential for treating scabies since it can quickly reduce the itch and heal the rash of the skin. However, this essential oil is useless against the deeper eggs in the skin. But spraying some tea tree oil on the burrows can help you.

12.2. Neem

Products made from neem oil can be the best alternative option for treating mites. Neem has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic with antibacterial properties, beneficial for the mites.

The active components of neem oil are beneficial in killing scabies mites. Even shampoo made from neem oil can kill mites in dogs.

A study proved that dogs were treated after 14 days with neem oil shampoo out of ten crusted scabies. It cured eight out of ten dogs, and the other two dogs had few mites left on them.

neem leaves
Image From: Shutterstock

12.3. Aloe Vera

The soothing ability of ale vera gel helps a lot to heal sunburned skin. But it is also beneficial to treat the red bumps caused by mites. Researchers saw that scabies treated with aloe vera were successful with benzyl benzoate5 in a study and found no other side effects.

12.4. Cayenne Pepper

This natural remedy is often used to reduce the skin scraping on the pain accompanied by itching. The cayenne contains capsaicin which desensitizes the neurons in the skin and can also reduce the skin folds.

Cayenne Pepper
Image From: Shutterstock

A study in 2010 revealed that capsaicin cream could reduce chronic soft tissue pain, which is typically caused after three weeks of getting affected with human scabies mites. However, you must do a skin patch test before using this natural remedy.

12.5. Clove Oil

Clove oil is essential to killing scabies. The antimicrobial properties with anesthetic and antioxidant properties contribute to the healing power. Even the nutmeg oil is less efficient than the clove oil.

clove oil
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Even the are some other essential oils that can help you to get rid of scabies mites.

  • Lavender

  • Peppermint

  • Ylang-ylang

  • Clove

  • Thyme

  • Lemongrass

  • Orange

  • Anise seed

Conclusion

Scabies will not get away from you immediately right after you get treatment. It will give temporary itching for some weeks even after the successful treatment.

So, you may have doubts about getting rid of scabies. In that case, you can fix some appointments with your doctor and discuss these.

Most importantly, you should develop healthy hygiene habits to avoid affecting the mites. Getting some rest is the best thing you can do after getting treatment.

Also, discuss with your doctor what to eat to develop an excellent immune system.

  1. Sunderkötter, Cord, Johannes Wohlrab, and Henning Hamm. “Scabies: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment.” Deutsches Ärzteblatt International 118.41 (2021): 695. ↩︎
  2. Al-Tarawneh, Awad Hasan, and Abeer Shamasneh. “Crusted (Norwegian) Scabies Mimicking Psoriasis: A Case Report and Literature Review.” Bahrain Medical Bulletin 43.3 (2021). ↩︎
  3. Vizcarra, Pilar, et al. “Description of COVID-19 in HIV-infected individuals: a single-centre, prospective cohort.” The lancet HIV 7.8 (2020): e554-e564. ↩︎
  4. Riemann, Dieter, et al. “Sleep, insomnia, and depression.” Neuropsychopharmacology 45.1 (2020): 74-89. ↩︎
  5. Lajarin-Reinares, Maria, et al. “The Efficacy and Biopharmaceutical Properties of a Fixed-Dose Combination of Disulfiram and Benzyl Benzoate.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23.18 (2022): 10969. ↩︎

Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology

Author

Susanta Biswas

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