Scabies is caused by the human itch mite when the female burrow into the upper layer of the skin to live and lay eggs.
It is usually spread by direct, prolonged, skin to skin contact with a person who has scabies.
When infested with scabies mites the first time, you usually won't know for up to 2 to 6 weeks.
But you can spread it during this time even though you do not have symptoms.
If you've had it before, the symptoms show up more quickly (about 1 to 4 days).
Let's see if you have scabies.
A quick note: There is no over-the-counter medication to get rid of scabies. These medications are only available with a doctor's prescription.
This exercise is geared towards helping you make a more reasonable decision as to whether you may have scabies or not so you can quickly get treatment and stop spreading it.
Looking for S-shaped, tiny, raised, grayish-white lines on the skin surface.
Or skin-colored lines on the skin surface.
Let's get started and see if you can come up with anything like that.
Look in-between the fingers and skin folds on the wrist.
Did you find these lines?
Yes?
Try to ID the mite or mite eggs if any.
If you find any mite, carefully remove the mite from the end of its burrow using the tip of a needle if you can.
If not, don't worry, go to the nearest urgent care clinic or call your doctor to book an appointment.
Remember that only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies.
You may be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want to get some sleep at night, better go and see a doctor.
Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?
Carefully remove the mite from the end of its burrow using the tip of a needle if you can.
If not, don't worry, go to the nearest urgent care clinic or call your doctor to book an appointment.
Remember that only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies. You might be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want to get some sleep at night, better go and see a doctor.
Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?
Carefully remove the mite from the end of its burrow using the tip of a needle if you can.
If not, don't worry, go to the nearest urgent care clinic or call your doctor to book an appointment.
Remember that only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies. You might be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want to get some sleep at night, better go and see a doctor.
Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?
Carefully remove the mite from the end of its burrow using the tip of a needle if you can.
If not, don't worry, go to the nearest urgent care clinic or call your doctor to book an appointment.
Remember that only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies. You might be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want to get some sleep at night, better go and see a doctor.
Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?
Diagnosis is usually made based on the presence of burrows...
...and the appearance and distribution of the rash.
Seek urgent care if:
Most people in your household are itching at the same time
Itching is severe and inbetween the webbings of the fingers and or toes
Itching is severe and in the folds of the elbows or armpits
Itching more especially at night.
But for now, take some antihistamine like diphenhydramine or cetirizine to help with the itching.
Would you like to visit the nearest urgent care clinic?
There is nothing over-the-counter that will work if you are thinking scabies so no need to send you to a pharmacist for an over-the-counter recommendation.
