What is scabies, what does the rash look like, is it caused by mites and is it contagious?

MORE than 200million people around the world suffer from scabies at any one time.

But what exactly is the contagious skin condition and how is it treated? We reveal all.

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What is scabies?

Scabies is an itchy rash caused by an infestation of tiny mites.

It is spread through close skin contact.

The NHS says: “Scabies is very common and anyone can get it.

“It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading.”

One of the first symptoms of scabies is intense itching, which is often worse at night.

Your entire body can be itchy, even in areas which don't have mites.

A raised rash or spots can then develop.

What does the rash look like?

A scabies rash may look red, making it more difficult to see on darker skin.

But you should still be able to feel bumps or lines, which occur when tiny mites lay eggs in the skin.

The rash, which often starts between the fingers but can spread anywhere on the body, can then turn into tiny red or dark spots.

It is most common between the fingers, around the wrists, under the arms, and around the waist, groin and bottom.

It does not usually develop on the head, but in elderly people or those with low immune systems, it can appear on the face, scalp and neck, as well as on their palms and the soles of their feet.

A rash is the most obvious sign of scabies, and usually appears soon after the intense itching begins.

As the mites burrow into the skin, this can cause tunnels to appear on the surface of the skin.

These can be fine, dark or silvery lines of between two to 10mm long.

Scratching can also exacerbate the rash and damage the skin.

This can cause the skin to be inflamed, red and tender.

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Is it caused by mites?

Yes, scabies is caused by mites.

These are tiny insects called Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis.

They are parasites, meaning they live off their hosts - in this case, humans.

They are invisible to the naked eye, although females are bigger than males, at around 0.4 mm x 0.3 mm compared to 0.2 mm x 0.15 mm.

It is the female which tunnels into the skin and lays eggs.

She will lay between 40 and 50 in her lifetime.

After being laid, the eggs will hatch within three or four days, and the mites take 10 to 15 days to reach adult size.

The symptoms of scabies, such as the rash and itching, is the body’s reaction to the mite’s saliva, faeces and eggs.

Is it contagious?

At least 200million people worldwide suffer from scabies at any one time, according to the World Health Organization.

It is most common in hot, tropical countries and in highly-populated cities, but it can spread anywhere.

It is highly contagious, but it can take up to eight weeks for the rash to appear, meaning people can spread it without realising.

It is passed on via skin-to-skin contact.

Anyone who works, lives or studies together is at risk of catching scabies if one person has it.

When administering treatment, it is important to treat everyone who is or could be affected at the same time.

This prevents it recurring, and people should still be treated even if they show no symptoms.

The NHS says: “Anyone can get scabies – it has nothing to do with poor hygiene.

“People who live or work closely together in nurseries, university halls of residence, or nursing homes are more at risk.”

While you don’t normally need to see a GP, a pharmacist will be able to prescribe treatment, which is often in the form of a cream or lotion.

You need to wait 24 hours after treatment before returning to school or work.

The NHS recommends those affected wash all the bedding in the house at 60c or higher on the day of treatment.

And any fabrics that can’t be washed should be sealed in a bag for three days until the mites die.

People should avoid all physical contact, including sex, until they have completed a full course of treatment.

If you’ve applied treatment to babies and small children, put socks or gloves on their hands and feet to stop them ingesting the medicated lotion.

For more information visit the .

Have there been any new cases?

At the beginning of 2024, doctors in the UK reported a "nightmare" surge in scabies cases.

They also warned that Britain is facing supply problems to ship drug treatments following the war in Ukraine and rising costs.

As reported by The , dermatologists and GPs are now scrambling for the medication.

Research from a survey by the British Association of Dermatologists, commissioned by The Guardian, revealed eight of its nine regional representatives reported a rise in scabies in their area last year - with seven out of nine also reporting shortages of treatment drugs.

A concerned dermatologist in the north-east said this would likely result in "increased spread of infection" and "strain on demand".

In December 2023, an outbreak of scabies, believed to have been triggered by an infected roll of fabric, forced a Central Saint Martins art school in north London to close its doors.

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