Scabies

Scabies are tiny parasitic mites that burrow into the skin and lay eggs. You can get scabies through close body contact or sexual contact with someone who is infected with the mites.

Once the scabies mite has passed to you, it can take up to 6 weeks for the symptoms to appear.

If they have been passed through sexual contact you are likely to have them in the genital area. They can spread elsewhere round your body by scratching.

Symptoms to look out for:

• spots or a red rash in the genital area
• intense itching, worse after a hot shower or in bed at night
• raw, broken skin caused by scratching.

A clinician or pharmacist will ask about your symptoms and examine your skin.

You can use the service finder below to find a testing service near you.

Treating scabies is usually simple and involves using a cream. You can buy this from a pharmacy or you may be prescribed it from a sexual health clinic or your GP. Follow the instructions carefully and repeat the cream treatment after 7 days.

It is important to wash your towels and bedding in a washing machine on a hot cycle (50^oC or higher). This will kill the lice, preventing re-infection. Anything which cannot be washed should be wrapped in a plastic bag or not used for 72 hours.

After scabies treatment, the itching might continue for a few weeks. Antihistamine tablets from a pharmacy, or anti-irritant lotions such as calamine can help to ease the itching.

Scabies is passed through close body contact, so you should avoid having sex if you think you have scabies.

If you are getting treatment for scabies, make sure your sexual partners and close contacts in your household are treated at the same time. Your nurse or doctor will help you work out which partners to tell and can help you tell them (if you want help with this).

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