Scabies

NHS UK NHS UK Scabies states "Scabies is an itchy rash caused by mites. It’s spread through close skin contact, and anyone can get it. It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading". 

Scabies spreads through close skin contact, including sexual contact. You cannot get scabies from pets. People who live or work closely together in nurseries, university halls of residence or nursing homes are more at risk.

The symptoms of scabies include:

• Intense itching, especially at night
• A raised rash or spots
• Potentially the spots may look red. They are more difficult to see on brown or black skin, but you should be able to feel them.

Although many other things can cause itchy skin and rashes the scabies rash usually spreads across the whole body, apart from the head and neck. It often affects skin between the fingers, around the wrists, under the arms, and around the waist, groin and bottom.

However, older people and young children may develop a rash on their head, neck, palms and soles of their feet.

People with a weakened immune system can sometimes get a rare and very contagious type of scabies, called crusted scabies. The main symptom is a crusted, flaky rash that often affects the elbows, knees, hands and feet.

Scabies is not usually a serious condition, but it does need to be treated. The pharmacist will recommend a cream or lotion e.g. Permethrin or Malathion (Derbac M) that you apply over your whole body.

It's important for customers / patients to be briefed appropiately by the pharmacist / pharmacy team, read any instructions e.g. patient information leaflets carefully and remember to:

• Let the pharmacist know if they are breastfeeding or pregnant
• Repeat the treatment 1 week later
• Persevere because scabies is very infectious and it can take up to weeks for the rash to even appear
• Treat everyone in their home at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms. But do not use pharmacy treatments on children under 2 years old. They will need to see a GP
• Inform anyone they have had sexual contact with in the past 8 weeks as they should also be treated.
• Wash all bedding and clothing in the house at 60C or higher, and if possible in a hot dryer, on the first day of treatment
• Put clothing that cannot be washed in a sealed bag for 3 days until the mites die
• Not have sex or close physical contact until ythey have completed the full course of treatment
• Not share bedding, clothing or towels with someone with scabies
• Be aware of the fact that although the treatment kills the scabies mites quickly, the itching can carry on for a few weeks
• Keep an eye on other pre-existing skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis as the scabies can aggravate them
• Not scratch the rash can as it can cause skin infections like impetigo