Scabies
Scabies is a very itchy skin rash caused by tiny, invisible eight-legged mites that burrow into the top layer of your skin.
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Scabies happens when microscopic mites, which are tiny bug-like parasites, crawl onto your skin and dig small tunnels in the outer layer. Once they are inside, they lay eggs, and your body’s immune system reacts to them, which is what causes the intense itching.
These mites usually prefer areas where skin folds, such as between your fingers, around your wrists, in your armpits, or near your waistline. It is a common condition that can happen to anyone regardless of how clean they are, and it is very important to get treatment to stop the spread.
Common Symptoms
- An extremely intense itch, which often gets much worse at night.
- Thin, wavy, raised lines on your skin that look like small pencil marks, which are the tunnels the mites have made.
- Small, red bumps or blisters that look like pimples or bug bites.
- Sores on the skin caused by scratching the itchy areas.