Scabies are tiny parasitic mites that are smaller than a pinhead. They burrow into the skin and lay eggs.

Scabies mites can be found on any skin apart from the face. If they have been passed through sexual contact you are likely to have them in the genital area or buttocks. They are spread through scratching so hands and other body sites are commonly affected.

You can get scabies through close body contact or sexual contact with someone who is infected with the mites.

The mites can live up to 72 hours off the body, so scabies can be spread by sharing bedding, towels and clothing.

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

Symptoms that you should look out for include:

• Tiny spots or an itchy red rash. The diagnosis can sometimes be difficult because the rash can look like other itchy skin conditions, such as eczema.
• Intense itching in the affected areas. This might only be noticed at night or it might become worse after a hot bath or shower or in bed at night.
• Raw, broken skin or inflammation in the affected areas. This is usually caused by scratching.

The signs and symptoms of scabies can take up to 6 weeks to appear after coming into contact with an infected person.

Scabies can be diagnosed by a clinician or pharmacist asking about your symptoms and examining your skin.

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

Treating scabies is usually simple and involves using a cream. This can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacy or may be prescribed from a clinic. Follow the instructions carefully and repeat the cream treatment at 7 days.

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

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. This should be done even if they don’t have any signs or symptoms because they could be in the 6 week period between infection and when symptoms start to appear.