Scabies, many times referred to as the seven-year itch, is an easily spread, itchy skin ailment. It is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei, a really small and almost invisible parasite with 8 legs, that burrows inside one's skin and leads to extreme allergic itching. It is the female mites that affect us; they are normally 0,3 mm to 0,4 mm small and their male counterparts are about half the length.

A magnifying glass or microscope can be used to see the mites. Although mites can survive in temperatures below 20 degrees C, they cannot move in such conditions. They crawl, since that are unable to jump or fly. This crawling can be really disconcerting and painful sometimes, as they would feed on the blood and flesh of the host to be able to lay eggs.

Skin-to-skin contact can spread scabies. Scabies is spread, though, via really close contact between persons, so it can't be contracted by hanging one's jacket next to one belonging to someone with scabies, or by simply shaking hands. Sexual physical contact could transmit the disease. Scabies, another sexually transmitted disease, is common among young people who are sexually active.

Scabies are usually found on the webs between the fingers, wrists, back of the elbows, knees, waist and umbilicus, armpit folds, area surrounding the nipples, feet, genital area, and buttocks. However, in the cases of infants and young children, scabies appears on the head, face, neck, palms, and the soles of the feet. One's daily routine can be inconvenienced with mites so get rid of them quickly.

A convenient method of scabies treatment is scabicide drugs. Permethrin and ivermectin are used for the treatment of scabies. One of the most efficient scabies treatments is Permethrin, which is applied from the neck down and washed off after 8 to 14 hours. Ivermectin, an oral anti-parasitic medication, is recommended to treat crusted scabies.

You can also use lindane, crotamiton, antihistamines, and sulfur preparations to help treat scabies. Lindane is like permethrin, which is applied in the same manner, however, it can cause seizure if it is applied in a very irritated or wet skin. Although you can treat scabies in the most traditional way by using a cream ( sulfur mixed in petrolatum ), try using cortamiton, because it is both a lotion and a cream. On the contrary, antihistamines are used to just relieve the person from itching.

Every infected person in the community should be treated to avoid re-infection - treatment for scabies would be ineffective if only one person is treated. It is also important to disinfect household items, such as, linens, bedclothes, wardrobe, furniture, rugs, etc. as the mites die quickly without human hosts.