What Is Scabies?
Scabies is one of the skin condition that is caused by an infestation of the human itch mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic mites burrow into your skin layers and cause symptoms of itching and rash.
Scabies infection is a very uncomfortable, transmittable skin condition, this is commonly seen in children and young adults. It can extend quickly among people who generally in crowded conditions, who have direct contact with each other, like in child care centers and also nursing homes.
How Long Does Scabies Last?
Scabies infection can only live about 72 hours without human contact, but once on a person, the mites can live up to 2 to 3 months. Scabies survives longer in colder conditions with higher humidity. Once on a person contacted by anyway, the infection can burrow into the skin, and signs usually begin three to six weeks after infestation.
What Does Scabies Look Like?
Scabies generally looks like small red pimple-like bumps on your skin. The bumps may be crusty. They may also be accompanied by small “burrows,” or thin gray, brown, or red lines which can radiate from the bumps. They can be hard to see and may look like scratch marks.
What Does a Scabies Infection Feel Like?
Scabies causes extreme itching, often it may become worst at night. The itching starts as a minor inconvenience and progresses to a point where the infected person cannot sleep.
In general, the best breeding grounds for spreading scabies infection is placing with lots of people. But what are the most common causes? How does one get scabies anyway?
Here Are Most Common Causes Of Scabies
1. Having sexual relations with an infected person
2. Children who will be in daycare is one of the most common conditions.
3. Public transportation is also the easiest way to get infected.
4. Hospitals being places for treating diseases, they also carry a significant risk of this scabies infection.
5. Waiting rooms in health care centers are also another breeding ground for scabies infection.
6. Gym locker rooms. Imagine lots of sweaty people passing through the same room, day in and day out. This is one of the major causes.
7. Trying out clothes at stores. When store clerks take returned apparel, they don’t wash it, trying them frequently is also one of the causes.
8. Cafes and Beaches are another types of facility in which you risk getting infected with scabies.
The Most Common Places For A Scabies Infection Are Below
- Areas between fingers and around the fingernails
- Armpits
- Wrists
- Waistline
- Inner elbow
- Bottom of feet
- Breasts (around nipples)
- Male genitals
- Buttocks
- Knees
- Shoulder blades.
Symptoms
Scabies signs and symptoms include:
Itching, often it may become severe and usually worse at night
Thin, non-uniform burrow tracks made up of tiny blisters or bumps on your skin
The burrows or tracks typically appear in folds of your skin. Though almost any part of the human body may be involved, in adults and older children scabies is most often found:
If you’ve had scabies infection before, signs and symptoms may develop within a few days of exposure. However, if you have never had scabies infection, it could take as long as six weeks for signs and symptoms to start. It’s essential to remember that you can still spread scabies even if you don’t have any signs or symptoms yet.
Scabies Prevention
To prevent this infection and to avoid the mites from spreading to other people, take these steps:
Clean all your clothes and linen. Use hot water, soapy water to clean all clothing, towels, and bedding used within three days before beginning treatment. Dry with high heat. Dry-clean items you can’t wash at home.
Starve the mites. Make sure by placing items you can’t wash in a sealed plastic bag and leaving it in an out-of-the-way place, such as in your garage, for a couple of weeks. Mites die after a few days without food.
How To Get Rid Of Scabies In 24 hours? And How To Treat Scabies?
Here Are The Natural Home Remedies For Scabies
These are amazing sources of the natural remedies that are highly effective in eliminating scabies.
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil for scabieis a fantastic home remedy for a different number of skin problems, including scabies. It consists of terpinene-4-ol that purges and gets rid of the parasites hiding under the skin. This oil has powerful anti-microbial properties which can also avoid further infections, making it one of the best home remedies for scabies.
Add some drops of tea tree oil in a bathtub which is filled with lukewarm water. Soak your entire body in this solution for fifteen to twenty minutes. Repeat this process relaxing treatment twice daily until the scabies is gone.
Alternatively, you can combine equal amounts of tea tree oil with few drops of olive oil. Soak a cotton ball and apply this powerful solution to the affected areas. There is no need to rinse it off so your skin can fully absorb the mixture and get rid of scabies.
Follow any of these above treatments for a few weeks. Remember, do not apply the undiluted form of tea tree oil to avoid skin irritation.
2. White Vinegar
Vinegar consists of acetic acid which can lower the skin’s pH level. This will make the skin more acidic, by providing a toxic environment for the scabies parasite. The changes of the pH level will eventually get rid of the problem. This is one of the best answer for how to cure scabies fast?
Mix the same amounts of freshwater with white vinegar.
Sink a small cotton ball and apply this amazing solution to the affected skin.
Leave it for at least five to ten minutes before washing it off with water.
Repeat this powerful treatment three times a day for a few weeks to kill the parasites.
3. Bleach
The chlorine content of bleach is an antiseptic which can effectively kill the mites present on your skin. While bleach is evaluated as one of the efficient natural home remedies for scabies, it should not be used without combining with water. Ensure that it does not reach the eyes as it may lead to eye problems. Carefully follow these below steps to scabies cure using bleach.
Add one cup of bleach in a large container which is filled with three cups of water.
Mix it well.
Dip a small cotton ball and apply the solution to the affected areas.
Leave it naturally before taking a shower.
4. Onions
This is one of the common household ingredients, onions which can effectively treat numerous skin infections like scabies. It consists of quercetin, which has analgesic properties that can reduce the itchiness. The organosulfur properties present in this vegetable will clear the scabies parasites.
Cut some fresh onions into small pieces and put them in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and cover it. Transfer the resulting juice in a lower bowl. Dip a cotton ball in the juice and apply it to the affected areas.
Another choice is to boil five to eight onions. Leave beside for the water to cool down and apply this to the affected areas.
You can also put some onions in a grinder. Wrap the paste using a cheesecloth or muslin cloth to get its juice. Apply this onion juice on the infected areas.
5. Cayenne Pepper
The capsaicin chemical property present in cayenne pepper can decrease the pain and itchiness by desensitizing neurons in the skin. This common household natural ingredient has the ability to burn and kill the parasites, making it one of the active home remedies for scabies.
Include one cup of cayenne pepper in a bathtub that is filled with warm water.
Soak your body in this miracle solution for at least ten minutes or when the water becomes cold.
Wash your body again by using cool water.
Repeat this scabies natural treatment once a day to treat scabies.
Ensure that not to get the water with cayenne pepper in your eyes. If your skin is sensitive, do not try this remedy as it produces a burning sensation.
6. Neem
Neem is also called as an Indian Lilac, this has been used for curing a various number of skin conditions, including scabies. It has few antifungal and antibacterial properties that can clear fungus and bacteria trapped in the skin. The scent or good smell of this herb can also avoid the parasites from reproducing, making it one of the excellent natural remedies for scabies. You can use either neem oil for scabies or neem tree leaves for treating the problem.
Crush a bowl full of neem leaves to make a paste. Apply this natural green paste to the affected areas on your skin and leave it on for a few hours ahead taking a bath. Repeat this treatment once a day.
You can also boil some neem leaves. Wait for the water to cool down and Take one tablespoon of this liquid. Repeat the consumption process four times a day for a few weeks.
If fresh neem leaves are not available, you can also buy neem oil and apply it on the infected skin. Massage it for a few minutes to let the oil enter deep into the layers of the skin. You can also mix neem oil with turmeric powder to make it as an antiseptic paste.
7. Turmeric Powder
Turmeric powder has been used since thousand years for curing a multiple numbers of health and skin problems. It consists of powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which can remove virus and scabies parasite effectively. It can also avoid further infections, making it one of the best home remedies for scabies in humans.
Combine 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder with a few drops of lemon juice to make a paste.
Apply this paste on the infected areas.
Leave it for one hour before washing it off with lukewarm water.
Aside from lemon juice, you can also combine turmeric powder with neem oil or neem powder.
8. Clove Oil
In addition to its potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, clove oil also has analgesic agents which can easily relieve the itching sensation caused by the infection. Like cayenne pepper, this clove oil will burn the skin if not mixed with water or other oil. To prevent this, follow these steps carefully.
Combine one tablespoon of olive oil with four tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil. Coconut oil would be a better match as it contains antibacterial properties.
Apply the miracle mixture of the oils to the infected areas.
Massage with this solution for a few minutes so the oil can penetrate deep into the layers of the skin. There is no need to wash it off.
Repeat this treatment process regularly to get rid of the infection.
9. Aloe Vera
When it comes to infectious skin conditions, aloe vera is always included in the list of top natural home treatments. This fantastic herb contains antimicrobial and other important medicinal properties which can accelerate the healing process of the skin. One of the miracle natural home remedies for scabies, aloe vera is also useful in treating acne, wounds, insect bites, and various skin disorders.
Rinse and cut a fresh aloe vera leaf to extract its gel.
Apply this amazing gel on the affected areas.
Let it sit for at least half an hour before rinsing it off with water.
Repeat this natural remedy process for three times a day for a few weeks until the infection is gone.
Another good choice is to mix two tablespoons of aloe vera gel with a pinch turmeric powder. You can also add calendula petals and apply this paste on the affected skin.
10. Garlic
This is another wonderful home remedy for scabies is garlic. It offers powerful antibacterial properties that can alleviate the infection and prevent it from recurring. The allicin compounds in garlic contain antiparasitic, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, making it one of the best home remedies for scabies.
Crush some garlic cloves to obtain its juice.
Apply this miracle juice on the affected areas.
Repeat the application continuously for three days.
Take a break for two days before continuing as it may burn the skin.
Adding more garlic to your diet can also aid in fighting the condition internally.
Along with these natural home remedies, it is very essential to avoid contact with an infected person and his or her personal items. Also, keep the surrounding area neat and also clean to avoid the mites and scabies from spreading for extend.
