Scabies Facts and Home Remedies

Scabies is one of the common skin disorders people know. Also called seven-year itch, the condition is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. It is usual in young children, with the head as the common area of affectation. The pruritus is usually experienced at night and scratching is a factor that could lead to skin breakdown and risk for bacterial infection.

Epidemiology

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, scabies is common across the globe and it affects people from various social classes and ethnicity. As per the publication, the skin condition can easily spread under crowded conditions where body and skin contact occur. These places include prisons, nursing homes, and extended-care facilities. Also, child care facilities also stand as usual sites of scabies infections.

Signs and Symptoms

Scabies present a number of signs and symptoms. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the condition features an extremely itchy rash, which is the skin’s reaction to the mite. As per the publication, the itch mite, which causes the condition, burrows into the top layer of the skin to live and feed. Then, it travels from the infected person to another person, usually through direct skin-to-skin contact. Sometimes, mites stay in infested items like clothes, bedding, and furniture, which people touch; as a result, the mites go to their skin. In terms of survival, a mite can survive for about 48 to 72 hours, even with no human contact. Due to extreme pruritus or itch, a person tends to scratch the area, which may result to skin breakage and infection in the long run.

Along with pruritus or itching, other signs and symptoms of scabies include rashes, which case tiny bumps that usually form a line. Some people also develop scaly patches that resemble the ones in eczema. Also, some people deveolop sores when they scratch the pruritic rash.Thick crusts may also form when a person develops a severe scabies condition called crusted scabies.

Home Remedies

Doctors usually prescribe Permethrine lotion as part of scabies management; however, the skin condition can be treated with the following home remedies.

Cayenne pepper is one of the best choice for natural scabies treatment. According to Dr. Axe, cayenne pepper is used to alleviate pain, which is linked with the skin condition. As per the publication, the pepper contains the chemical capsaicin, which helps decrease pain sensations when applied to the skin. Also, the pepper helps relieves pruritus by reducing the itch sensed by the nerves in the skin. However, while the pepper reduces pain, a study found that it can also lead to a burning sensation, which was experienced by 30 percent of the patients who used it on their skin.

In line to pain reduction, cayenne pepper is also linked to the ability to kill scabies mites. As per the publication, a number of people have attested that cayenne is indeed able to kill parasites when applied to the skin. To prepare, a cup of cayenne pepper is added to hot bathwater. Then, the person sits in the bath until the water gets cold. Next, he rinses his body, ensuring that cayenne does not get into the eyes, as it gives a burning or stinging sensation. The person may also make a cayenne paste, which is applied to visible burrows beneath the skin surface.

Tea tree oil is another option for scabies remedy. As per Top 10 Home Remedies, the oil serves as an antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory agent. The person just has to mix a tablespoon of the oil and olive oil and use a cotton ball to apply the resulting solution on the affected area.

Overall, scabies is not as serious as tuberculosis, stroke, diabetes, and cancer; however, it spreads within the household if it is not controlled. Thus, it is vital to seek consult from a health professional for proper assessment, planning, intervention, and implementation.

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