Scabies is an annoying skin condition caused by mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. They have eight legs and burrow into the skin. The mites are contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact. Treatment of the condition is often recommended for an entire household because it spreads easily. Symptoms of scabies are usually easy to identify. They leave visible marks that can cause discomfort.
Location
Scabies can impact nearly any part of the body but the Mayo Clinic identifies several locations where mites are often discovered. These include between the fingers, armpits, inner elbow and any other crease of the skin. Shoulder blades, knees, male genital area, soles of the feet and along the wrists and waist are other possible locations. Children most often experience the condition on the scalp, face, neck, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Itching
Regardless of their location, scabies cause itching. Merck describes this as severe and worse at night in most cases. Treatment of scabies requires medication to kill the mites, but anti-itch products can be used to manage itching. Excessive scratching can lead to complications, such as skin infection if the skin breaks. Scratching can also cause inflammation and redness at the site of infestation.
Mite Tracks
The mites cause tracks where they have burrowed in the skin. Merck describes these as very thin lines up to half an inch long. Sometimes a tiny bump occurs at one end of the track. The tracks can be difficult to see if the skin has become inflamed by itching. Patients with a weakened immune system may experience a serious infestation that produces large areas of thickened, crusted skin.
