Talk about the stuff of nightmares. You have extremely itchy skin at bedtime, not to mention a pimple-like rash. What is it?
Those are fairly clear signs of scabies, a microscopic parasitic infestation where mites burrow under your skin and lay eggs there.
Scabies infection comes from prolonged contact, not just a quick brush against someone else’s skin. It can also be passed through bedding or clothing.
“Anyone who is diagnosed with scabies, as well as his or her sexual partners and other contacts who have had prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the infested person, should be treated,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises.
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What is scabies?
This “human itch mite” lives and lays eggs in the upper layer of the skin, according to the CDC.
About 200 million people worldwide have scabies at any one time, including up to 10% of children in poor areas, according to the World Health Organization.
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae can travel to the skin’s surface, spreading to other areas or other people, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What does scabies look like? It may resemble hives, tiny bites, knots under the skin or even eczema-like scaly patches, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Sores may develop from scratching.
The rash can appear red or pink on lighter skin, and are often easy to spot. On darker skin, there can be inflammation and redness, with colors ranging from pink to violet, according to Verywell Health. Rashes on darker skin most often appear skin-colored or only slightly lighter.
Under magnification, the mite is creamy-white, has eight legs and a round body. It is roughly the size of a