What is the Best Procedure to Get Rid of Scabies Itch?

The parasite Sarcoptes scabiei is a tiny skin mite which is the causal organism of scabies in humans. The result is a fiercely itchy skin condition which gets worse if not treated properly. Scabies can affect anyone irrespective of race, age, and gender. 

The only way to get rid of scabies is through treatment. The following article is about few anti-itch regimes for people infected with scabies.

The microscopic mite creates burrows between the skin layers to lay eggs and continue to spread to the whole body. This results into intense itching over the affected skin which gets worse at night and increasing chances of other skin infections.

Human scabies is a result of close physical contact with person suffering from it who can be a child, a friend, or family member. It almost takes a week to 10 days for the scabies symptoms to come but the treatment should be started if you are aware that you have been in contact with a person suffering from scabies. 

The worst part of scabies infection is the severe itching that leads to bumps all over the body and lot of irritation. 

Following are anti-itch remedies to reduce the intensity of the itch and get relieved faster.  

Step 1 of 2: Tips for reducing itchiness

1. A Cold water shower can bring lot of relief

A cold water shower can ease the intense itch as compared to hot water which can only make it worse. Hot water can only make the skin dry and increase irritation and itching whereas a cold water bath can be soothing as well as help in balancing natural oils in the skin. 

A cold water shower can be challenging for some, so it’s good to start with warm water and then reduce the temperature so that you can have a soothing bath.

2. Choose the right kind of clothing materials

There are some fabrics that can increase the itching and make your skin hyper sensitive. Avoid wearing new clothes as they contain additives like formaldehyde which can cause irritation. Fabrics such as Latex, Wool, and tight clothes should be strictly avoided. 

You can wear light cotton clothes, silk linen. Prefer wearing loose clothing. 

3. Stay away from hot and sticky environments.

Try to avoid every situation that can raise the temperature of your body. Don’t go to places which are too hot and have sticky, sweaty and muggy environments 

Sit under an AC if it’s hot or take a cool shower. Do everything to keep your skin comfortable and sweat-free. 

4. Choose soaps carefully 

Bathing with hard soap that contains irritating ingredients can cause skin inflammation and may lead to eczema. Hard soaps also take away natural oils from the skin; therefore it’s good to bath using a mild, anti-scabies soap. 

Dr Scabies soap contains Sulfur and natural oil extracts that can help to alleviate the itch.

Step 2 of 2: Natural remedies for scabies treatment

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, antiseptic, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antifungal and wound-healing qualities. Tea tree oil contains terpinen-4-ol that can kill the scabies mite. 

You can apply a mixture of single tablespoon of tea tree oil and olive oil on the affected areas using a cotton ball. Continue this for at least two to three weeks for effective results. 

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use tea tree oil without doctor’s consultations. For people with sensitive skin, tea tree oil can be irritating. 

2. Neem Oil

Neem oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties that have a killing effect over the bacteria and fungus trapped in the skin. The smell of neem oil doesn’t let the scabies to reproduce and therefore, the duration of the problem is reduced. 

You can apply pure Neem oil to the affected areas and then gently massage it for few minutes before taking a bath. 

You can even combine two ounces of Neem oil with an equal amount of freshly ground turmeric powder to form a paste and apply it two or three times a day. 

3. Cayenne pepper 

Cayenne pepper has a burning effect on scabies mites and therefore, it can provide a lot of relief from the scabies itch. Simply mix one cup of cayenne pepper in hot bath water and soak in the water till it turns cold. 

This remedy is not recommended for people with sensitive skin. Also make sure the pepper doesn’t reach your eyes.

4. Epsom salt can help reduce inflammation

Magnesium-sulphate in Epsom salts can reduce skin inflammation and intense itching of the skin.  

Mix some Epsom salt in hot water and soak in it till it gets absorbed in the skin. Later on take a cold shower to prevent dryness.

Adding baking soda, Neem oil, jojoba oil, and tee tree oil along with Epsom salt in hot water can prove to be super-effective. 

Got Some Scabies Rashes- It’s Time to Check!

People have a great fear for skin problems. The reason being, most of them are highly contagious. One of such spreadable skin disorder is scabies. Often characterized by its rash symptoms, it is generally mistaken as other skin problems. But not anymore! Here is detailed information, which will help you differentiating between the scabies rash and other skin problems.

Have you ever heard of scabies before? Well, if not it will be a little difficult to identify the symptoms at first experience. This is a common condition, which is caused by the presence of little mites which enters a human body through direct and indirect contact. These mites are microscopic in size and thus they are not visible to naked eye. They can burrow deep into the skin's upper layer and what increases the infestation is when these mites start laying eggs in your flesh. Then these eggs hatch and grow up into scabies mites, causing increase in their numbers.

Diagnosing Scabies Infection
As said earlier it is a highly contagious skin condition, it is not that simple to be diagnosed. Along this, scabies is somewhat similar in appearance to several other skin ailments. A number of symptoms match ideally with problems like eczema, bedbug bite, psoriasis, etc. The second and major reason, which makes diagnosis difficult, is that it takes a good time for the symptoms to appear completely. In addition, other than intense itching, there is no other particular symptom of scabies which varies from person to person. Hence, it is often ignored or misdiagnosed.

How dermatological diagnosis scabies? 
If intense itching occurs or you observe some red rashes, it is better you consult your dermatologists. The experts can easily diagnose the disease and confirm you regarding the same. They will visually examine your body skin from head to toe and if needed, will go for some popular scabies test too.

What are the different types of scabies test?
Professionals can perform different tests. However, there are mainly two types of test, which guarantees full proof confirmation.

• The Ink Test: It is the widely used and trusted scabies test. During this test, the doctors mark the suspected area with help of a washable marker first. Then the ink is later wiped off with help of alcoholic cloth. 

What happens?
Once they clear off the ink from the skin surface, the areas with the burrows will show an outline of the ink. These will appear similar to the dark streaks, pointing towards the presence of scabies mites under your skin.

• The Scraping Test: Another way out to assure the presence of scabies mites is with help of this test. In this method, the dermatologist scrapes off a tiny bit of skin. Don’t worry, it is not that painful.

What happens? 
The scarped skin is placed on a glass slide and then it is checked under microscope. If scabies mites or their eggs are visible to the professional, it becomes evident that the person is infested by scabies mites and needs to be treated.

How to treat scabies completely?
It is very important to get rid of scabies as soon as possible. Not only the person diagnosed with scabies, but also the other people, who come in contact with the affectant become more prone to this skin disorder. Thus, treatment is not constrained to the patient only, but everyone who lives with the person.

For complete treatment you have many options. A number of scabies treatment creams are available over the counter, but most of them use harmful insecticides like permethrin and lidocaine. These chemicals are not good for your skin. However, you can count on topical creams like Dr. Scabies, which make use of natural elements.