Scabies is a skin infestation caused by mites known as Sarcoptes scabiei.These tiny creatures burrow into the skin and lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, thousands of additional young scabies mites invade the host’s skin to feed on blood. These microscopic parasites live in clothing and other textiles, carpets, mattress pads, pet beds, or any other surface that comes into contact with humans. Other common places Scabies may hide include attics and walls beneath baseboards and cracks in flooring. Once they invade your home, these mites quickly spread to nearby people who share beds or living spaces with the infested individual. There are a few ways to get rid of scabies at home:

Confirm Scabies is Present

Before you attempt a home remedy to get rid of scabies, you need to make sure they’re actually present. Your first step should be to have your doctor examine you. He or she may be able to perform a skin scraping and examine your rash under a microscope to determine if you have scabies. If you do, you’ll need to start using a strong anti-itching medicine, particularly for your scalp where the mite eggs are often nestled. If you don’t have scabies, you may want to consider cutting your nails short and wearing gloves when you handle bedding and other items that may have been contaminated with scabies mites. Next, you’ll want to meticulously inspect all potential scabies hiding places in your home. You’ll need to do this even if you already know where the infestation is hiding. Be sure to inspect places such as: – Mattress seams – Furniture joints – Cracks in walls, floors and ceilings – Closets, cupboards and other storage spaces – Pet wooden bowls, beds and toys – Clothing, such as pillows, comforters, or carpets – Other sources of infestation, such as sibling’s bed or child’s school clothes

Treat the Environment

When you have confirmed scabies in your home, you’ll need to treat the environment in which the parasite thrives. Start by thoroughly cleaning surfaces with a mild soap solution or detergent. You may also want to scrub these areas using a rubber scrubber to dislodge the scabies mites hiding beneath the surface. Be sure to thoroughly clean the following surfaces as well: – Mattress seams – Furniture joints – Cracks in walls, floors and ceilings – Closet rods, shelves and cabinets – Carpets and other textiles – Pet bowls, beds and toys – Clothing, such as pillows, comforters, or carpets – Other sources of infestation, such as siblings’ bed or child’s school clothes

Shower as a Last Resort

While scrubbing down infected surfaces is an important part of a scabies treatment plan, it may not be enough to kill the millions of scabies mites hiding in your home. Because the mites are so tiny, they may be difficult to spot and remove. If you notice that they’re still present after scrubbing hard surfaces, you may need to resort to using a shower or bath to kill the mites hiding in carpets, floors, furniture, walls and other surfaces. Use a strong anti-itch shampoo and scrub gently with a sponge or washcloth to get rid of the scabies mites. You should be extremely careful not to damage the surface underneath or to get any of the mites into the water supply.

Don’t Take Anything Except Dry Clothes When You Leave

If you’re already treating the environment in your home, there’s little risk of re-infecting it. You can, however, bring scabies back to your home with you in your clothes. To prevent this, don’t bring anything you’ve handled at work or at a friend’s house into your own home. This could potentially contaminate bedding, furniture, and other surfaces. The scabies mites are particularly likely to be found in areas where humans spend the most time, such as: – On bedding, especially sheets – On carpets – On bed frames, headboards and footboards – At the base of walls – In shoes and other footwear

Sneakers are an Effective Barrier Between You and Mites

While using a strong anti-itch shampoo or soap to clean the affected areas is critical for treating scabies, it may not be enough to kill all the mites that lurk there. Possible solutions to this problem include spraying your shoes with a pesticide and/or submerging your shoes in a tub of uncooked rice. Both of these methods are effective at keeping the scabies mites out of your shoes. You may also want to consider wearing shoes without fabric uppers or donning disposable shoe covers.

Wrapping in Towels is a Secure Barrier to Keep Mites Out

If using shoes or a tub of uncooked rice to prevent scabies mites from entering your home isn’t enough, you may want to consider using a scabies barrier, such as scabies-resistant towels or scabies-resistant bed linens. These products are designed to be impregnated with a chemical that kills scabies mites on contact. Place a scabies barrier in your bed or other places where you spend a lot of time, such as: – Mattress seams – Furniture joints – Cracks in walls, floors and ceilings – Walls and floors – Carpets and other textiles – Pet bowls, beds and toys – Clothing, such as pillows, comforters, or carpets – Other sources of infestation, such as siblings’ bed or child’s school clothes

Conclusion

Scabies is a severe and highly contagious skin infection caused by microscopic mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites burrow into the skin and lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, thousands of additional young scabies mites invade the host’s skin to feed on blood. These microscopic parasites live in clothing and other textiles, carpets, mattress pads, pet beds, or any other surface that comes into contact with humans. Other common places Scabies may hide include attics and walls beneath baseboards and cracks in flooring. Once they invade your home, these mites quickly spread to nearby people who share beds or living spaces with the infested individual. There are a few ways to get rid of scabies at home