Scabies in San Juan Capistrano, CA

What Is Scabies?

Scabies is caused by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei that burrow into the top layer of the skin to live and lay eggs. Within several weeks of infestation, the body develops an allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste, resulting in severe itching that is often intense enough to keep people awake all night. Scabies is highly contagious and spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, and less commonly through shared bedding, towels, or clothing. It can affect anyone, regardless of age or hygiene, and is common in households, schools, nursing homes, and other close-contact settings.

Symptoms of Scabies

The earliest and most common symptom is itching, especially at night. Other signs include:

• Small red bumps that resemble hives, tiny bites, or pimples
• Thin, wavy, thread-like burrow lines on the skin
• Blisters or sores from scratching
• Crusty or scaly skin in more advanced cases

Mites prefer warm areas and skin folds where clothing fits tightly, including between the fingers, on the wrists and elbows, around the waist and belt line, the buttocks, around the nipples, and the genitals. They also tend to hide under rings, bracelets, and watchbands and beneath the fingernails. In infants and young children, scabies may also appear on the scalp, face, palms, and soles.

If this is your first infestation, symptoms may take two to six weeks to appear, which means you can spread scabies before you know you have it. People who have had scabies before often develop symptoms within a few days of re-exposure.

Scabies Treatment

Scabies is easy and quick to treat with prescription medication. The most common treatment is permethrin 5 percent cream, applied to cool, dry skin over the entire body from the neck down, or head to toe in infants, at bedtime and washed off the next morning after 8 to 14 hours. A second treatment one week later may be recommended, especially for infants with scabies on the palms and soles or if new lesions appear after the first treatment. Oral ivermectin may be prescribed in certain cases. All lesions should heal within about four weeks after treatment.

Preventing Reinfestation

To fully eliminate scabies, follow these important steps:

• Treat all household members and close contacts at the same time, even if they have no symptoms.
• Wash clothing, bedding, and towels used in the past three days in hot water and dry on high heat.
• Seal items that cannot be washed in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours.
• Vacuum furniture and carpets.

Itching After Treatment

Itching often continues for two to four weeks after successful treatment, as the skin recovers from the allergic reaction. This does not necessarily mean treatment failed. Your provider may recommend antihistamines or anti-itch creams for relief. Contact us if new burrows or bumps appear. Learn more about our practice, read our general FAQs, or see why patients choose HK Dermatology.

Scabies can resemble eczema, hives, contact dermatitis and other rashes, psoriasis, and insect bites, so a professional diagnosis is important. Explore our medical dermatology services, browse the full list of conditions we treat, check our insurance information, or visit our new patient page. Parents can find the consent to treat a minor on our patient forms page.

Scabies FAQs

Stop the Itch and Get Back to Normal

Scabies is very treatable with the right care. Call HK Dermatology at (949) 248-1632 or request an appointment online for fast diagnosis and treatment in San Juan Capistrano, CA .