Scabies

Scabies is a contagious, itchy skin disease caused by a tick bite. The most common sign of scabies is severe scratching where the mites have made their burrows. Scabies is caused by an eight-legged female mite. The female mite burrows just under the skin and makes a tunnel where it lays eggs. Scabies can be treated by applying medication from the neck down and leaving it on for eight hours, which will kill the mites and their eggs. Oral medications are another option for killing the mites. Maintaining hygiene and cleanliness can prevent scabies. Permethrin cream and malathion lotion are the two most popular treatments for scabies. Both drugs include insecticides in them that eliminate the scabies mite.