Scabies is a severe itchy and contagious skin disease. It is a parasitic infestation of the skin caused by a tiny female itch-burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei, variety hominis. Both males and females are equally affected. Its predominant feature is severe and continuous itching. The presence of the mite leads to intense itching in the area of its burrows. The urge to scratch may be especially strong at night. 

Scabies is not an infection, but an infestation because the tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei set up shop in the outer layers of human skin. The skin does not take invasion as the mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin, the infestation leads to relentless itching and an angry rash. In its early stages, scabies may be mistaken for acne, mosquito bites, and scabies because of their similar looks. What sets scabies apart is the relentless itch, which is usually most severe in children and the elderly.

What are the causes of scabies?

Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact. Hand Shake may not spread this disease but sexual contacts, hugging for few moments can spread this disease from a person to other. Such long contacts cause the spread of 10-15 mites, which make a burrow in the patient’s skin to lay eggs. The eggs hatch within 3-10 days. Symptoms start to appear after 2-6 weeks of infection. It is important to remember that you can still spread scabies even if you do not have any signs or symptoms yet

 

Scabies signs and symptoms include:

·         Vesicular or pustular eruptions with thin, irregular burrow tracks made up of tiny blisters or red bumps on your skin

·         Itching, often severe and usually worse at night (nocturnal itching)

·         Continuous scratching of itchy areas leads to worsening of skin patches. This further exposes the skin to other infections and diseases called secondary infection

·         It spreads by body contact. And polluted and contaminated environment worsen this condition

·         Usually the lesions begin with serious blisters. Gradually multiple blisters are converted into pus filled blisters in a time period of 10-12 days. Later itching will be worsened by self-itching

What are the common sites of scabies?

Scabies commonly affect the burrows or tracks typically appear in folds of your skin like between finger, armpits, around waist, along the insides of wrists, on your elbow, on the soles of your feet, around breasts, buttock folds, thighs, ankle, axillary area, on knees, around male genitals and scrotum.

In infants and young children, common sites of infestation include the scalp, face, neck, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet.

What are the types of scabies?

Depending upon the features, it is classified into dry scabies, pustular scabies.

Dry scabies – commonly found in the anal orifice, over the scrotal skin and over the nipple.

Pustular scabies – start in the finger webs and later spreads to other skin folds. Pus is also filled in the blisters gradually.

What are the treatments in Ayurveda for scabies?

In Ayurveda, scabies is called Puma, which is caused due to aggravation of Kapha in association with indigestion, and Pitta. The main aim of treatment will be a) to purify the blood and bring out the toxins from the blood stream. b) Locally to pacify the symptoms like itching and blisters.

1)Application of Mahamaicha Taila id effective in dry scabies. 2) Dusting of Tankana Bhasma powder shows significant results in pustular scabies. 3) Sindooradya Malahara, Gandhakadya Malahara, and Jasadamruta Malahara are effective against both types of scabies. For severe scabies, Rasottamadi Lepa is beneficial but should be avoided in the patients who have bleeding lesions near to scabies marks. 4) Neem capsules is good for any kind of skin ailments and infections. 5) Gandhak Rasayana is given to maintaining the moisture of the skin and removing the dead skin. 6) Manjistha capsules act as a blood purifier, promote early wound healing, treat calcium deficiency and many more uses are there

What are the best Homeopathic remedies for scabies?

--Arsenic album best for eruptions in the bends of knees, pustulous eruptions, burning and itching.

--Hepar Sulph is geven for fat pustulous and crusty itchy eruptions and used in case of suppressed skin eruptions from mercury.

--Mercurious is recommended for eruptions in the bends of elbow due to offensive sweat and discharges with profuse sweating.

--Suphuric acid used for single pustules appear every spring after an imperfect cured scabies.

--Sulphur is the main remedy for scabies with voluptuous itching, burning and soreness after scratching.

--Causticum is used to cure yellow colored eruptions, and sensitiveness to the cold air.

--Carbo veg is the best remedy for eruptions dry almost all over the body, itching worsen when undressing or associated with bloating abdomen and belching.

What are the other important tips to prevent scabies spreading?

1) Be away from the affected person. 2) Maintain the personal hygiene by washing affected person’s clothes, bed linen, towels separately and dry properly in sunshine. They should be boiled and changed frequently. 3) Sweet and sour taste foods have to be avoided. Similarly milk, yoghurt, pickles are not recommended. 4) Avoid itching to prevent worsening of the condition and to prevent spreading infection. 5) Mustard oil and sesame oil are good for application. 6) While bathing put few leaves of neem in the hot water.