Scabies

What Is Scabies?

Scabies is a contagious skin infection caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. You get it through close contact—including sexual contact—with someone who has scabies. It causes intense itching and a rash, but it's not serious and it's easily treatable. Within a few days of proper treatment, you'll feel a lot better.

How Do You Get It?

Scabies spreads through skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. The mites burrow into the outer layer of skin and lay eggs, causing itching. You can also get it from sleeping in the same bedding or sharing clothes with someone who has it, though sexual contact is the most common route for adults.

Symptoms

• Intense itching, especially at night and in warm areas
• Rash with small red bumps or burrows (look like tiny lines on the skin)
• Itching typically starts 2-6 weeks after infection (or sooner if you've had scabies before)
• The rash often appears on hands, wrists, elbows, and between fingers
• In adults, it can also affect the genitals, buttocks, and other areas
• Secondary skin infection from scratching is common

Testing & Diagnosis

A doctor will diagnose scabies by examining your skin and looking for the characteristic burrows. They might take a skin scraping to confirm the mites under a microscope, but visual inspection is usually enough.

Irish clinics offering diagnosis:

• Your GP (free)
• Sexual Health Clinics (free on the HSE)
• Dermatology services (for more complex cases)

Treatment

Scabies is treated with a topical cream or lotion (usually permethrin) that you apply to your whole body. It's available on prescription or sometimes over-the-counter at Irish pharmacies.

How treatment works:

• Apply the cream to your entire body from the neck down (including between toes, fingers, and genitals)
• Leave it on for 8-14 hours (usually overnight)
• Wash it off
• Repeat after 7-14 days to catch any newly hatched mites
• Wash all bedding, clothes, and towels in hot water

Itching can take 2-4 weeks to stop even after successful treatment, but the mites are gone in days. Sexual partners should also be treated at the same time.

Prevention

• Regular sexual health checks if you're sexually active
• Communication with partners about any skin symptoms
• Wash bedding and clothes regularly in hot water
• Avoid sharing bedding or clothing with others

Support & Resources

Scabies is common and nothing to be embarrassed about. Irish sexual health clinics and GPs are very used to treating it. They can give you clear instructions and make sure you get the right treatment. If you're worried about telling a partner, many clinics can help you with partner notification.