Scabies, or the 7 year itch as it's known colloquially, is a very infectious skin ailment that's really itchy. It's the result of a mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei, a really tiny and almost invisible parasite with eight legs, which digs into a person's skin and creates acute allergic itching. Tiny female mites feed on us, with the males being even smaller.

The mites can be visible with the use of magnifying glass or microscope. The mites we are talking about can survive quite nicely in 20 C, however, they are not able to actually move around. They also cannot fly or jump, thus, they just crawl. This crawling can be really disconcerting and painful sometimes, as they would feed on the blood and flesh of the host to be able to lay eggs.

Scabies can be transmitted through a skin-to-skin contact. However, it would need a very close person-to-person interaction; therefore, scabies cannot be transmitted through shaking hands or hanging ones coat next to a coat that has an infected owner. Sexual physical contact could transmit the disease. Because scabies is commonly found among sexually active youths, it is usually thought of as a sexually transmitted disease.

Scabies are found in various places. Not only can they be found in areas easily seen by others like the wrists, back of elbows, knees, and feet, but they can also be found between fingers, on waists, in armpit folds, around nipples, on buttocks, and in the genital area. Scabies may appear on the face, neck, palms, and head, in infants and young children. These mites can interfere with one's daily activities, thus, it is important to get it treated as soon as possible.

The use of scabicide drugs is the most convenient method for scabies treatment. Permethrin and ivermectin are used for the treatment of scabies. One of the most efficient scabies treatments is Permethrin, which is applied from the neck down and washed off after 8 to 14 hours. Ivermectin, an oral anti-parasitic medication, is recommended to treat crusted scabies.

Other scabies treatments include lindane, crotamiton, sulfur preparations and antihistamines. Lindane is like permethrin, which is applied in the same manner, however, it can cause seizure if it is applied in a very irritated or wet skin. Although you can treat scabies in the most traditional way by using a cream ( sulfur mixed in petrolatum ), try using cortamiton, because it is both a lotion and a cream. On the contrary, antihistamines are used to just relieve the person from itching.

Scabies treatments would be ineffective if only one person is treated, as every infected person in the community should be treated to avoid re-infection. Disinfect household items such as linens, bed clothes, furniture, clothing, rugs, etc. as these mites do not live long away from humans.