Natural Cures For Scabies

If you thought chicken pox was bad, the uncontrollably urge to scratch, especially during the night is one of the unfortunate symptoms associated with the itchy skin condition called scabies. A high degree of discomfort is brought about when the rather small burrowing mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei settles on the skin, creating an intense reaction wherever it chooses to hide. The worst part – scabies is contagious and quickly spreads through close physical contact.

Symptoms

One of the most prominent signs and symptoms dealing with scabies include the itching that often becomes worse during the night. Thin marks consisting of many tiny blisters or bumps form. Typically, the line-like marks are seen within the folds of the skin. While almost every part of the body is not safe from the infestation of scabies, the most common body parts include: the armpits, between fingers, around the waist, along the insides of the wrist, soles of the feet, on the inner elbow, around the male genitals, on the buttocks, on the knees, around the breasts, and on the shoulder blades [1].

Typically, small children and the elderly have the most difficult time dealing with scabies, as they tend to experience the worst bouts of itching. An individual suffering from their first scabies infestation may not encounter itching or skin sores for a couple of weeks. The symptoms associated with a re-infestation of scabies usually surface within a few days [2].

Causes of Scabies

A microscopic mite causes the type of scabies that develops in humans. Without the help of a magnifying glass, sighting these pests is impossible. It is the female mite that burrows into the skin and creates a tunnel where she may lay eggs, which take 21 days to mature. After the eggs hatch, the mites continue to spread about the surface of the skin, where people respond to their presence, additional eggs, and waste through allergic reactions. Close physical contact helps spread scabies from one person to another. Sharing clothes and bedding with an infected person is also another way scabies is contracted.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of scabies comes when a doctor takes a look at the skin and scans for signs of mites. He or she will seatch for the characteristic burrows that come with the condition. If a mite burrow is found, the doctor may scrape the region for further analysis under a microscope. This type of examination will alert a patient as to whether or not they are plagued with the presence of mites or their eggs.

Risk Factors

While scabies is a common skin condition that affects people of all shapes, sizes, and social classes, there are some environmental factors that increase the risk of development. For starters, the spread of scabies quickly passes from one to another in crowded conditions where skin-to-skin contact is frequent.

People working at hospitals, child-care centers, and nursing homes become prime candidates. In a household, family members and sex partners easily contract scabies from one another. Although pets are known to contract a mite infection known as mange, humans cannot become infected with scabies from their companions [3].

Natural Cures for Scabies

Seeking attention for a scabies problem is important because aggressive scratching can lead to more serious problems. This especially occurs when a break in the skin develops, causing a secondary bacterial infection to arise. One possibility involves impetigo, a superficial infection of the skin that may include staph (staphylococci) bacteria or strep (streptococci) bacteria [4]. To combat further complications associated with scabies, you may consider the following natural scabies cures:

a) Witch Hazel and Tea Tree Oil:

Combining 10 ml of tea tree oil and 90 ml of distilled witch hazel can be used as an effective lotion to use after taking a bath or shower [5].

b) Pure Lavender Oil:

Mixing pure lavender oil with alcohol creates a nice natural remedy for scabies when applied to affected areas. It is important to make sure you apply enough of the mixture to penetrate and saturate the skin. Some individuals have found success through killing the mites and their eggs with this method.

c) Neem Oil:

Neem oil is a botanical pesticide fashioned from the extract of a plant called Azadirachta indica. There are many different ways that neem oil is presented as a cure for scabies. 100 ml of pure neem oil can be used for bathing purposes and direct application. Some people have used 150 ml of neem oil to create a bubble bath. 50 grams of neem oil may create an antiseptic cream when paired with turmeric that offers treatment and relief from discomfort. There are also manufacturers that offer a neem oil stick that is applied to sections of the body where broken skin is affected.

d) Cool Water Soaks:

The itching associated with scabies is minimized when soaking in a bath of cool water or applying a cool, wet washcloth to sections of irritated skin.

Scabies Prevention

To prevent the spread of mites from one person to another or avoid a re-infestation, there are a few measures to take into consideration. It is important to clean all clothes and linen associated with an infected person. This process should occur before treatment using hot, soapy water on all clothing, towels, sheets, comforters, and pillowcases. When drying, high heat is recommended. The clothes you cannot wash at home, you should dry-clean offsite.

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