As mites burrow into the skin, the skin reacts with bumps.

On lighter skin, scabies lesions can appear pink or red.

On darker skin, scabies can appear differently.

A Black man scratching his arm

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On darker skin, there can also be inflammation and redness, with colors ranging from pink to violet.

However, rashes on darker skin most often appear skin-colored or only slightly lighter.

This can make closer examination necessary.

Scabies Symptoms

For new infections, scabies symptoms can take a month to six weeks to appear.

For people who’ve had scabies before, symptoms can appear in a day or two.

Scabies: Who’s At Risk?

Anyone who lives or works in crowded spaces is at a higher risk of scabies.

Scabies is not related to cleanliness, and it can even be present in hospitals and care facilities.

The cream is usually applied to cool, dry skin all over the body, except the head.

Scabies is not related to cleanliness.

Rashes on paler areas, like palms or inner arms, are often darker than the surrounding skin.

Scabies rash can be misdiagnosed as rosacea, contact dermatitis, bullous pemphigoid, or eczema.

Scabies can also be mistaken for an allergic rash or hives.

Scabies lesions can be mistaken for bites from bedbugs, fleas, and midges.

Permethrin cream 5% is the most common treatment for scabies.

The cream kills mites and eggs immediately.

Scabies usually starts between the fingers.

It can also appear around the navel.

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American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: diagnosis and treatment.

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MyHealth.Alberta.ca.Scabies: care instructions.

Walton SF, Currie BJ.Problems in diagnosing scabies, a global disease in human and animal populations.Clin Microbiol Rev.

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