Scabies, colloquially called the 7 year itch, is an easily transmitted, itchy skin condition. It's from a mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei, a really tiny and almost invisible parasite with eight legs, which digs in one's skin and results in extreme allergic itching. It is the female mites which infest us; they are often 0,3 mm to 0,4 mm long and the males are roughly half their length.

The mites can be visible with the use of magnifying glass or microscope. These mites cannot move in places with temperature that is below 20 degrees C despite the capacity to survive for a long period in the said temperature. They crawl, since that are unable to jump or fly. 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 is something that can be passed on to another person through skin on skin contact. Scabies is spread, though, via really close contact between persons, so it can't be contracted by hanging one's jacket next to one belonging to someone with scabies, or by simply shaking hands. One form of skin-to-skin contact that could transmit the disease is through sexual physical contact. Scabies, another sexually transmitted disease, is common among young people who are sexually active.

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.

A convenient method of scabies treatment is scabicide drugs. Permethrin and ivermectin are used to treat scabies. Permethrin is said to be the most efficient scabies treatment; it is applied from the neck down and washed off after 8 to 14 hours. On the other hand, ivermectin is an oral anti-parasitic medication that is the recommendable treatment for 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. Cortamiton, on the other hand, is both a lotion and cream while sulfur prepared in petrolatum is used as a cream and is known to be the most traditional form of scabies treatment. Antihistamines just relieves the itching.

Every infected person in the community should be treated to avoid re-infection - scabies home treatment would be ineffective if only one person is treated. Disinfect household items such as linens, bed clothes, furniture, clothing, rugs, etc. as the mites die quickly without human hosts.