What Is Scabies?
Scabies, a highly contagious skin infection, can happen to anyone at any age. Once your skin encounters the scabies mite (sarcoptic scabiei), it will dig into the upper layer of your skin and cause an itchy rash that looks like a tunnel under your skin. With the help of an experienced dermatologist, like our doctors at Snyder Dermatology in Austin, TX, you can successfully treat the skin with prescription-strength creams to eliminate the problem. If not treated, this parasitic arthropod will feed off your skin, lay eggs, burrow its way in lines across the infested area, and continue to spread. If you think you or someone in your household may have scabies, call today and schedule an appointment for testing.
What Causes Scabies?
Scabies is not an illness with a cause. The mites that crawl their way into your skin need a human host. It is how they survive. A case of scabies does not mean you are dirty or do not take proper care of your children’s hygiene. It is unfortunate when a person encounters this mite, but scabies are treatable.
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Have questions or want to schedule an appointment? Contact us today to speak with a member of the Snyder Dermatology team. We’re here to address your concerns with compassionate and effective care.
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Dr. Parker has been my dermatologist for years, and she is terrific. She saw my 14-year-old for the first time yesterday yesterday, and was very thorough, knowledgeable, and kind. She guided her through a skin care routine, and gave her lots of tips about keeping her skin fresh. We feel so lucky to know Dr. Parker.
-Sarah K.
“Dr. Rene Snyder is saving me from skin cancer. Over the years she has found numerous precancer spots on me, each time treating them with great care and minimal discomfort. And she offers a wide range of cosmetic treatments so I can age gracefully. I’m a lifelong fan.”
-Kim S.
Having been a patient of Snyder Dermatology for over 10 years, they have consistently demonstrated professionalism, courtesy, and sensitivity to patient needs and concerns. Their staff and Dermatologists are highly trained and the best in the Healthcare industry. I wholeheartedly recommend them.
-Jim B.
Board-Certified Dermatologists
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Snyder Dermatology is the premier practice for medical and cosmetic dermatology in Austin, TX. Centrally located, our dynamic team of board certified dermatologists focus on providing patients with the most advanced medical care and treatment options. Our practice is distinguished by our compassion, our desire to fully understand our patients’ needs, and our commitment to being good stewards in the communities where we live and work.
Symptoms of Scabies
The first noticeable symptom of scabies is the undeniable itchy rash that comes with having mites under your skin. Scabies can also:
- Appear on the hands, feet, face, and neck of infants and small children. While adults commonly have scabies in clusters in the armpits, on the stomach, around the nipples and areolar complex, arms, between the fingers and toes, feet, knees, thighs, buttocks, and even the genitals (it can be sexually transmitted).
- Looks like a normal rash with bumps and blisters but will start to look like tunnels under your skin.
- Be painfully itchy.
How to Treat Scabies
To diagnose scabies, your doctor may take a skin sample of the infected area to look under a microscope if it is not clear that what you have is indeed scabies. Once it is confirmed, your dermatologist can prescribe a prescription strength cream to eliminate these microscopic mites in your skin. Once you apply the scabies cream, you may still feel like the mites are crawling under your skin, which is normal. A second treatment may be needed if your scabies case is severe. Another crucial component of treating scabies is preventing the spread to other family members and preventing future outbreaks. The following information can help keep your family and your future self protected from scabies.
Preventing the Spread of Scabies
You can try to prevent the spread of the infestation in your household by deep cleaning all linens, clothing, towels, plush toys, coats, and anywhere a mite may survive in your home. Safeguarding your home from mites is much like the process you would implement if your family had head lice. The mites must have a host to live, and if you cannot eliminate the infestation with hot water in the washing machine, you can bag up items and not use them for a couple of weeks so that the microscopic insects starve to death.
Also, do not allow anyone in your household who is infected to share clothing, towels, bedding, or anything that touches the skin. Children love to share toys, blankets, and clothes, but it could also mean a transfer of the bug to the other children in the home. Be diligent and persistent with household cleaning, or the mites may infest your home repeatedly.
Schedule a Consultation
Diagnosing and treating scabies are very important to your skin’s health. We can help. At Snyder Dermatology in Austin, TX, we offer our services to patients of all ages. The burrowing mites involved in a scabies infection do not discriminate and can be nearly impossible to treat at home without the help of a primary care physician or a dermatologist’s intervention. Call and schedule an appointment today with one of our board-certified dermatologists for your scabies treatment.