A really contagious skin issue that lead to itching in a person's skin is known as scabies, also often known as the seven-year itch. It's from a mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei, a really tiny and almost invisible parasite with 8 legs, which makes its way in one's skin and leads to acute allergic itching. Tiny female mites feed on you and me, with their male versions being even tinier.

A magnifying glass or microscope can be used to see the mites. Although mites can survive in temperatures below 20 degrees C, they cannot move in such conditions. They also cannot fly or jump, thus, they just crawl. As they try to lay eggs, they suck the host's blood and flesh, causing a crawling sensation which can be painful and disturbing.

Scabies can be transmitted through a skin-to-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. 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 usually found on the webs between the fingers, wrists, back of the elbows, knees, waist and umbilicus, armpit folds, area surrounding the nipples, feet, genital area, and buttocks. Scabies may appear on the face, neck, palms, and head, in infants and young children. One's daily routine can be inconvenienced with mites so get rid of them quickly.

A convenient method of scabies treatment is scabicide drugs. Permethrin and ivermectin are used for the treatment of 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. Ivermectin, an oral anti-parasitic medication, is recommended to treat crusted scabies.

You can also use lindane, crotamiton, antihistamines, and sulfur preparations to help treat scabies. 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. Antihistamines just relieves the itching.

Every infected person in the community should be treated to avoid re-infection - scabie 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.