WHAT IS SCABIES?
Scabies is a skin disease caused by microscopic eight-legged mites, scientifically known as sarcoptes scabiei. In this disease, the females of the scabies lay their eggs in the outer layers of the skin. This causes an allergic reaction on the skin, severe itching and rash. The disease, which causes itching more intensely at night, leads to rash and scar formation if not treated. It increases especially in autumn and winter and is highly contagious.
Scabies can occur in anyone, regardless of personal hygiene. Around 130 million cases of scabies are observed in the world at any one time. The mode of transmission of the disease can be by skin contact, as well as common bedding, sheets, towels and clothes can carry the disease. The reason for this is that the mite can live for 1-2 days outside the human body. (The mange mite, which is transmitted from animal to human, cannot penetrate the skin and dies in a short time.) Prison inmates, people in need of institutional care, people living in crowded conditions, people in care facilities for children or the elderly, children in kindergartens are among the groups at highest risk of contracting scabies.
3 types of scabies:
Typical Scabies: The most common type. It causes an itchy rash on the hands, wrists, and other common spots.
Nodular Scabies: This type of scabies can develop as itchy, raised bumps or lumps, especially in the genitals, armpits, or groin.
Shelled Scabies: Also known as Norwegian scabies. It is a more severe and highly contagious scabies. People with shelled scabies develop skin crusts that are thick, gray, and easy to break apart when touched, containing thousands of mites and eggs. Shelled scabies usually develops in people with weakened immune systems. Shelled scabies spreads in the same way as regular scabies.
WHY DOES SCABIES DISEASE OCCUR?
Scabies is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei von hominis, known as the mange beetle. These tiny, eight-legged mites are so tiny you can't see them on your skin, but you can feel their effects. The mites settle on the top layer of your skin to live and feed. Female mites lay eggs. Your skin reacts to the mites and their waste, and you develop a red, itchy rash.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SCABIES?
Scabies mites are most commonly found between the fingers, in the folds of the wrists, elbows or knees, around the waist or belly, on the breasts or genitals, and for very young children and the elderly mostly on the head, neck, face, palms and soles of feet. The first reaction of the skin to scabies takes 4-6 weeks. First symptoms:
PREVENTING SCABIES DISEASE
The best way to prevent getting scabies is to avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with a person known to have scabies. It is also best to avoid unwashed clothing, towels or bedding used by someone infected with scabies.
The most effective way to prevent scabies is to avoid direct skin contact with the person who has scabies. Bed linen, towels and clothes of the person infected with scabies should not be used without washing them with at least 60°C hot water. These should then be ironed on high heat. Surfaces thought to have scabies mites can be cleaned with bleach and hot water.
HOW TO HEAL SCABIES DISEASE?
Scabies does not heal on its own, because scabies mites do not leave the body on their own.
Treatment for scabies usually includes prescription ointments, creams, and lotions that can be applied directly to the skin. Oral medications are also available. The most common treatment is to apply a cream or lotion from the neck down to the entire body. This cream or lotion is left on the body for 8 - 14 hours and then washed off. Depending on the drug used, the treatment lasts up to three days.
Even if the drugs used in the treatment of scabies kill the scabies mites and their eggs immediately and neutralize them, they cannot immediately relieve the itching. This is the result of an ongoing allergic reaction in the skin. It is necessary to use creams for itching only with the approval of the doctor. In addition, under the supervision of a doctor, tea tree oil and aloe vera creams can also be used to relieve itching.
Since it takes 4-6 weeks for the symptoms of the disease to appear, it is recommended that all family members apply the treatment.
A Natural Supplement: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants’ Oils
Many people in the world are now turning to herbal oil because of the side effects of drugs. You can use herbal oils to help relieve the symptoms of scabies.
Usage Suggestion
Topical Application: You can use aloe vera gel alone or essential oils by diluting individually or in mixture with carrier oils in appropriate proportion for relief of scabies symptoms.
You can drop 2 - 3 drops of essential oil into 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of fixed oil and mix them. Before going to bed at night, you can spray a sufficient amount of oil on your body and apply it by massaging with circular movements. As a carrier oil, you can use oils such as grape seed oil, olive oil or jojoba oil, which both show antiseptic properties and help protect the skin by providing intense moisturizing.
We recommended that you consult your doctor before using these herbal oils.
Consulting Your Doctor
In the presence of the following symptoms, a doctor should be consulted:
ACADEMIC STUDIES
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