Just take a deep breath.

There are some steps you’ve got the option to take to help prevent scabies.

Obviously, this isn’t always feasible.

How Scabies Affects the Skin

Verywell / Emily Roberts

You may not know if someone has scabies.

Scabies passes quickly throughout places where there are lots of people living in close physical contact with one another.

Daycare centers and schools are other places where scabies can thrive.

scabies causes

Illustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018.

Minimizing the number of sexual partners you have can reduce your risk.

Also, avoid having sex with your partner if they have an undiagnosed rash.

This may be the case if your sexual partner has just been diagnosed with scabies.

Doctor Discussion Guide Man

Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

Just watch for scabies symptoms.

Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

It also helps protect you from possibly being reinfected by the same people initially infected by you.

This makes it even more important that you start on prophylactic treatment.

Do the best you’re able to in any case.

Dry on the hottest setting the article can stand.

This will kill any mites that might be lingering in the bedding or clothes.

Let the bag sit unopened for a week.

It’s safe to use again after.

If you have any questions about yourscabiestreatments, ask your healthcare provider.

If one person in a household has scabies, everyone living there should getbe treatedwhether they havesymptomsor not.

Any items potentially exposed should be machine washed and dried.

This involves using scabicidal lotions and creams and/or oral antiparasitics likeivermectinavailable by prescription only.

There are no over-the-counter products approved to treat scabies.

Start by thoroughly vacuuming mattresses and other soft furnishings, paying close attention to seams and crevasses.

Repeat this for the next three days.

Permethrin sprays used totreat bedbugsmay also help.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of scabies.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing scabies.

Ong C, Vasanwala F.Infected with scabies again?

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005920

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical care of scabies.