CONSULTANT LED SUPPORT
Our Mission
At ITCH, we are a dedicated team led by a Consultant Dermatologist and Psychiatrist providing a unique support pathway to help sufferers navigate the physical, psychological and social impact of Scabies.
Our ambition is to raise awareness and provide easy access to diagnosis, treatment and support. We want to remove the stigma of Scabies by promoting open conversations, and challenging negative assumptions and language associated with the infection.
SCABIES
What is Scabies
Scabies, a highly contagious skin infection caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, characterised by intense itching and a rash that commonly appears in folds of the skin, such as between the fingers, under armpits or in the groin area. The Itch is usually worse at night or after a hot shower when the skin is warm.
Prevalence
In the UK there has been a notable rise in Scabies, particularly in England, with increasing outbreaks reported amongst student populations. Due to stigmatisation sufferers often fail to seek diagnosis and early treatment. Scabies anxiety is real and it’s common to feel stressed or worried about spreading it to others. The social stigma surrounding it and the common misconception that scabies is linked to poor hygiene can weigh heavily on those affected.
Transmission
Typically through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and sharing contaminated bedding, towels, clothes and soft furnishings. Once you have been exposed to the mite and it has been transmitted, it can take between two to eight weeks for symptoms to present. If you’ve been diagnosed with scabies, your partner and anyone else in your household should also be treated for the condition (even if they’re not presenting symptoms) as the infection may have been transmitted to them through close bodily contact or through sharing towels or bed linen.
Diagnosis
Scabies can look like a lot of other rashes, such as eczema, psoriasis or even just dry skin. Hence it is important to have your skin assessed by a GP or Dermatologist. Sometimes burrow marks can be found anywhere on the body. These are short (1cm or less), wavy and silver-coloured lines on the skin. There’s a black dot at one end that can be seen with a magnifying glass.
Treatment
Scabies is not usually a serious condition, but it does need to be assessed and treated by a GP or Dermatologist. The recommended treatment is a cream or lotion generally available over the counter at pharmacies. The cream is normally applied to your whole body (avoiding sensitive areas) and left on for a specified time usually 8-14 hours before washing off. In some cases treatment is repeated again one week later guided by your specialist. The condition can disrupt your daily routine, whether it’s needing to wash everything constantly or avoiding activities that involve close contact. All of this can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that scabies is temporary and treatable. With the right care and support, you’ll get through this.
Psychological and social impact
Scabies can take a toll on your mental wellbeing, often bringing with it feelings of anxiety, embarrassment, shame, or even isolation. The connection between mental health and scabies is important to recognise as these emotions are completely normal and understandable. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or self-conscious – the highly-contagious nature of the condition, the visible rash, the intense itching disrupting daily life, coupled with the perceived stigma can lead to social withdrawal.