Our skin is
first line of defense which covers and protects the underlying layers from
germs and infections. However, sometimes it can get infected by them.
A person
constantly scratching his body might get despised by everyone around. A pretty
little girl who has itchy rashes might be avoided by friends and left to play
alone. Scabies is a skin disease, but can affect all spheres of your life. The
itching might prevent a person from doing his office work or prevent a woman
from taking good care of her family. The itching might present them from
enjoying pleasures of social bonding as people around them start to avoid them
in fear of contracting the infection. In some people, the problems might be
severe enough to cause depression and isolation from friends and family.
When the
skin is infected, it may no longer serve to protect us, and can become a portal
of entry for other microorganisms. In addition, many skin disorders manifest as
itching which becomes a nuisance and may interfere with daily activities of a
person.
What is Scabies?
It is a skin
condition caused by the parasite or mite called sarcoptes scabies. It is a common
condition and can affect anyone. The mites
form burrows in the skin and lay eggs which hatch and come out of the burrows
and spread to the new host during physical contact. They can survive
indefinitely in the absence of proper treatment. The mite spreads easily with
skin contact which is common in crowded areas. Sharing clothes and bedding may also
spread the infection.
Causes of scabies
Scabies is a
contagious disease. The mites cannot jump or fly and can spread only with
prolonged skin contact with the infected person. The common causes of scabies
and its spread include the following:
- People living in crowded places tend to contract and spread the disease.
- People who do not pay attention to personal hygiene may have high risk of infestation.
- The mites are easily transferred during sexual intercourse.
- Sharing clothes and bedding may spread the infection but the chances are less.
- Scabies spread to humans from animals may cause only temporary skin reactions. This is because each species of the mites prefer a specific host and cannot survive for a long time in the other hosts.
The mites
can survive outside the host for 24-36 hours and hence it is very easy for them
to spread. Scabies is commonly regarded as a condition which is prevalent in
people with poor living habits and lack of personal hygiene. However, there is
no data in support of this assumption.
Symptoms of scabies
Scabies
symptoms are due to the allergic reactions to the mite. It may take nearly 4-6
weeks to develop symptoms if you are infected with the mites for the first time
as the body needs time to react to the substances released by the mites.
However, symptoms develop within 1-2 days during the further infections. This
is due to the learned immune response. Remedies such as cold compress,
antihistamines and calamine lotion can help to relieve the symptoms.
Rashes and
intense itching are the main symptoms of scabies.
Itching: It is a
tingling sensation or irritation that may lead to scratching. Itching worsens
especially during night time due to the warmth of the skin.
Rashes: An area of
swollen or irritated skin is called as a rash. The scabies rash appears in the
form of small red spots and is irritating. Scratching these rashes may lead to
blisters or patches on the raw skin or crusty sores may develop.
Rashes are
usually found all over the body apart from the head. The most common sites
which can get affected include underarms, inside elbows, shoulder blades,
groins, waist region, lower buttocks, knees, lower legs, soles of the feet,
genital areas, and around the ankles. However, young children, older people and
those with a compromised immune system can develop rashes on the head and neck.
In men, one or more itchy, lumpy spots of 3-10 mm diameter can develop on the
skin of penis and scrotum.
Burrows: The mites
form irregular, thin burrows and rest in them. This burrowing action can cause
blisters and itchy bumps. They appear more commonly in the folded skin, palms
and soles, wrist and elbow, around nipples in women and around genitals in men.
Infants may
develop blisters and pustules (blisters with pus) on the soles and feet.
Diagnosis
Scabies is
diagnosed by the doctor by looking at the skin rashes and burrows in the skin.
The mites and their eggs are very small in size and may require microscopic
examination.
Precautions
- Wash the clothes and bed sheets used by the infected person in hot water and dry them thoroughly
- Cut your nails regularly and clean under them to remove the mites or eggs
- Avoid scratching and maintain the sores clean
Treating Scabies with Tetmosol Soap
Tetmosol is
a Grade 1 medicated soap used for the treatment and prevention of scabies and
the related skin problems such as itching, rashes, and redness of the skin.
In an
experiment conducted by Dr. Mellanby and his colleagues, the incidence of
scabies in a closed community of 400 persons was observed over a period of 31
weeks, during the last 13 of which 5 % Tetmosol soap was substituted for
ordinary toilet soap.
During the
18 weeks in which ordinary soap was used the incidence of scabies rose from 16
cases (4%) to 37 (9.2%) and 21 new cases of scabies were recorded. At the end
of this period 5% Tetmosol soap was substituted for ordinary soap, and during
the remaining 13 weeks of observation the incidence of scabies fell from 37
cases (9.2%) to 2 (0.5%) and only one new case occurred. This case appeared
during the first six weeks, no new case occurring during the last seven weeks of
using the impregnated soap.
No cases of
dermatitis were recorded among the 400 persons using 5 % Tetmosol soap for 13
weeks. It is concluded that 5°% Tetmosol soap acts as a prophylactic and
curative agent against scabies and is an effective means of controlling the
disease in an infected community.
How to use the soap?
Wet your
body with lukewarm water and apply the soap all over the body. Pay attention to
especially apply the soap on folds of the skin. Lather liberally and rinse with
lukewarm water. After bathing, dry your skin either naturally or with a towel
by ‘blotting’ action.
The soap is
for external application only and is ideal for both adults and children.
The soap can
be used on the entire body including the scalp. It has a mild aroma to keep
your skin fresh and can be used as regular bath soap every day. Its use can be
continued even after the skin infection is cured, as a preventive measure. The
soap is unlikely to cause adverse effects with prolonged or over application.
