Rise in scabies cases across the UK

Doctors report surge in scabies

According to a new report from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), 8 out of the 9 regions across the UK have seen an increase in scabies this year.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) commented on the surge: "Since July, GPs have seen a growing rate of scabies - at a consistently higher level than the five-year average and the seasonal norm. At the end of November, the rate of scabies was double the seasonal average."

The North of England appears to be most affected. Due to the highly contagious nature of scabies, outbreaks in nursing homes, care homes, and university accommodation are more common, where people are closer together.

How to prevent scabies

Scabies is an intensely itchy skin condition caused by tiny insects known as mites, which are almost invisible to the naked eye. It can spread between people through close skin contact.

Therefore, the best way to protect yourself against scabies is to:

• Avoid touching someone who shows the symptoms below.

• Avoid sharing clothes, towels, and bedsheets with them.

• Hot wash your bedding and towels at 50°C or above if they have been used by them.

Anyone can get scabies, so it's important to know the signs so it can be treated and prevented from spreading.

Scabies rash on hand

What to do if you have scabies

If you think you might have scabies:

• It's important to get treatment to help prevent the condition spreading to others.

• Try and avoid skin contact with other people as much as possible.

• Either your pharmacist or GP can diagnose this condition based on how your rash looks.

• Treatment involves a cream or lotion you apply to your skin.

In the UK, the two main treatment creams are called permethrin and malathion. These are usually available in pharmacies and GP surgeries, however the surge in scabies cases comes during a shortage of both medicines.

This is thought to be due to the increase in demand, supply chain issues, a rise in the cost of raw materials, and the war in Ukraine, according to BAD¹.

Currently, the availability of scabies treatment will depend on where you are, so it's important that you try your pharmacist or doctor, instead of suffering this uncomfortable condition and possibly passing it on to others.

If you have problems getting treatment, home remedies like neem, tea tree oil, and clove oil may help ease your itching in the meantime but it won't get rid of the mites.

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Further reading

1. British Association of Dermatologists: UK shortage of scabies medications is a snowballing public health issue, dermatologists warn.