Scabies is caused by a mite and results in a highly contagious skin condition. The scabies mite can live up to a month on the human skin. It also breeds and lays eggs on the skin. These then hatch and the larvae grow and develop into adult mites, which continue to live on the skin. As such scabies can last for several months and can continue even for years. Scabies is characterized by a skin rash that causes severe itching. In some cases the rash may be mild and as such difficult to diagnose. The mite moves from individual to individual when there is close contact. Sharing of clothes or bed linen can allow the mite to transfer from one individual to another.
The scabies mite digs a burrow into the skin which results in an allergic reaction of the skin. Individuals who develop scabies for the first time may display symptoms only about four weeks after the mite infests the skin. In recurring cases, the symptoms may develop in a matter of a few days. The itching that occurs after infestation can become quite severe and can worsen at night. Tiny bites may also be detectable in the skin. These may appear more like lesions or small bumps on the skin. Continued scratching of the affected area may result in redness or sores. Open sores may be vulnerable to further infection if left untreated. The areas of the body that are most likely to get affected are the elbows, genitals, areas between the fingers and under the breasts in women.
Tea tree oil is a very popular and effective remedy for treating scabies the natural way. It has strong antiseptic properties and is beneficial in treating all kinds of skin infections. You may measure twenty drops of tea tree oil and add to warm bath water. Soak in this for about twenty minutes. This is helpful in killing the mites and also for treating the sores on the skin. A paste of dried margosa leaves mixed with mustard oil and a pinch of turmeric powder is also believed to be effective in treating scabies. Another popular remedy for scabies is to take the juice of drumstick leaves and mix with sesame seed oil. This mixture must be boiled till all the water is gone and then cooled and stored. This can then be applied to the affected areas for relief from scabies.