General Scabies Prevention

Scabies can be a difficult condition to prevent. Contracting scabies does not mean that an individual is dirty or unhygienic. Practicing good hygiene will not necessarily help a person prevent scabies. The only way to prevent this condition is to avoid skin to skin contact with an infected individual. It is also important to avoid touching objects handled by infected individuals, since mites can live outside of a host for 24 to 36 hours. People that are frequently exposed to infected individuals are at the highest risk for contracting scabies.

If there is a known scabies outbreak, it is best for individuals to avoid the area until the situation is under control. On the other hand, if a person knows that they are infected with scabies, they should isolate themselves from others. This is the best way to prevent the condition from spreading.

Unfortunately, one of the reasons that scabies is so difficult to prevent is because scabies infections take a long time to present themselves. Most people don’t even begin to show symptoms until they have been infected for four to six weeks. By this time, they may have already spread the infection to family members, romantic partners, friends, and coworkers.

How to Prevent Further Scabies Infestation

If a person or family member becomes infected with scabies, they must take certain steps to avoid reinfection. When a person contracts scabies, the females will burrow into their skin and lay eggs. These eggs take three to 10 days to hatch. Once they hatch, they come to the surface of the skin, molt, and then live as an adult for three to four weeks. As long as a person is infected, they may be transferring scabies onto everything they touch.

To prevent reinfection, patients must avoid prolonged contact with other individuals until they have received treatment. Scabies can also be contracted through sexual contact, similar to a sexually transmitted disease. Latex condoms may not always prevent scabies from spreading, so it’s best to avoid sexual activity. If physical contact is unavoidable, uninfected individuals should carefully wash their hands and any exposed skin after contact.

Because scabies symptoms take so long to present themselves, all people close to the infected individual should be treated for scabies whether they are currently showing symptoms or not. It is also important to clean all items that an infected person has touched. Their clothes, bed linens, towels, furniture, hair accessories, and brushes should be cleaned. To starve the mites, place these belongings in plastic bags for a few days. Keeping the mites from finding a host will ensure that they are eliminated. Following these directions is the best way to prevent and control a scabies infestation.