Quick Answer

Scabies is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei mites burrowing into skin. It spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and is treatable with permethrin cream or oral ivermectin. Itching is intense and worsens at night.

  • Mite infestation, not bacterial or viral
  • Transmission: prolonged skin-to-skin contact
  • Treatment: permethrin 5% cream or ivermectin
  • Laundering: bedding and clothing must be washed on hot cycle

Context Most Pages Skip

Scabies is the "itching that gets worse at night" infestation. It is not an STI in the traditional sense but spreads through the close contact of sexual activity.

Key Facts

Treatment requires applying permethrin cream from neck to toes, leaving it on for 8-14 hours, and repeating 1 week later. All household contacts and recent sexual partners must be treated simultaneously. Bedding, clothing, and towels must be washed in hot water.

⚕️ This page is educational and does not replace advice from a licensed clinician. If you may have been exposed to an STI, get tested — most infections are manageable, and many are fully curable.

Sources & Further Reading

Figures reflect CDC surveillance and WHO estimates; they are population statistics, not personal risk predictions.