What Is Scabies?
2. Causes
Scabies is caused by an infestation of a tiny mite known as sarcoptes scabiei. They are so small that they are barely visible with the naked eye, but their presence is still likely to be made very clear. The mites take up residence in the upper layers of our skin, and they will burrow through our skin from one place to another.
The body’s reaction to this burrowing is what causes the often unbearable itchiness. What’s more is that the females will lay eggs in the skin and, when these hatch, the young will spread out to other parts of the body. Humans can also have reactions to the mites of other animals, but the mite is unlikely to remain for long.
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