Scabies: how to get rid of highly contagious skin infection that causes 'intense itchy rash'
Cases of scabies are on the rise 🏥
- Scabies is a highly contagious skin infection that causes an itchy rash.
- There has been a significant increase in cases in the last three years.
- These are the steps you need to take to get rid of scabies.
Cases of a highly contagious skin infection are on the rise across the UK, with the latest data from the Royal College of General Practitioners finding that scabies infection rates exceeded the five-year average.
Recent reports have also revealed that by the second week of January 2026, just under 900 cases of scabies were reported by GP surgeries across England, which is almost 20% higher than the same period last year.
Scabies is a highly infectious skin disease that can spread easily through close skin contact, causing widespread infections amongst nurseries, university halls or nursing homes.
Once an infection has been established, it can quickly take hold, with the red skin rash associated with scabies taking up to eight weeks to materialise. Here is everything you need to know about how to get rid of scabies and stop it from spreading if you catch the infection.
What is scabies?
Scabies is a highly contagious skin infection caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, which burrows into the skin and causes intense itching and rashes. Often thought of as a disease of the Victorian era, cases have been increasing across the UK, with the infection spreading easily through close skin contact, including sexual contact.
What are the symptoms of scabies?
A sign of scabies is a red, bumpy rash accompanied by a series of lines, which happens when the mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. It usually starts between the fingers, before spreading across the body, forming an itchy, red rash.
Crusted scabies is a severe form of the infection, which can be caused by delayed treatment or a weakened immune system. The symptoms are a crusted, flaky rash that often affects the elbows, knees, hands and feet.
How to get rid of scabies?
Scabies will not go away on its own and will need to be treated by a medical professional. Once an infection has been established, it can quickly take hold, affecting people throughout households, nurseries, university halls or nursing homes.
The first step to take if you suspect you have scabies is to see your pharmacist or GP, who can prescribe lotions or creams to kill the scabies mite. The treatment will need to be repeated a week later and even after you have killed the mites, the itchy symptoms can still persist for a few weeks.
Everyone in your household, or who you have had sexual contact with in the last eight weeks, will also need to be treated, even if they are not presenting with symptoms, as it can take up to eight weeks for the scabies rash to appear.
To avoid infecting others or reinfecting yourself, avoid close contact with people for up to 24 hours after you have started treatment, wash clothing, towels and bed linen at 60C or higher and seal any clothes that cannot be washed in a bag for three days to kill the mites.
Scabies can be notoriously hard to get rid of, and even with treatment, infections can recur. If you continue to experience symptoms, seek advice from a medical professional.
Scabies is a highly contagious skin infection. You can find out more about what it looks like and how to access treatment at NHS.UK.