Humans usually clear spontaneously when the source of infestation is removed. Sarcoptes mites are small mites, round in shape. The female is almost double the size of the male. The two pair of anterior legs have nonjointed stalks with suckers while the posterior legs are rudimental and do not extend beyond the body margin. The entire life of the mite is spent on the host and the life cycle is completed in 17-21 days.
Copulation occurs in a molting pocket on the surface of the skin.
The male die soon after copulation, while the female starts burrowing in the skin, feeding on the fluids oozing from the chewed cells. The female deposits eggs within the tunnel. She will live 3-4 weeks and she will lay about 50 eggs in that time. The eggs will hatch in 3-10 days as six legged larvae. The nymphs will then molt into adults.