Some people may become allergic or very sensitive to the presence of scabies on the skin and will develop extensive areas of inflamed, reddened, itching skin as a reaction to the insect or its waste products. If an individual has an itching skin irritation on the areas mentioned and tiny reddened dots with surrounding redness or streaks of redness and evidences of scratching, there should be a high level of suspicion for scabies. The rash and itching may not be apparent until as much as a month or six weeks after contracting the mites. There seems to be particularly more itching at night. Some people can be carriers and not know it or show it.
Tiny blisters can occur on scabies areas and when scratched, small infected sores develop.
Although there is a high degree of suspicion for scabies if such skin conditions are present, definite proof of the presence of scabies is based on actually finding and recognizing the parasite. They can be spotted with a hand lens. Once the diagnosis is established, treatment usually consists of an application of a creme or lotion containing the scabies-killing insecticide. Permetherin should be removed by bathing after 8 to 14 hours. One application of permetherin is currative.