Ever find yourself suffering from an itch that scratching just won’t cure? Scratching, ointments, and topical creams just don’t seem to do the trick. You might have found yourself the victim of a scabies-based infection. Let’s look at some of the misconceptions surrounding this irritating condition, as well as a caveat: see your doctor before undertaking any recommended cures.

What causes scabies, you might be asking yourself. Mites are the number one cause for this condition. They are formally called carcoptes scabei, which is where the name “scabies” originates. These little guys are not possible to spot with the naked eye, making diagnosis a bit tricky. These mites dig into the top layer of your skin and lay their eggs with proliferation. This burrowing is what sends your skin into itching overload.

The worse part of a scabies infection isn’t the itch or the physical sufferings. It is the stigma attached to such a condition. Everything from rumors that your bathing habits need a little work, to having a bad habit of not washing your clothes the right way. Others think that scabies sufferers live in disgusting conditions. People need to be properly educated to know that these are not the symptoms of a scabies sufferer, that anyone can become susceptible to the bite of a mite. Scabies is highly contagious, and it is easy for a sufferer to pass their misery on to others.

Pets can catch scabies infections also. Ever hear of mange, as in a mangy dog? Scabies is the cause, and pets can transfer this mangy condition to their human companions easily enough. The good news is that pet-based parasites don’t live out their lives too long in a human carrier. If your pets suffer, see a competent vet to determine a treatment.

This advice works well for humans also. If you find yourself suffering, get with your doctor immediately to work on a cure. There are several over the counter cures as well as a host of home remedies, but a doctor should be able to guide you to what will work best for you, based upon what you are able to use and how much everything will cost.

Home remedies can be very effective against scabies infections, such as those remedies that contain tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is an excellent anti-fungal agent, and is known to repel bacteria also.

Over the counter offerings include those that contain sulfur cream. You’ll want to base your purchase on the amount of sulfur cream is in the ingredients, as some contain more or less of a percentage of sulfur cream, depending on whether or not the usage is for children or adults. You can also use antihistamines in your fight against the scabies itch.