Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies) is a form of mite, which burrows beneath the skin and lay eggs. It can hatch in as little as three to four days, the whole life cycle completed within approximately 14 days.

Infection, itching and severe discomfort follow due to the skin being irritated by the faeces and carcasses of the mites.

This mite can live for days in bedding or clothing etc. Clothes that have been worn during infection should be left for 10 days in a sealed (refuse) bag with no contact to kill the mites, then washed. Bedding should be boil washed.  Also, dogs must be treated. It is possible that this is where your scabies originated.

Although there are several prescription medicines to treat this problem, they are very harsh to the skin and body and may be dangerous to use because of their strong chemicals. (A number of effective treatments were based on organo phosphates, which were developed as nerve gas.)

These methods often fail to cure the problem or even relieve the itch. Quite often the symptoms are suppressed for a time, but as soon as the treatment is stopped, the itch is back because the mites have not been eradicated.

If you are looking to go down the alternative route, studies have revealed that Neem is probably the most effective scabies treatment and is also the safest.

Neem oil is often used in Indian villages along with turmeric as a cheap and effective way of treatment. There are various companies that specialise in neem oil such as Neem Genie, who even do a Scabies kit. You can also do a parasite cleanse, using wormwood, clove and black walnut to help eliminate them.