Scabies: Is It an STD?

Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, spreading through close, prolonged physical contact — sexual contact is one route, but not the only one, which puts it in a similar category to pubic lice.

Symptoms

Intense itching, often worse at night, along with a pimple-like rash, are the hallmark symptoms. It commonly affects the webbing between fingers, wrists, elbows, and the genital area, though it can appear elsewhere too. Symptoms can take several weeks to appear after the initial exposure if it's a first-time infestation, which can make the source harder to pin down.

How it spreads and how it's treated

Close, prolonged skin-to-skin contact is the main transmission route — sexual contact qualifies, but so does sharing a bed with an infested person, or close contact within a household. Treatment involves a prescription cream or oral medication that kills the mites, along with washing bedding, clothing, and towels in hot water to prevent reinfestation. Close contacts, sexual partners and otherwise, generally need treatment at the same time to avoid re-infestation.

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Related Reading

This page summarizes general, widely accepted information for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for advice from a healthcare provider about a specific situation.

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