What are the symptoms of scabies?
Sep 03, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
In general, scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by the parasitism of scabies mites on the skin. The main symptoms include severe itching at night, rashes between the fingers, papules on the wrists and elbows, nodules on the scrotum or vulva, and tunnel-like skin lesions. It is important to maintain skin cleanliness in daily life and avoid sharing personal items such as clothing and bedding with others to prevent cross-infection.
Scabies is generally a contagious skin disease caused by the parasitism of scabies mites on the skin. Its main symptoms include severe itching at night, rashes between the fingers, papules on the wrists and elbows, nodules on the scrotum or vulva, and tunnel-like skin lesions. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Severe itching at night: Scabies mites are primarily active and reproduce at night. They stimulate the nerve endings of the skin, causing significantly increased itching at night, which severely affects sleep. The itching is intense, often prompting patients to scratch compulsively, leading to skin damage and increasing the risk of infection.
2. Rashes between the fingers: The spaces between fingers are common sites for scabies mite infestation. Tiny, flesh-colored papules or vesicles may appear, densely distributed, sometimes accompanied by mild scaling. Itching is particularly prominent in this area and may worsen during contact with objects in daily life.
3. Papules on wrists and elbows: The inner wrists and flexural areas of the elbows—thin and tender skin areas—are prone to scattered, light red small papules. These papules are firm, with smooth surfaces. Scratching may lead to scratch marks or crusts, affecting the skin's appearance and intensifying local irritation.
4. Nodules on the scrotum or vulva: In male patients, the scrotum, and in female patients, the vulva may develop reddish, pea-sized nodules. These nodules are firm, intensely itchy, and persist for a long time. Even after other scabies symptoms subside, these nodules may take longer to fade.
5. Tunnel-like skin lesions: Scabies mites burrow tunnels within the stratum corneum of the skin, creating grayish-white or light black thread-like markings on the skin surface, approximately several millimeters in length. The ends of these tunnels are often accompanied by small vesicles or papules.
It is important to maintain skin cleanliness in daily life, avoid sharing clothes, bedding, and other personal items with others to prevent cross-infection. Once symptoms appear, promptly change clothes and disinfect by boiling to reduce the spread of scabies mites. Additionally, avoid excessive scratching to protect the skin barrier.
