Itchy parasitic mites that lay eggs under your skin are infesting the UK

We wouldn’t blame you if you feel itchy just looking at this (Picture: Getty Images) A Welsh hospital has been forced to restrict visitors and close two wards this week, thanks to a highly contagious skin infection caused by parasitic mites. Health officials confirmed it was ‘taking direct action’ to curb a scabies outbreak at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, from deep cleaning to treating infected patients, staff and contacts. ‘Scabies is highly contagious and difficult to eradicate, and we are grateful to everyone for their continued support,’ commented Sharon Daniel, executive director of nursing, quality and patient experience at Hywel Dda University health board. ‘We will be contacting individuals whose planned care appointments may be impacted by this, as soon as possible.’ The board also said it was dealing with a number of cases in healthcare and community settings across its area — and it appears it isn’t the only place they’re thriving. While government guidelines state ‘reliable estimates of current scabies incidence are not possible,’ the most recent available UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures suggest a sharp increase post-pandemic. The condition causes an itchy rash (Picture:: Getty Images) In fact, between 2022 and 2024, diagnoses at sexual health services in England more than tripled, while clinicians also noted a rise in ‘persistent scabies infections’ that didn’t respond to treatment. The Royal College of General Practitioners’ Research and Surveillance Centre’s latest data tells a similar story, showing a weekly uptick as people return to schools and universities and spend more time indoors. However, the true number of people dealing with this torturous rash is likely even higher, as Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), tells Metro ‘social stigma’ may stop people going to the GP. What causes scabies? Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Scabies is a skin condition triggered by tiny mites, formally known as sarcoptes scabiei, that burrow and lay eggs under human skin, as well as infecting the likes of dogs and sheep. Each animal tends to have its own specific variant of this mite, a member of the arachnid family, meaning they can’t reproduce in other species. In dogs, for example, a scabies infestation is called mange. The parasitic mite’s droppings cause intense itching and skin irritation (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra) Thankfully, the mites can’t jump or fly. But once they land on a new victim, they can crawl at 2.5cm a minute to hunt down a hiding spot. For humans, you only need about 10 egg-producing females making a reservation on the all-you-can-eat buffet that is your body to cause itchy agony. And while might sound like something you’d notice before it reaches crisis point, at just 0.4 millimetres in length, they’re barely visible to the human eye. Scabies symptoms Just the thought alone of the mites crawling on your skin is enough to make you feel itchy, but this isn’t what causes the symptoms. Your skin is having an allergic reaction to the eggs and faeces the female mites deposit as they tunnel underneath your skin. The blotchy rash that follows can feel like it has come out of nowhere as symptoms take up to weeks to surface. ‘While not a serious condition, scabies can be very itchy and irritating,’ explains Professor Hawthorne. ‘If not properly treated, it can spread and increase a patient’s risk of complications such as secondary skin infections or make existing skin conditions worse, she adds, such as impetigo, a bacterial skin disease with oozing sores.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Where these angry rashes appear depends a lot on how old someone is. In adults, Dr Tess McPherson, of the charity British Association of Dermatologists, says: ‘There can be a rash which can appear similar to conditions such as eczema but typically there may be small spots in between fingers, toes and genital areas.’ For the most part, the mites spare the upper back, neck, face, scalp, palms and the soles of your feet — typically preferring warm and cosy spots. In infants, however, they’re far more likely to infest these areas, so look out for rashes on the scalp, face, palms and foot soles. How do you get scabies? The microscopic arthropod is usually transmitted through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact: think sexual intercourse or sharing a house with someone. The mite can also spread through contaminated clothing, bedding or towels used by an infested person. Hands are among the areas where scabies tends to appear (Picture: Getty Images) While a female mite can live on someone for up to a month, they don’t have the same luck in the outside world, lasting rarely more than three days. ‘So if one person has scabies, their closest contacts should also be evaluated and potentially treated to prevent mite spread or re-infections even without symptoms appearing yet,’ Randall Higgins, a pharmacist and skincare specialist at Good Glow, tells Metro. Do only certain people catch scabies? Despite a common misconception that only dirty people get it, Dr McPherson stresses: ‘Anyone can get scabies and it is not caused by lack of hygiene. ‘We recognise that patients may be apprehensive to seek treatment given the social stigma that surrounds the condition, but it is important that they don’t ignore their symptoms as this could lead to them getting worse and risks transmitting the condition to other people – particularly if they are living in close proximity to others such as on a university campus.’ Scabies treatment ‘The treatment for scabies is a topical cream or lotion – the most commonly used are permethrin cream and malathion lotion — that can be purchased in pharmacies, or by prescription in general practice,’ says Dr Hawthorne. These creams are applied everywhere, including the groin and between fingers and toes. ‘If symptoms persist following treatment, then a patient should contact their GP,’ she adds. ‘We are aware that the symptoms can affect a patient’s quality of life so we will try our best to ensure an individual receives prompt and effective treatment.’ Those suffering from the crusted form may be prescribed the mite-killing oral medication ivermectin, with a second dose given roughly two weeks later. People suffering from scabies are encouraged to see a GP (Picture: Getty) Dr Will Welfare, director of regions at the UK Health Security Agency, also previously highlighted that to ensure all the mites are gone for good, everyone — from members of the same household and sexual partners to care home residents and workers — must be treated. ‘If you have scabies, there are steps you can take to stop it from spreading during treatment, including washing all bedding and clothing in the house at 60°C or higher on the first day of treatment and putting clothing that cannot be washed in a sealed bag for three days until the mites die,’ he said. ‘Do not share bedding, clothing or towels with someone with scabies and don’t have sex or close physical contact until you have completed the full course of treatment.’ It’s enough to make your skin crawl. But as Higgins notes, it has a simple solution: ‘Getting properly diagnosed and treated for scabies quickly helps resolve symptoms faster and prevent further spread.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. 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