Because scabies can spread so easy and so rapidly, the question how do you get scabies is more than in place – it should have top priority!

Avoiding scabies is by far easier and less stressful than being ignorant about it and getting infected with them sheerly by saying “it can’t happen to me”.

So, let’s have a look at how do you get scabies?

My answer is “too easy”.

Scabies are, like mosquitoes, dependent on their ability to spread, their “success” is depending on the wast numbers of them. To survive, they have to spread rapidly from host to host – from skin to skin, from human to human.

Scabies are tiny mites that live under your skin, eating it and laying eggs. While they burrow tiny tunnels in your skin, eating and laying their eggs, they cause intense itching, which in turn causes you to start scratching.

By scratching you tear your skin and pick up scabies mites and eggs with your fingernails. Later, when you touch any other part of your body, scabies “jump” from under your fingernails to this place you’re scratching.

This way, you actually help scabies to spread. But it’s not only when you’re scratching. It’s also whenever you touch any clothing, towels, your bedding, almost any fabric in your home AND in your car!

Scabies can live up to 14 days without host in your furniture and clothing! First symptoms of scabies infection does not look special in any way. It can easily be misdiagnosed as any other rash causing skin disease – dermatitis or any form of allergy.

This is why I urge you to not be ignorant when it comes to “how do you get scabies” question. It takes from 2 to 6 weeks after initial infection for first symptoms to start showing. And if you brush it off as simple allergic reaction, you are basically giving scabies time to spread even further.

Even if scabies can be treated in a very short period of time, I’d still rather avoid them than cure scabies infection.

It’s much easier to prevent scabies infection than it is to cure it. Curing scabies infection takes time and a lot of nerves. It’s just simpler to learn about them and avoid taking risky actions.

Scabies are highly contagious and they can appear anywhere. Effective scabies treatment is knowing where do scabies come from. In other words, avoiding scabies by learning about them is much easier and better than treating them.

Let’s look at what are few most common places you can suspect to get scabies.

1. Low quality hotels and similar sleep-over places. Whenever you find yourself in such place, your inner alarm should go off. Maybe it’s hard to pay few dollars extra to spend the night in a better room, but staying in a room where hygiene is low is scabies wise just too risky.

If there’s no other option, at least try to avoid any unnecessary contact with in-room fabrics (sheets, blankets, towels, …). Just touching infected clothes can get you infected with scabies, so plan your travel wisely!

2. Rented cars. This is a real sweet spot for scabies. Rented cars do get cleaned up, but not so regularly. Also, cars are one place where people forget to check and clean thoroughly when treating their scabies infection.

3. Kids can easily get scabies in school or/and kindergarten. Just imagine: group of 15-20 kids playing and using the same equipment on a daily basis. It’s enough for one of them to get infected with scabies to infect whole group.

4. Old clothes from previous years. While this might not be number one spot to think of scabies, many other mites can live in old clothes. Either take them to dry cleaning before you dress into those clothes or have them washed at highest possible temperature.

5. Of course, contact with infected person (or his/hers clothes). I saved this one for the end. Even if this is preached over and over again it’s worth saying it again. Having physical contact with infected person will almost in all cases result in you getting infected with scabies.

Why would anyone in their right mind want to get in physical contact with scabies-infected person. It’s simple – love. If we’re in love or have burning desire to have physical contact (ie. make love or have sex) with infected person, then there’s our emotions taking control over logic.

This can be particularly hard. Being close to your loved ones but being unable to have any contact with them or even touching the same piece of furniture can be really daunting. However, few small steps in taking preventing actions can save you a lot of nerves, time and money later. Act smart!

Scabies can spread very quickly. It’s enough to scratch infected area and just touch other person’s skin for scabies to spread. Also, using public objects like toilets, keyboards, door handles, touching furniture or bedding and similar might cause the mite to get rubbed into your skin and infect you.

Scabies infection takes few weeks (2-6) to show symptoms if person has not been previously infected. However, if person had scabies before, symptoms of another infection can show up in just few days (3-10).

Learning how do you get scabies is one of the primary steps in avoiding scabies infection. Don’t be ignorant and think it can’t happen to you. This way you are only increasing your chances of being infected with scabies. Act smart!