Disturbing images, if you are quite sensitive with pictures that have spots/rashes, please do not scroll down.
I have been super busy lately because I have been attacked by mites which I have caught on the plane a few weeks ago.So please for those people travelling I would advise staying away from those blankets.
After having almost a week of scabies I have learnt a lot more about it (via research and doctors), and thought I will share my experience and give out any tips that I think is useful. Please consider that it took alot of courage to post these pics online.
If you don't like reading long text please skip to bottom of blog entry to read tips that I would give to treat scabies.
what is it?: In basic terms it is a condition where mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. and the itchiness is the allergic reaction from it. The mites from the eggs will mature and lay more eggs etc etc and no! a hot bath will not kill it. It can only be cured if it is diagnosed and given the right treatment as soon as possible before it becomes serious and leaves more scars .
1ST DAY
ok so here it goes:
1) Firstly how to identify it? for me it appeared really lumpy at first and it took about 3 weeks before symptoms started to appear (after exposed to the mites). It was super itchy and I thought I had chicken pox because spots started to appear on the soles of my feet and my palm which was unusual.The spots were lumpy and blistery (with transparent pus in it when you squeeze the spots).
2) During the night, I started to itch soooo badly (I can't describe how badly I was itching) It was so bad that I could not sleep AT ALL! The worse area was the sole of my feet which I itched like crazy but didn't feel any relieve. So next day I went to the doctors to get some help as it was impossible to live. But I have read online that scabies are worse during the night and after a hot bath when your body temperature is slightly warm (it is when mites are active).
2ND DAY
In the morning it looked like this:
As you can see, the spots have turned pinkish. The doctor didn't know what it was so gave me hydro cortisone and no of course it didn't work because it wasn't the right treatment so again I didn't sleep at all the next night because of the itchiness. It is actually blistery with little white sacs in the middles of the pink spots. I have use some E45 Lotion like crazy and occasionally washed my feet in COLD water to help the itch.
3RD DAY
I again went to the doctors because the itchiness is so unbearable and the spots have gone to my thighs. And finally was diagnosed with scabies and she has given me 30ml tubes of Lyclear dermal cream (Permethrin 5%.) which i will post picture below. Please remember to ask the doctor to give you enough treatment for all your family members (and boyfriend) and enough for two treatments EACH. this is very important because you don't want to be reinfected.
My tip: take anti-histamine too so that it will knock you out at night and relieve a lil bit of itching, the ones my doctor prescribed me made me really drowsy.
The pharmacy didn't have enough of this medicine so I only got one tube and applied it myself because I was so itchy, but you should really
apply it at the same time as all family members.
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| pERMETHRIN 5%) |
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| Drowsy anti-histamine |
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| My thigh-new spots |
4TH Day (1st day of treatment)
You MUST change your bed covers after your first treatment because all the dead mites and eggs will be on your bed
I have finally slept but very limited. I would say that the itch has calmed down slightly on the soles of my feet but I started to get new spots which were horrendously itchy. I have then told all my family members to apply and applied some more again to myself (which i think i shouldn't do because I read online that it is normal to itch even more for a few days when you have done your first treatment and the itch will last for a few more weeks). I have applied the cream from neck downwards to my toes and yes apply absolutely everywhere and left it for at least 8 hours. (depending on treatment i did 12).
reapply on hands after you go to toilet and wash hands.
I have also done a big clean up of my room and even sprayed my bed with detox to kill mites just incase.
Wash all clothes that you have been wearing at high temperature (suggested 50 degrees or above also suggested to dry clean and iron) although it is said that mites will die after 24 hours if it isn't on humans.
Just some advice, the colour may fade/run if clothes are washed at high temperature.
Yes I know this is a hectic process but it is better to get it right first time than to get reinfected and to do this again.
5TH DAY (2nd day of treatment)
Itch once again better, but still itchy so I have used some 'Aqueous Calamine cream' to soothe it.... but I think it isn't so effective.At this process I have already noticed that the texture of my skin is quite dry. This is caused by the treatment so instead I have applied E45 to relieve a bit of itch and to prevent further damage to my skin. Its not so pink now.
6TH DAY (3nd day of treatment)
I was
worried about scars at this point because i read online that scabies will leave
scars. to prevent it i have been using palmer's cocoa butter formula'. It is said that Derma is quite good and anything containing Vitamin E or Aloe Vera. This time I have noticed a even bigger difference to the colour. It is still mildly itchy as you could tell from my scratch marks over night. try not to itch to prevent scars (not possible i tell you).
7TH DAY (4nd day of treatment)
Apart from Cocoa butter, E45 and the anti histamine I haven't been using anything else.
actuallly try Eurax cream to stop itching ( I think it works but very very short while)
8TH DAY (5th day of treatment)
Itchiness again improved, spots almost all gone
9TH (6TH day of treatment)
Ok I went to the doctors with my mum because she needed to see the doctor and aso asked her about a itchy lump behind my ears. The doctor said that it could be really active scabies and that although the package says that you do not apply this cream on your face and scalp I really should.
I think at this point my mum has noticed she has got signs of it too.
So please note here that you should ask your doctor if you should treat it behind you ears, scalp and face.
Today: Alot better and no itching at all
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TIPS FOR SCABIES:
Diagnose: Small red dots , some with blisters. mostly will start on the soles of the feet and palms of hands/ fingers and toes.extremely itchy and gets worse overtime really quickly. (i didn't have spots on my face though)
1) Ask your doctor for enough treatment for two treatments (do second treatment after a week) and also have enough treatment for all family members and close contacts and ask the doctor if you need to apply the treatment behind your eyes, scalp and face (it will say on the package not to apply but please ask)
Also ask the doctor for anti Histamine which will help you sleep and relief a lil itch.
2) Apply with all family members at the SAME TIME so you won't reinfect each other.*Just a note* try to avoid too much skin to skin contact because mites do transfer.
3) apply the treament absolutely everywhere i.e. arm pits and for guys their private areas too.
3) leave on at least the time instructed on the package of treatment i.e. leave on at least 12hours
4) If you wash your hands re-apply treatment
5) *IMPORTANT* wash your bedding and clothes, especially after your treatment as dead mites/eggs will be on it
6) recommend a hot wash of at least 50 degrees and iron and tumble dry (bedding and clothing of course)
7) Mites will die after a few days if not on human skin so keep your unworn clothes away (in plastic bag maybe)
8) moisturise your skin that is dried from the treatment (I use E45 to relieve itch)
9) to relieve itch you could use: E45 (recommended) ,Calamine cream or Eurax cream ( which i think is quite good for a little while) and wash in cool water.
10) To minimise scars after treatment you could use: palmer's cocoa butter formula or aloe vera or products containing vit E
11) see the doctor again after your second treatment.
People say that it is unlikely to be reinfected again by scabies again. I wish you all good luck because this is one of the most irritating experiences ever.
I have called the travelling company and complained about my experience. Hopefully in future noone would be in the same boat as me.
For those of you that are interested in the post scabies scaring. below shows a pic of my feet after 6months. As mentioned, to help with the scaring I have used only the Palmers Cocoa butter on a regular basis and nothing else. It is also known that regular exfoliating will help speed up the process but I didn't in this case. Although it is only a picture of my feet, I also applied the oil to my body too and have similar results. At first i was concerned as I saw no difference to the scaring, but i now realise that the healing was very gradual and slow so don't give up :D
6th month
