Originally Posted by bluefin

Mites (the root cause of Scabies) and Lice are common skin parasites passed through contact with an infected person, bedding and clothing.

Mites are extremely small, wingless insects that burrow into the skin, lay eggs and cause intense itching, particularly at night. A very small zigzag blister usually shows where the mite has laid its eggs. The most common location for scabies are on the fingers, on the backs of your hands, on wrists, heels, elbows, armpits, inner thighs, under the breasts, and around the waist.

Treatment for mites / scabies consists of taking regular showers, then applying over-the-counter 5% permithrin medicated lotion to your whole body, except your head and neck. (DO NOT use scabies medicine containing lindane. It's poisonous.) Don't wash off the lotion for 8 to 12 hours. sometimes it takes 48 hours for the medicine to be effective. Frequently it takes two treatments to get rid of the Scabies mites. Because Scabies are sensitive to heat, you also can try taking a sauna. To avoid re-infection, wash the bedding and clothing of everyone in your family, or where you live, with borax, dry on the hot cycle, sterilize and iron. Vacuum your mattress as well.