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Scabies

Intense itching, worse at night, with a fine rash. Treatable, but the whole household needs it.

Speak to a GP about scabiesFrom £79

In short

Scabies is a treatable skin infestation that causes intense night-time itching. The key is treating everyone in the household at once and following the application instructions carefully, so it doesn't bounce back.

Overview

What is scabies?

Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, triggering an intensely itchy rash, classically worse at night and found between the fingers and in skin folds. It spreads through close skin contact, including within households and between partners. It's easily treated with a cream or lotion, but all close contacts must be treated together.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • Intense itching, typically worse at night
  • A fine, bumpy rash, often between the fingers, wrists, armpits, or groin
  • Thin, silvery burrow lines in the skin
  • Itching that can continue for a couple of weeks after treatment
  • Others in the household itching too

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book a GP if you have intense itching with a typical rash, or close contacts are itching too. Seek urgent help for a widespread crusted rash, signs of skin infection, or scabies in a baby or immunosuppressed person.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • A widespread, crusted, scaly rash (possible crusted/"Norwegian" scabies, highly contagious, needs prompt treatment)
  • Signs of skin infection from scratching (increasing redness, pain, pus, fever)
  • Scabies in a very young baby or someone with a weakened immune system

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • Diagnosis from the typical itch, rash, and distribution
  • Prescription of a scabies treatment cream or lotion (e.g. permethrin)
  • Clear instructions on applying it to the whole body and repeating after a week
  • Advice to treat all close contacts and household members at the same time
  • Guidance on washing bedding, towels, and clothing
  • Advice on managing the itch, which can linger after successful treatment

What we don't do

  • Management of institutional outbreaks (public health / NHS)
  • Specialist treatment of crusted scabies in high-risk patients (referred on)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about scabies starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about scabies

How do you catch scabies?
Through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, including within households and between sexual partners. It's not a sign of poor hygiene, anyone can get it.
Why do I need to treat my whole household?
Because close contacts can carry the mites without symptoms yet, and will reinfect you. Everyone in the household and close contacts should be treated at the same time, even if they have no itch.
Why am I still itching after treatment?
Itching can continue for 2-4 weeks after successful treatment as your skin reacts to the dead mites. This doesn't mean it hasn't worked, but tell us if new burrows appear.
What about bedding and clothes?
Wash bedding, towels, and recently worn clothing at 50°C or higher on the treatment day, or seal items in a bag for 72 hours.
See all conditions we can help with

Ready to talk to a GP about scabies?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

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