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?Does Scabies Spread Without Skin Contact?

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Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2014
Question: I have NOT had prolonged skin contact with anyone in the past three months (and more).... yet the doctor says that I have scabies. How could I have gotten scabies then?
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Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
scabies can occur by clothes and linens.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.

I can understand your concern for scabies diagnosed in yourself.

After reading your query with diligence I would go with the diagnosis of your doctor.

To tell you medically scabies can also spread by clothes, trivial contacts on beds, linens and non living objects other than skin to skin contact.

So anyone can get scabies by various means other than skin to skin contact. I do agree with you that it is most commonly the skin to skin contact which causes scabies. But as I said I have seen so many I the cases where scabies can occur other than this.

Overall you should not be worried about this simple thing as it is treated in single application of permethrin lotion applied overnight.

Do not forget to iron all your clothes from inside and washing all the linens.

I hope these informations will relax you. I will be glad to answer any further queries.

With regards,

Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 4165 Questions

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?Does Scabies Spread Without Skin Contact?

Brief Answer: scabies can occur by clothes and linens. Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum. I can understand your concern for scabies diagnosed in yourself. After reading your query with diligence I would go with the diagnosis of your doctor. To tell you medically scabies can also spread by clothes, trivial contacts on beds, linens and non living objects other than skin to skin contact. So anyone can get scabies by various means other than skin to skin contact. I do agree with you that it is most commonly the skin to skin contact which causes scabies. But as I said I have seen so many I the cases where scabies can occur other than this. Overall you should not be worried about this simple thing as it is treated in single application of permethrin lotion applied overnight. Do not forget to iron all your clothes from inside and washing all the linens. I hope these informations will relax you. I will be glad to answer any further queries. With regards, Dr Sanjay Kanodia MD-DERMATOLOGY