What began as tiny bumps on her arms and side quickly escalated for Amanda Rushton, 54, from Accrington, Lancashire, into a maddening, relentless itch. Initially dismissed as an allergy, the sensation intensified, especially at night, leaving her feeling as if her flesh was crawling and severely impacting her ability to leave the house. After a month of suffering, her doctor instantly recognized the problem: scabies, a highly infectious infestation of microscopic mites that burrow under the skin. Amanda had contracted it from her mother while she was in hospital.

Amanda’s reaction was one of disbelief and recoil, as she associated scabies with archaic diseases affecting soldiers or people in camps, not “normal clean people.” However, her doctor informed her it was currently rife in the UK. Scabies is caused by *Sarcoptes scabiei*, a mite invisible to the naked eye, which burrows under the skin to lay its eggs. The microscopic faeces left behind by the mites are what trigger the intense skin irritation. Dr. Susannah Fraser, a consultant dermatologist, emphasizes that while often linked to poor hygiene, anyone is at risk, as it spreads through “prolonged close contact, no matter how hygienic you are.” Amanda is now sharing her story to help reduce the stigma surrounding scabies and encourage others to seek help.

Cases of scabies often see a surge during October and November, partly because people spend more time indoors, leading to increased close contact, and also due to young people moving into university accommodations where infestations can spread rapidly. Dr. Tony Banerjee, an NHS England appraiser and GP, confirms a “noticeable rise in cases of scabies in Central London at the moment but also across the UK in general.”

Symptoms, which include a rash and intense itching, typically emerge within four to six weeks of the initial infection. The itching is often most severe in areas where the skin is thinner and softer, making it easier for mites to burrow. These areas commonly include the web spaces between the fingers, wrists, thighs, buttocks, soles of feet, armpits, and genital region, as noted by Dr. Fraser.

Early detection is crucial for easier treatment and to prevent further spread. However, scabies can be challenging to identify for the untrained eye, often resembling insect bites or a non-specific rash, which can delay seeking treatment. During this delay, the infection can easily spread. Dr. Fraser advises that suspicion should be raised, particularly if itchy spots appear in the finger web spaces, wrists, and genital area. Left untreated, scabies can persist for months or even years, potentially leading to secondary infections of the lesions and worsening underlying skin conditions like eczema.

Amanda’s personal ordeal was compounded by her mother’s illness and subsequent death. In January, her 80-year-old mother, who Amanda believes contracted scabies in hospital, died from sepsis, heart, and kidney failure after a tumor was found. While scabies was not the direct cause, Amanda feels it contributed to her mother’s decline. She deeply regrets not realizing what was happening sooner, stating, “I never in a million years thought I would get scabies. I am clean, tidy, wash the bedding weekly and thought it was something that happened to other people.”

In July 2024, shortly after her mother was discharged from hospital, Amanda noticed tiny bumps on her arms and sides that “itched like mad.” While caring for and washing her mother, she realized her mother had similar marks. Dismissing it initially, the symptoms worsened. Amanda, a full-time carer for her 13-year-old son with special needs (she also has a 12-year-old daughter), saw her GP, who immediately diagnosed scabies. She was prescribed permethrin, an insecticide-containing cream that must be applied all over the body. Amanda applied it to herself and her children and meticulously washed all bedding, linen, and sofa covers. This period was immensely stressful, described as a “nightmare” of constant laundry, quarantining items, and steam cleaning carpets, leaving her feeling embarrassed and paranoid.

Despite following instructions, including a second application seven days later, Amanda’s itching and tiny red marks returned within days. Her heart sank when her son, who has Down’s syndrome, also developed marks. The GP prescribed more permethrin, leading to another round of rigorous cleaning, washing everything at 90 degrees. By this point, Amanda was severely affected, stating she “honestly felt suicidal some days,” due to constant itching, lack of sleep, caring responsibilities, and the unending laundry. After a few weeks, another treatment, Derbac (a liquid containing malathion), was tried, but it also failed.

Amanda sought solace in a UK scabies Facebook group, finding hundreds of others at their “wits’ end.” After two months, with the whole family still itching, her pleas for specialist help for her son were met with the GP reiterating the permethrin treatment and stating that scabies was “rife.” Amanda felt her life was being ruined, fearing leaving the house and constantly worrying about contamination.

Dr. Fraser explains several reasons for treatment failure: delayed treatment, which makes it harder to manage; skin inflammation and infection resulting from scratching; and a growing problem of resistance to standard scabies treatments. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests considering ivermectin, an oral anti-parasitic medicine, if topical treatments fail. Dr. Steve Taylor, a GP, notes an increase in treatment-resistant scabies, especially in adults, leading him to prescribe ivermectin for the first time in his career. Amanda requested ivermectin from her GP after researching it online, but was repeatedly told to stick to the lotions.

Finally, Amanda resorted to buying benzyl benzoate online, another insecticide for scabies not routinely offered by GPs due to potential side effects like skin irritation and cost implications. She applied the treatment to her entire family as instructed. Weeks passed, and for the first time in nine months of suffering, she was itch-free. Her relief was short-lived, however. Three months later, her son displayed signs again. Devastated, Amanda broke down, realizing the entire house needed retreatment. She purchased more benzyl benzoate and treated everyone again. Since June, they have remained scabies-free.

Amanda is relieved to have finally rid her family of scabies but emphasizes the immense difficulty of the experience. She urges anyone with telltale signs to see their GP as soon as possible to avoid enduring a similar ordeal.