What Are Parasites on the Skin?
Skin parasites are tiny organisms that live on or beneath the skin. Some feed on the skin or blood, while others burrow into the skin to lay eggs or grow.
Common types include lice, scabies, and creeping eruption. These conditions can cause itching, irritation, and skin discomfort, but most improve with proper treatment.
Skin parasites can spread through close contact or contaminated items and environments. Common causes and risk factors include:
- Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person
- Sharing hats, towels, bedding, or clothing
- Crowded living conditions
- Contact with contaminated soil or sand
- Exposure to infected animals
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the type of parasite and how long the infection has been present.
Common symptoms include:
- Intense itching
- Rash or skin irritation
- Red or inflamed skin
- Small bumps or blisters
- Thin, raised tracks on the skin
- Sores caused by scratching
- Visible lice or eggs in hair
How Is It Diagnosed?
Healthcare providers usually diagnose skin parasites with a physical exam and a review of symptoms. They may look closely at the skin, scalp, or affected area for signs of mites, lice, eggs, or burrows.
In some cases, a small skin scraping or sample may be examined to confirm the diagnosis.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment depends on the type of parasite and the severity of symptoms.
Care may include:
- Prescription creams or lotions
- Medicated shampoos
- Oral antiparasitic medicines
- Anti-itch treatments
- Washing clothing and bedding in hot water
- Cleaning personal items and living spaces
Close contacts may also need treatment to help prevent the infection from spreading again.
Most people recover fully with treatment, although itching can continue for a short time as the skin heals.
