Scabies is being reported more often in a lot of places, and it spreads fast in crowded / shared spaces (shelters, dorms, care homes, shared housing). The best defense is early action + clean routines + no sharing.
✅ 12 Vital Prevention Tips
👕 1) Clothing & bedding: Don’t share coats, hoodies, socks, gloves, blankets, bedding, pillows—anything with prolonged contact.
🧻 2) Towels: No shared towels (bath/hand/kitchen). Use your own and wash often.
🪑 3) Seating: If possible, use “your chair.” Be cautious with shared car seats and soft seating.
🛏️ 4) Mattress/pillow protection: Consider mite-proof, waterproof covers for mattresses/pillows (and wash them regularly).
🏢 5) Public places: Crowded communal environments are higher risk—reduce contact with shared fabric surfaces when possible.
🧺 6) Laundry heat: Hot wash + hot dry helps. Keep dirty vs clean laundry separated.
🧼 7) Surfaces: Regular wipe-down of high-touch areas (door handles, counters, phones).
🛋️ 8) Communal soft furnishings: Vacuum couches/chairs thoroughly; consider washable covers.
🧹 9) Vacuuming: Vacuum regularly; empty canisters carefully (preferably outdoors).
🌬️ 10) Humidity: Lower humidity can reduce mite survival off-host—dehumidifier can help in damp seasons/places.
👫 11) Couples/households: Treat it like “one person = everyone exposed.” Close contact spreads it.
🔁 12) Persistent cases: If symptoms persist, don’t guess—get medical guidance (resistance/misdiagnosis can happen).
🚨 If You Think You Have It (Household Action Plan)
🧍♂️ Limit close contact (skin-to-skin, long hugs, shared blankets).
🏠 Deep clean basics: Bedding, towels, frequently used clothes, and high-contact spaces.
👨👩👧👦 Household treatment needs to be coordinated (even if some people have no symptoms yet).
🧤 Avoid scratching (secondary skin infections can happen).
📞 Talk to a healthcare professional for diagnosis + treatment plan.
🔍 Common Signs People Report
🌙 Itching that’s worse at night
〰️ Rash that may appear in lines / tracks
🧤 Common areas: wrists, elbows, armpits, waistline, behind knees, groin folds
⏳ First-time infections can take weeks to show symptoms
🧰 “Prepper” Supply Focus (Non-crazy, actually useful)
🧺 Separate laundry bins (dirty vs clean)
🧤 Disposable gloves for cleaning
🧼 Disinfecting wipes / cleaning spray
🛏️ Mattress/pillow protectors
🧹 Vacuum with good filtration + extra bags/filters
🌬️ Dehumidifier (especially in damp winter months)
⚠️ Important: This post is for awareness + prevention routines only. Scabies can look like other skin issues, and treatment choices/dosing should come from a qualified medical professional.
👥 If you’ve dealt with scabies before: what ONE prevention habit helped you most? (Laundry system, seating rules, cleaning routine, etc.)