What Does Scabies Look Like?

Not everyone infested with mites has a scabies rash, but many people do. The rash consists of small, red bumps that may look similar to pimples or small insect bites, and the bumps are often in a line. These aren’t “scabies bites” so much as an allergic reaction the skin has to the presence of the mites. This reaction can also resemble other rashes, but your doctor or dermatologist can determine whether it’s scabies. Some people infested with the mites have scaly patches that look like eczema.

You may also notice tiny, snaking, raised lines — about a centimeter long — that are caused by the female scabies mite burrowing under the skin. These burrows are grayish-white or skin-colored, and while they can be difficult to find, they tend to appear in the webbing between fingers; in the folds of the wrist, knee, or elbow; and in the groin area, breasts, and shoulder blades.

In someone who’s never had scabies, it can take as long as four to six weeks before symptoms begin to appear, although symptoms typically develop three to four weeks after you’ve had contact with a mite. It’s important to be aware that a person is capable of spreading mites during this period even when they show no signs of scabies.

Symptoms in people who have had previous scabies infestations tend to show up much more quickly, within one to four days.