Itâs highly infectious and easily transmitted
Doctors in the United Kingdom are warning people not to ignore âtiny red dotsâ that could spring up across their hands- and if they do, stay away from others while seeking help.

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What are doctors warning Brits about?
Itâs all due to scabies, with GPs warning patients about it spreading across the UK.
In particular, there are outbreaks in northern England, where doctors say they are seeing a spike in cases.
âIf not properly treated, it can spread and increase a patientâs risk of complications, such as secondary skin infections or make existing skin conditions worse.â

What is scabies and what are the symptoms?
Scabies is an infectious disease caused by mites burrowing under your skin.
They tunnel in the layers of your skin, laying eggs, which you will be able to see with your naked eye.
It is easily spread by people who physically come into contact with each other, and the rashes caused by the mites can spread across the entire body.
Youâre likely to have scabies if you find youâve got intense spells of itching, especially at night. Rashes and spots are also common.
One university student told the BBC she had started to get âtiny red dotsâ around her wrists and hands.
How can I catch scabies?
Scabies is incredibly common in schools and young adults, given how much they mix with other people.
It can also be caught if you have multiple sexual partners, given how close youâre getting to others in such a setting.
Sharing bedding is also an easy way to catch it; the same goes for clothes.
If you catch scabies, you should wash all your bedding and clothes in 60-degree Celsius water.
If it canât be washed at such a high temperature, seal it in a bag for three days so as to kill all the mites.

âDonât hide away if you have scabiesâ
Prof Hawthorne has urged people to get the help they might need if they think they are suffering from scabies.
It is incredibly uncomfortable, and there are creams and lotions that you can access to alleviate symptoms. As well as this, the infections could lead to something worse if the bites get worse.