Brits have been warned they may be mistaking an uncomfortable, Victorian-era skin disease with a more common condition.
As the colder days and longer nights draw in, you may begin to notice cuts and bumps on your ski,n and brush it off as a side effect of the chilly weather - but health experts are now warning to be mindful that your symptoms could point to something more sinister.
Enter scabies, a condition which was widespread during Victorian England.
According to health experts, these 'Victorian' conditions are on the rise (Getty Stock Images)
What is scabies?
According to guidance outlined by the NHS, scabies is a skin condition caused by mites burrowing into the skin, leading to an itchy rash in affected areas.
The main symptoms of scabies are intense itching - particularly at night - and a raised rash or spots, which will appear red on paler skin.
A scabies rash can spread across the whole body, but tends to impact skin around the fingers, wrists, underarms, and around the waist, groin, and bottom.
Scabies can infect anyone and is spread by close skin contact.
Nurseries, university halls, foe example, are places where you are at a higher risk of catching scabies.
If you catch scabies, it is important to wash all of your clothes and bedding at 60°C and keep your distance from other people to avoid spreading the condition.
What is the difference between scabies and eczema?
Due to its appearance and itchy sensation, Scabies can sometimes be mistaken for other skin conditions such as eczema, which is another inflammatory skin condition.
Scabies occurs when mites burrow under the skin (Getty Stock Images)
The key differences between the two conditions are:
- Scabies is infectious, whereas eczema is not
- Scabies is caused by mites, while eczema can develop due to various genetic and environmental factors
- Scabies and eczema have different treatment methods
- Eczema is typically found in the face, hands, feet, and elbows, whereas scabies can occur anywhere.
Having eczema cannot cause scabies, but having scabies can trigger an immune reaction which leads to you developing eczema.
It can also make existing eczema worse.
Why are 'Victorian' illnesses on the rise?
In recent weeks, GPs in the UK have warned Brits about a rise in transmission of 'Victorian' illnesses such as scabies, as well as scurvy and syphilis.
But why is this happening?
Dr Tess McPherson, of the British Association of Dermatologists, explained that a rise in scabies cases correlates with students returning to university, as well as people not isolating after developing symptoms (via The Times).
Conditions such as scabies, scurvy, and syphilis were common in the Victorian era (Getty Stock Images)
Meanwhile, chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty said a fall in public funding was responsible for making STI rates worse, adding that syphilis, another Victorian illness, has been on the rise, and is a 'very dangerous disease with multiple complications'.
The report added that the third centuries-old condition to make a resurgence, scurvy, is likely being caused by people not getting enough fruit and vegetables, leading to vitamin C deficiency.
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