Scabies in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Scabies is a common skin condition seen in Grand Rapids urgent care centers, primary care offices, and dermatology clinics throughout West Michigan. Understanding the symptoms, treatment, and how to prevent spread can help protect you, your family, and your community.

What Is Scabies?

Scabies is a skin infestation caused by very small mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites:

  • Burrow into the top layer of the skin
  • Lay eggs under the skin
  • Hatch into new mites that can spread to other areas, especially when you scratch

Scabies mites can survive away from the human body for about 24–36 hours. While it is possible to catch scabies from contaminated items like bedding, towels, or clothing, direct skin‑to‑skin contact is the most common way it spreads.

How Common Is Scabies in Grand Rapids?

Scabies is common worldwide, and cases are regularly seen in:

  • Family practices and pediatric clinics in Grand Rapids
  • Urgent care centers (e.g., Spectrum Health, Metro Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
  • College health clinics serving local students

Anyone can get scabies, regardless of how often they bathe or shower. Scabies is not a sign of poor hygiene or being “unclean.”

Pets do not cause human scabies infections. Dogs and cats can get their own types of mites, but these do not cause typical human scabies.

Because Grand Rapids has cold winters and people spend more time indoors and in close contact, scabies can spread more easily within households, dorms, long-term care facilities, and shelters during the winter months.

How Scabies Spreads

Scabies spreads primarily through:

  • Direct, prolonged skin‑to‑skin contact (for example, holding hands, cuddling, or sleeping in the same bed)
  • Sexual contact with an infected partner
  • Less commonly, sharing bedding, towels, or clothing used by someone with scabies in the previous 1–2 days

Quick, casual contact (like a brief handshake) is less likely to cause infection, but close household and sexual contacts are at higher risk.

Scabies Symptoms

Main Symptoms

  • Intense itching, often:
    • Worse at night
    • Worse after a hot shower or bath
  • Mild to moderate rash, which may involve large areas of the body
  • Tiny bumps, blisters, or lines (burrows) on the skin

Common Areas Affected

In adults and older children, scabies often affects:

  • Spaces between the fingers
  • Wrists and elbows
  • Armpits and other skin folds
  • Waistline and buttocks
  • Genital area (itchy bumps in the genital region)
  • Around the nipples in women

The burrows can be very hard to see, especially:

  • Between the fingers
  • In skin folds (such as the armpits and groin)

In many people, the rash may be subtle or not easily visible because the mites are buried under the skin.

Scabies in Older Adults and Children

  • Older adults (including nursing home residents) may have a more widespread rash and more severe itching.
  • Infants and young children may have scabies on:
    • Face and scalp
    • Palms of the hands
    • Soles of the feet

If you or your child has a persistent, unexplained itchy rash—especially if others in your household also itch—contact your Grand Rapids healthcare provider.

When Do Symptoms Start?

  • If this is your first scabies infection, symptoms usually appear 3–4 weeks after exposure.
  • If you have had scabies before, symptoms can appear within 24–48 hours, because your immune system reacts more quickly.

Even before symptoms start, you can still spread scabies to others.

How Long Is Scabies Contagious?

  • Without treatment, a person with scabies can remain contagious for weeks.
  • After proper treatment, most people are no longer infectious about 24 hours after applying the prescribed cream or lotion.

Because scabies is common in group settings, it is especially important in Grand Rapids long‑term care facilities, dorms, and shelters to treat all close contacts at the same time.

Diagnosing Scabies in Grand Rapids

Scabies is usually diagnosed by a healthcare professional based on:

  • Symptoms (intense itching, especially at night)
  • Typical appearance and location of the rash
  • Visible burrows on the top of the skin

Sometimes, a clinician may:

  • Take a small skin scraping and examine it under a microscope to look for mites, eggs, or mite droppings.

You can seek diagnosis and treatment from:

  • Your primary care provider or pediatrician
  • Dermatology clinics in Grand Rapids
  • Local health systems such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health
  • The Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids public health clinics for low‑cost or sliding‑scale services

Scabies Treatment

Scabies is treated with a prescription cream or lotion (often called a “scabicide”) that kills the mites and their eggs. These treatments are usually available from:

  • Your doctor or nurse practitioner
  • Local pharmacies in Grand Rapids once you have a prescription

Important: Follow Your Provider’s Instructions

Treatment can be slightly different for:

  • Babies and children under 2 years
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Older adults and those in nursing homes
  • People with sensitive skin or certain medical conditions

Always check with your Grand Rapids healthcare provider or pharmacist to make sure you are using the right product and applying it correctly.

How to Apply Scabies Cream or Lotion

To effectively treat scabies:

  1. Bathe or shower first.

    • Use warm water and mild soap.
    • Gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel for better absorption.

  2. Apply a thin layer of the cream or lotion to your entire body:

    • From the chin down for most adults
    • In infants and young children, your provider may recommend treating the scalp, face (avoiding eyes and mouth), neck, and ears as well
    • Pay special attention to:
      • Between the fingers and toes
      • Under the nails
      • Wrists and elbows
      • Armpits and skin folds
      • Genitals and buttocks
      • Soles of the feet

  3. Avoid sensitive areas:

    • Do not put the cream in the eyes, inside the nose, or inside the mouth.

  4. Do not wash your hands after applying the treatment:

    • If you must wash your hands (for example, after using the bathroom), reapply the cream to your hands afterward.

  5. Ask for help if needed:

    • If possible, have a trusted person help you apply the cream to hard‑to‑reach areas (like your back).
    • A small brush (like a clean pastry brush) can make it easier to apply the cream evenly.

How Long to Leave the Treatment On

  • Leave the cream or lotion on your skin for 12–24 hours (follow the instructions given by your doctor or on the prescription label).
  • Many people in Grand Rapids find it easiest to:
    • Apply the cream in the evening
    • Leave it on overnight
    • Wash it off in the morning with a shower or bath

If you need to wash any part of your body during the 12–24‑hour treatment period, reapply the cream to that area.

Repeat Treatment

  • Treatment is usually repeated after 7 days to kill any newly hatched mites.
  • Be sure to complete the full course of treatment, even if you start to feel better.

Itching After Treatment

  • Itching can continue for 2–3 weeks after successful treatment.
  • This ongoing itch is usually due to your immune system’s reaction to dead mites and their waste, not active infestation.
  • Your provider may recommend:
    • Antihistamines (for itching)
    • Mild steroid creams to reduce inflammation and rash

If itching or rash worsens or continues longer than 3 weeks after treatment, or if new burrows appear, contact your Grand Rapids healthcare provider for a review.

Treating Skin Infections from Scratching

Excessive scratching can lead to open sores that may become infected with bacteria. Signs of infection include:

  • Increasing redness, warmth, or swelling
  • Pus or yellow crusts
  • Pain or tenderness
  • Fever

If you notice these signs, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Prompt treatment is important to prevent more serious infections, especially during Michigan’s colder months when skin tends to be dry and cracked.

Treating Clothing, Bedding, and Household Items

To prevent reinfection and protect others in your Grand Rapids home:

  1. Wash all clothing, bedding, and towels used in the last 2 days before treatment:

    • Use a hot wash cycle (at least 130°F / 54°C if possible).
    • Tumble‑dry on high heat or dry thoroughly in a hot, dry environment.

  2. Items that cannot be washed (such as delicate clothing, shoes, stuffed animals):

    • Seal in a plastic bag for at least 1 week.
    • Mites cannot survive longer than a few days away from human skin, but 7 days is recommended for safety.

  3. Vacuum:

    • Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture.
    • Dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister afterward.

You do not need special “flea bombs” or pest control services; proper washing and bagging are usually sufficient.

Treating Household Members and Sexual Partners

To stop scabies from spreading in your home or community:

  • All members of your household should be treated at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms yet.
  • Sexual partners within the last 6 weeks should also be treated.
  • This is especially important for:
    • Families living in close quarters in Grand Rapids
    • College students sharing dorm rooms or apartments
    • Residents and staff in long‑term care facilities or group homes

If only one person is treated, scabies can easily pass back and forth, causing reinfection.

Preventing Scabies and Reinfection

To reduce the risk of scabies and reinfection in Grand Rapids:

  • Follow treatment instructions carefully and complete both rounds of treatment if prescribed.
  • Make sure all close contacts (household members and sexual partners) are treated at the same time.
  • Avoid close, prolonged skin‑to‑skin contact with anyone known to have scabies until at least 24 hours after they complete treatment.
  • Do not share:
    • Clothing
    • Bedding
    • Towels
    • Personal items like sleepwear or robes
  • Keep skin moisturized, especially in winter, to reduce dryness and irritation that can worsen itching (use fragrance‑free moisturizers commonly available at Grand Rapids pharmacies).

When to See a Doctor in Grand Rapids

Contact a healthcare provider if:

  • You have intense itching, especially at night, that lasts more than a few days.
  • You notice a new rash or small bumps between your fingers, on your wrists, genitals, or other typical scabies areas.
  • Several people in your household, dorm, or facility develop similar itching or rash.
  • Itching or rash lasts longer than 2–3 weeks after treatment.
  • You see signs of skin infection (increasing redness, pain, pus, or fever).

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you think you or a family member may have scabies, you can get help from:

Local Health Systems and Clinics

  • Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) – Grand Rapids
    Primary care, urgent care, and dermatology services throughout the metro area.

  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    Family medicine and internal medicine clinics that diagnose and treat scabies.

  • University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health)
    Offers urgent care and primary care visits for skin rashes and itching.

  • Mercy Health / Trinity Health outpatient clinics
    Provide evaluation and treatment for scabies and other skin conditions.

Public Health Resources

  • Kent County Health Department
    Offers public health services, STI testing, and referrals for skin and infectious disease concerns.
    Website: search “Kent County Health Department Grand Rapids scabies” for current contact information and clinic hours.

  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community health centers
    Provide low‑cost or sliding‑scale care for uninsured or underinsured residents.

You can also contact your regular primary care provider, pediatrician, or a local urgent care center if you need same‑day evaluation.

Key Points About Scabies in Grand Rapids

  • Scabies is a skin infestation caused by tiny mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrow into the skin.
  • It is common worldwide and occurs regularly in Grand Rapids across all age groups.
  • Scabies is not caused by poor hygiene, and pets do not cause human scabies infections.
  • Symptoms include intense itching (worse at night) and a mild to moderate rash; burrows may be hard to see.
  • If symptoms last longer than 2–3 weeks, or if you are unsure about your rash, see a doctor for a review.
  • Effective treatment requires:
    • Proper use of prescription cream or lotion
    • Treating all household members and sexual partners
    • Washing or bagging clothing and bedding used in the last 2 days
  • Itching may continue for 2–3 weeks after treatment, even when the mites are gone.

If you live in the Grand Rapids, MI area and suspect scabies, reach out to a local healthcare provider or the Kent County Health Department for evaluation, treatment, and guidance to protect yourself and your community.