Where do scabies mites live? - briefly
Scabies mites reside within the outer layer of human skin, burrowing into the stratum corneum to create microscopic tunnels. They concentrate in warm, moist areas such as finger webs, wrists, elbows, the genital region, and other skin folds.
Where do scabies mites live? - in detail
Scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) occupy the epidermal layer of human skin, primarily within the stratum corneum. The female burrows into this outermost layer, creating a tunnel 2–10 mm long where she deposits eggs. Typical locations on the body include:
- Interdigital spaces of the hands and feet
- Wrists, elbows, and knees
- Axillary folds and under the breasts
- Waistline, abdomen, and genital region
- Buttocks and perianal area
In infants, infestation often extends to the scalp, face, neck, and palms. The mites remain confined to the skin surface; they cannot survive for more than 48–72 hours off a host. In the environment, they may be found temporarily on clothing, bedding, or furniture, but they lack the ability to reproduce or sustain themselves without direct contact with human skin. Transmission occurs through prolonged skin‑to‑skin contact, allowing the parasites to move from one host to another and establish new burrows.