Hand of a young woman showing evidence of scabies, a skin infection caused by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The infection is typified by severe itching, particularly at night, red marks and often secondary infections. The itching is caused by secretions of the mite. The female mite burrows under the skin to lay her eggs. On hatching the young migrate rapidly from person to person by contact. The mites are killed by treatment with hexachlorophane or benzyl benzoate creams applied locally.