Is Scabies an STD?

Scabies, caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, is a skin condition that is highly contagious. If you are wondering is scabies an STI, yes, scabies is an STD. However, you can also get scabies through direct skin contact with the person who is infected.

STDs like scabies are highly contagious, but they can be treated. Oftentimes, non-curable STDs like herpes can also be mistaken for scabies since they show almost similar symptoms. So, if you see a rash composed of blisters in parts of your body, especially in the genital or oral areas, make sure that you get tested for STDs.

Although direct contact with the skin without any sexual contact is the main mode of transmission, scabies is considered an STD. But the point to note here is that, unlike other STDs, scabies cannot be avoided by using protection or a dental dam. That’s because, for the transmission of scabies, all that is required is prolonged skin-to-skin contact. So, that means that a quick handshake or hug will not necessarily allow the contraction of scabies to you.

The question of whether scabies is an STD or not will depend on your recent sexual activities as well. If you happen to have had sex with a new partner, you may have possibly gotten scabies from him or her. So, the best way to avoid the transmission of scabies is for both of you to get tested for STD before commencing to the next level.

If you happen to have symptoms related to scabies, you might need to go for an STD test so that you can eliminate the possibility of it actually being an STD. You can order an STD test from us online, after which you can visit any of our partner labs closest to you. On receiving the requisition form or code from us, you can visit our partner lab the same day itself! That’s because most of our partner labs stay open daily till late noon, except on Sundays.