Scabs

Scabs: Introduction

Scabs: Skin crusting over to form scans. See detailed information below for a list of 15 causes of Scabs, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Scabs: full list

Causes of Scabs:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Scabs. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Blisters - see the various causes of blisters.
• Skin injury
• Eczema
• Impetigo
• Cold sores
• Chicken pox
• Shingles
• Pemphigus vulgaris
• Psoriasis
• Self mutilation
• Dermatitis artefacta
• Child abuse
• more causes...»

See full list of 15 causes of Scabs

» Review Causes of Scabs: full list

Scabs: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Scabs, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

• Scabs: Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

• Scabs and Skin problems (10 causes)
• Scabs and Skin symptoms (10 causes)
• Scabs and Sores (10 causes)
• Scabs and Blisters (9 causes)
• Scabs and Skin lesion (9 causes)
• Scabs and Rash (8 causes)
• Scabs and Head symptoms (7 causes)
• Scabs and Hemorrhagic pus-filled blisters (6 causes)
• Scabs and Itching skin (6 causes)
• Scabs and Maculopapular lesions (6 causes)
• Scabs and Facial rash (5 causes)
• Scabs and Nerve symptoms (5 causes)
• Scabs and Pain (5 causes)
• Scabs and Sensations (5 causes)
• Scabs and Temperature symptoms (5 causes)
• more...»

See full list of 800 Symptom Checker combinations related to Scabs

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Blisters (413 causes)
• Sores (433 causes)
• Skin symptoms (3505 causes)
• Skin problems (3264 causes)
• more symptoms...»

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Scabs

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Scabs:

• Skin rash (1085 causes)
• Skin ulcers
• Bleeding symptoms (1295 causes)
• Bruises (315 causes)
• Skin blisters (413 causes)
• more symptoms...»

Misdiagnosis and Scabs

Are moles a cause for concern?: Moles or Nevi are growths on the skin which appear as small brown or black spots. They usually appear in the first 2 decades of life. Moles are usually harmless, but they may become cancerous hence it is important to monitor them. Malignant melanoma is the predominant cancerous change in moles. Risk is high if the mole is congenital and is greater than 8 inches in diameter, if it first appears after the age of 20 years, if its is larger than a pencil eraser [1/4 inch], if it is irregular in shape and color [dyplastic] and finally if they are in a large number [greater than 50].It is best to seek medical advice if a new mole appears after the age of 20 yrs or if the mole shows burning, itching, oozing, bleeding, scaling, crust formation, change in color, size, shape and elevation....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Scabs

Diagnostic tests for Scabs:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Scabs. Some of these are listed below :

• Examination of skin
  • Examine characteristics of the scabs. Are the scabs thin, delicate and friable; or are they thick and adherent
  • What colour are the scabs. Scabs that are yellow are formed from dried serum. Scabs that are green or yellow-green are formed from pus-like discharge. Scabs that are brown or dark red are formed from dried blood
  • Note the distribution of the skin affected - i.e. focal or diffuse (e.g. focal scabs may suggest fungal skin infection, scabies, contact dermatitis, skin tumor, nummular eczema or impetigo; diffuse rash may suggest psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigus or tinea versicolor; blisters and scabs in shingles occur in a dermatomal distribution.
  • What areas of the body does it primarily involve i.e. Extremities, face, trunk? - will help determine the cause (e.g. extremities may suggest atopic dermatitis, tinea, psoriasis or insect bites; front of the knees include psoriasis and dermatitis herpetiformis).
  • Are the lesions all at the same stage of evolution - e.g. chicken pox is characterized by starting as papules (red raised spots), then change to blisters which then scab over. The three stages present together.
• Physical examination
• more tests...»

See full list of 22 diagnostic tests for Scabs

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Scabs. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have the scabs been present? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• What type of lesion was present prior to the formation of scabs? - Scabs may form over many types of lesions including blisters (clear fluid filled lesions), pustules (pus-filled lesions), bleeding wounds or any lesion that is itchy and has been scratched.
• Are the scabs widespread or localized? If widespread may suggest atopic dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, chickenpox, erythema multiforme, pemphigoid, pemphigus or drug eruption. If localized may suggest pompholyx, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, impetigo, herpes simplex
• Location of the scabs and where did they start? - can help determine cause of scabs e.g. shingles are often on the central trunk; atopic dermatitis often on face and in flexures (such as behind knee); herpes simplex usually on mouth or genitals; chicken pox usually on face, scalp and trunk.
• Are the mucous membranes (lining of mouth) affected? - may suggest chicken pox, herpes simplex, Erythema multiforma, Steven's-Johnson syndrome, pemphigoid, pemphigus.
• more questions...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Scabs (20 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Scabs) may include:

• Itchy? - may suggest chicken pox, scabies, impetigo, dermatitis herpetiformis, erythema multiforme, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), herpes simplex, insect bites, tinea or psoriasis.
• Skin pain? - e.g. In shingles the rash is preceded by several days of skin pain with hypersensitivity; Erythema multiforme lesions may be painful, especially those in and around the mouth.
• Fever? - may suggest chicken pox, eczema herpeticum, exfoliative dermatitis, severe allergic contact dermatitis from poison ivy, shingles, hand foot and mouth disease, first episode of herpes simplex.
• Nails affected? - may suggest psoriasis or tinea.
• Symptoms of atopic dermatitis (eczema)? - e.g. itchy, red, dry, scaling, cracked skin. The typical distribution changes as the person grows older. In infants the rash is usually on the cheeks of the face, the folds of the neck and scalp. It may then spread to the limbs and groin. During childhood a drier ad thicker rash develops in front of the elbow, behind the knees and on the hands and feet, which may be dry, itchy, cracked and painful. Rarely does eczema have an adult onset.
• more symptoms...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Scabs (20 listings)

Stories from Users for Scabs

Real-life user stories relating to Scabs:

• Scab?
• Scabs on scalp
• 6 scabs 2 inches apart on buttocks

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Scabs or relevant symptoms:

• Integumentary (Skin) (432)
  • Itchy red bumps all over body? Hives?
  • Sensitive Skin to Touch
  • Painful skin and no answers!!!
  • Pinprick red dots, itchy skin, wrongly diagnosed
  • Skin blisters, joint & muscle pain, Photos..
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (157)
  • Chronic hives
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

Videos for Scabs

Patient Surveys for Scabs

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Scabs
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Organs affected by Scabs:

The list of organs typically affected by Scabs may include, but is not limited to:

• Skin

Detailed list of causes of Scabs

The list below shows some of the causes of Scabs mentioned in various sources:

• Blisters - see the various causes of blisters.
• Cellulitis - scabs
• Chicken pox - scabbing of blisters
• Child abuse
• Cold sores
• Dermatitis artefacta
• Eczema - crusting
• more causes...»

See full list of 15 causes of Scabs

How Common are these Causes of Scabs?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Scabs. Of the 15 causes of Scabs that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 2 causes are "very common" diseases
• 1 causes are "common" diseases
• 1 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 1 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 12 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 15 causes of Scabs

Conditions listing symptoms: Scabs:

The following list of conditions have 'Scabs' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

C

Causes of Scabs Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Scabs based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: