When we hear the word scabies, we think of a medieval disease that couldn’t possibly find its way into a modern home or life.  The reality is, scabies is still present in modern day, and presents itself as an itchy, red skin condition stemming from superficial burrows in the skin.  This infection of the skin is caused by a tiny burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. When exposed to the mite, a person experiences intense itching on the area of the skin that the mite decides to burrow in.  This mite, or the scabies that it causes, is very contagious and can easily be spread to anyone within close physical contact.