Steph Coelho is a freelance health writer, web producer, and editor based in Montreal. She specializes in covering general wellness and chronic illness.

Michael Menna, DO, is a board-certified, active attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York.

You’re not alone if you’re confused about the difference between scabies and bedbugs. The bites of these annoying pests can look quite similar, and both can cause irritating itching.

But it’s important to note that each type of infestation requires a different treatment approach. Some slight differences in how the bites appear on the body can help you determine whether you’re dealing with scabies or bedbugs.

This article will present information about identifying these pests, symptoms of an infestation, bite treatment methods, how to get rid of an infestation, and how to prevent one. 

Bedbugs are tiny blood-sucking insects. The nocturnal insects tend to live in places near where humans sleep at night, like around mattresses. Because they feed at night, the first sign of an infestation may not be bedbugs themselves but their bites. 

At some point, though, if you have a bedbug infestation, you’re likely to spot the bugs crawling around near where you sleep. Some physical characteristics of bedbugs include:

Unlike bedbugs, scabies mites burrow into the skin and feed on the tissue. Cousins of ticks, these microscopic mites lay eggs and tunnel through the skin, spreading the scabies rash. 

While you can see bedbugs without a microscope, scabies mites are microscopic, and the tell-tale rash will signal you have a scabies infestation.

Here are some key signs of each type of infestation. 

Because scabies mites live on the skin, the primary sign of an infestation is a rash and intense itching. Scabies infestations are more common in areas of the body with skin folds. 

People typically contract scabies by having prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone who has an infestation. The mites can also live on things like towels and clothes, so indirect spread is possible, though more common with a certain type of scabies infestation called crusted scabies.

You might suspect you have a bedbug infestation because you’ve spotted an insect that looks like a bedbug, or you’ve been waking up with itchy bites on your skin. But it can be tough to tell the difference between a bite from a bedbug and other insects.

Here are some other signs you have a bedbug infestation on your hands, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association:

Symptoms of bedbug bites may include:

Symptoms of scabies may include: 

Symptoms can take up to eight weeks to appear in people who have not had scabies before. You’ll experience symptoms much sooner, in as fast as one to four days, if you've had it before.

There are no over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for scabies. If you believe you have a scabies rash, it’s essential to see a healthcare provider for prescription scabicide, a topical treatment that’s formulated to kill the mites. 

Your healthcare provider may recommend that everyone in your household undergo treatment to prevent a recurrence. It can take up to four weeks for the mites to go away entirely, and some people may need a second course of treatment.  

In some cases, people may have itching that continues even after the mites have been eliminated. If this happens, you may want to ask a healthcare provider about treatment for the rash itself.

Most bedbug bites will go away on their own. Often you can handle the discomfort and itching with some home remedies. Because bedbugs don’t typically spread disease, your main concern with bites will be treating the itching and preventing infection.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends cleaning bites with soap and water and applying corticosteroid cream to minimize itching and swelling. Keep in mind that bedbug bites will continue until you get rid of the infestation.

Bedbug bites only require intervention from a healthcare provider if they become infected or you experience a severe allergic reaction.  Since there’s no OTC treatment for scabies, it’s crucial to see a healthcare provider for a prescription. 

If a person in a household has scabies, keep in mind that the mites die when they are not in contact with human skin for two to three days.

Machine wash bedding, clothing, and towels in hot water and dry in a hot dryer (dry-cleaning will also decontaminate articles). If you can't wash or dry clean an item, keep it away from contact with skin for at least 72 hours.

People with crusted scabies are more infectious, so in addition to the cleaning listed, also carefully vacuum furniture and carpets in the rooms they use.

Your action plan will depend on how large of an infestation you have. Prompt treatment of the infestation is important to prevent the problem from spreading further. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some things you can do to prevent an infestation from spreading and getting worse include:

Some options for killing bedbugs yourself include:

While it’s possible to kill bedbugs yourself, it may be a good idea to call a pest control professional—especially if you’re dealing with a serious infestation. 

The main way to prevent scabies is to avoid skin-to-skin contact with someone who has an active infestation. You’re more likely to get scabies if you sleep or have sex with someone who has it. 

The mites can’t survive longer than three days off of human skin, so avoiding contact with potentially infested items for several days is enough to prevent scabies.

Because a bedbug infestation can be tough to get rid of once established, prevention is the best cure. 

The EPA recommends the following prevention measures:

Bedbugs and scabies mites are pests that can both cause itching and extreme discomfort.

Bedbugs are brown, oval-shaped insects that you can spot with the naked eye, while scabies mites are microscopic. Bedbugs live in crevices near where people sleep, while scabies mites live on human skin.

Treatment for these two pests is very different. Once you get rid of a scabies infestation, you don’t have to worry about treating surfaces and areas in your home since the mites can’t live long off of human skin. Bedbugs, however, can hide and keep reproducing as long as they have access to blood.

It can be upsetting to realize you may have bedbugs or scabies. There’s stigma and embarrassment associated with each of these pest infestations. But know that anyone can contract either scabies or bedbugs. They’re not necessarily a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. 

Bedbugs can live without feeding for up to 14 days, so they can easily hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, or furniture. 

You can only get scabies from prolonged skin-to-skin contact. 

The mites can live for up to three days off of human skin, but since they’re microscopic, you can't see them. 

Scabies is a skin condition caused by a scabies mite infestation. The mites don’t actually produce bites. Instead, they burrow into and feed on skin tissue. This can look like a rash, and you may be able to see grey-white streaks on the skin. In some cases, scabies can also cause pimple-like pustules. With crusted scabies, the skin can take on a crusted appearance. 

It’s possible to visually spot bedbugs, but the bites are often the first sign of an infestation. You might also see tiny red or black specks of blood or excrement on your bedding or smell a sweet, musty odor.  You can tell you have scabies because you develop a rash that tends to itch only at night.

It can take up to 14 days for bites to appear. 

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United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bed bugs appearance and life cycle.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scabies frequently asked questions (FAQs). 

American Academy of Dermatology Association. Bed bugs: diagnosis and treatment. 

American Academy of Dermatology Association. Scabies: signs and symptoms.

Environmental Protection Agency. Do-it-yourself bed bug control. 

Environmental Protection Agency. Protecting your home from bed bugs. 

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