More and more people have scabies. The number of patients – especially young people – who come to the general practitioner with scabies has risen for the first time in almost two years above thirty per 100,000 inhabitants. This can be seen from the latest data from the Nivel research institute. Scabies is caused by scabies mites that dig holes in the skin to lay their eggs. It itches enormously and is also very contagious, says dermatologist Anne Berthe Halk.