Doctors in the UK are warning against ignoring “tiny red dots” on hands, linked to a rise in scabies cases, particularly in northern England. This contagious condition, caused by mites under the skin, results in severe itching and rashes.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne of the Royal College of GPs stresses that, while not serious, untreated scabies can lead to complications. It spreads easily through close contact and shared items.