Rats Skin problems

Question
i have had my rat for about a year and a half now and she has never had and health issues and i noticed she had a scab on her skin under her belly and she has been scratching more than normal i want to make her feel better the only thing i could come up with was mites but i didnt see and maybe im not looking hard enough but could you please help me out on what you think it may be there are a few more now on her back too. Please help. and thank you very much

Answer
 Usually with mites there are a lot more scabs than one, and generally they appear around the face, feet, and tail end of a rat.  Lice is a possibility, though those usually cause itching on the back first rather than the stomach.  Mites and lice are easily treated, and the treatment is safe even if they don't have parasites.  Buy a single tube of puppy / kitten Advantage or Revolution from your veterinarian and, using a 1cc syringe or eyedropper, apply a single drop to the back of your rat's neck.  Clean out the cage really well, including all toys and accessories, and repeat the dose in two weeks.  This will get rid of any external parasites on your rat.  To prevent reinfection, avoid contact with other rats and freeze bedding to be used for 24-72 hours before putting it in your rat's cage.

 If that doesn't help, it may be an allergy, a bug bite from something else that has become infected, or even a small abscess.  In that case you should take her to the vet for an exam before it gets any worse.  I hope your rat gets better soon, good luck!