Sea Scabs
A skin condition causing itching and some fur loss in shifters.
Causes
This condition is believed to be caused by the salt in the sea air which can excessively dry out the skin. For some shifters this can cause their bodies to believe that something is doing damage and the body responds by forming a scab much like with what happens with a wound. Those under stress or suffering from another condition are more likely to fall victim to sea scabs as their body's defences are already strained.
Symptoms
Symptoms start with itching at spots across the body. Skin becomes rougher and fur has a tendency to stick out at odd angles from the itching spots. This is followed by a loss of fur from the spots that were itching, leaving a series of unsightly bare patches.
Treatment
Basic healing magic is ineffective against sea scabs as there isn't anything for the magic to heal. Magic which deals with disease can temporarily alleviate the symptoms but unless the sufferer stays away from the sea air the symptoms will return in short order.
Non magical treatments have therefore been found to be most effective. The most efficient remedy is to move further inland away from the coast. When that isn't possible there is a, somewhat pricey, fur scrub that can help prevent scabs forming. There is also a compound that can be ingested to prevent the occurance of scabs, but this must be taken before any symptoms manifest.
Prognosis
Sea scabs is far from being a life threatening condition. If allowed to run it's course the sufferer will have an unpleasant time for around a month after they stop being exposed to sea air which the condition can be expected to clear up. Lost fur will take longer to grow back but it does grow back.
Cultural Reception
There are a few other conditions that can cause the loss of patches of fur, most of which are caused by a lack of cleanliness. Since these are better known than sea scabs there is frequently an assumption that those suffering from scabs are infact victims of their own poor hygiene. Insults are not uncommon, with the term rat most frequently used to describe those with missing patches of fur.
I can imagine any Shifter that decides to live at the sea coast must look horrible almost 24/7 if they don't bother with medication. Gotta love conditions that apply to specific races. Are there any known health risks or consequences from long-term exposure? Do Shifters that grow up around the coast show higher immunity to sea scabs, or is it something all of them end up having?
Most shifters that live along the coast don’t seem as likely to suffer from this, though even multi-generation seafaring families have the occasional member who gets it. Aside from embarrassment and shame very long exposure can also lead to complete fur loss, but the main risk is infection from scratching itching areas.