Treatments to Get Rid of Scabies

Scabies are mites that burrow into human skin. Scabies infect people all over the world in every social class. They are highly contagious and often pose a problem in nursing homes, prisons and daycare facilities. If one person in the household gets scabies, then everyone in the household will need to get treatment at the same time.

Life Cycle

• Scabies are also called the human itch mite according to the Centers for Disease Control. The life cycle of a scabies mite is in four stages; the egg, larva, nymph and adult. Females lay two to three eggs a day into the skin in which they are burrowing. The eggs hatch in a few days and turn into larvae. The larvae become adults and mate. Once a female has mated, she is fertile for the rest of her life cycle (which is about one to two months) and can continue to lay eggs as she burrows into the skin.

Entire Household Needs to be Treated

• Scabies symptoms may not show up for two to six weeks after exposure to them. During that time the females are burrowing and laying eggs and you are completely contagious. Everyone in the household will need to receive treatment, because they probably have the female mites burrowed under their skin before they even know it.

  Scabies leave an itchy skin rash as the females burrow to lay their eggs. Usually the rash appears on the hands, wrists, elbows, armpits, nipples, penis, stomach, buttocks or shoulder blades. Between the fingers is most common. Babies and young children can get the rash anywhere on their body. The rash is shaped in thin raised lines that are light gray or white in appearance. The itching may become more severe at night and make it very difficult for you to sleep.

Treatment Medications

• Treatments used to kill scabies are called scabicides. Scabicides are available by prescription only, so you will have to go to the doctor for diagnosis and medicine. There are currently no over-the-counter medications that are proven to kill scabies. There are several different types of medications available for treatment.

  When applying the creams or ointments, make sure you get every part of the body, including between the buttocks, fingers, toes and bottoms of the feet.

  Permethrin cream is the most common and preferred treatment for scabies. It kills the mites and the eggs. It comes in 5 percent strength and is applied on the skin before bedtime and showered off in the morning. All of the body from the neck down should be covered with the cream. This treatment is usually done twice, one week apart. Sometimes there is a mild stinging sensation when first applied but then it subsides.

  Crotamiton lotion in 10 percent strength is safe for adults only. This lotion is applied in the same manner as permethrin.

  Lindane lotion in 1 percent strength is applied from the neck down and washed off the next morning. It is not for use on babies, small children or pregnant or nursing women. Lindane has been banned in the state of California. If swallowed this medication is toxic.

  Sulfur ointment in 10 percent strength is used for infants. It can be applied on the face and hair.

Treatment of Household Items

• All the bedding and clothing in the household needs to be washed in the highest-temperature water.

  If there is an item that can't be washed, you can put it in the dryer for half an hour.

  Vacuum all your carpets and draperies. Throw out the vacuum bag.

  If you can't treat an item through wash, vacuum or dryer; place it in a sealed garbage bag for two weeks.