Scabies is a mite infestation in the skin. The Sarcoptes scabiei mite is tiny and spreads from person to person through prolonged, direct skin contact. The female mite burrows below the skin to lay eggs and causes severe itching. When newly infected, it may take up to six weeks before an individual shows symptoms of the infestation, but a person who has experienced scabies before may show signs of the mite after just a few days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using a scabicide can quickly and effectively treat a scabies infestation.
Step 1
Visit a physician for a diagnosis of the scabies infestation. The only medications effective for killing the mites and some eggs are available only with a prescription from a physician. Common medications used include lindane and permethrin 5 percent, according to MayoClinic.com. Lindane is not safe for pregnant women, nursing women, children under the age of 2, and individuals with a compromised immune system.
Step 2
Follow the instructions given by the physician or pharmacist for the scabicide treatment. The application of the medication differs between young children and adults.
Step 3
Apply the scabicide lotion at bedtime from the neck to the feet and between the toes, for adults. Be sure to cover the soles of the feet, the palms of the hand and under the fingernails. For children, apply to the head and neck, as well as the rest of the body.
Step 4
Apply a medication called Crotamiton daily for 2 to 5 days to a baby with a scabies infection, as directed by a physician or pharmacist. This medication does not have the same harmful chemicals as the scabicide medications.
Step 5
Dress in clean, comfortable clothing for sleeping.
Step 6
Leave the lotion on the body overnight or for 8 to 14 hours, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Wash the medication off the skin in the morning.
Step 7
Treat every member of the family, even if there are no signs or symptoms of scabies.
Step 8
Repeat the application a week later. The second application will kill newly hatched mites that were eggs during the first application.
Step 9
Wash all bedding, clothing and towels in hot water to avoid re-infestation. Dry clean any clothing and bedding items that cannot get wet.
Member Comments