Crotamiton 10% for scabies

Examples

Generic Name
crotamiton 10% (Eurax)

Crotamiton is available as a lotion or cream.

How It Works

Crotamiton can kill the scabies mite and also may relieve itching.

The medicine will come with instructions, and your doctor will also give you a treatment schedule. Health Canada recommends the following:

• If you take a bath or shower before using this medicine, dry the skin well before applying crotamiton.
• Apply enough medicine to cover the entire skin surface from the chin down, and rub in well. This applies especially to folds and creases in the skin and to the hands and feet (including the soles), between fingers and toes, and in moist areas (such as underarms and groin).
• Do not wash off the first coat of this medicine.
• Apply a second coat of this medicine 24 hours after the first one.
• The next day, put on freshly washed or dry-cleaned clothing and change bedding in order to prevent reinfection.
• Then, 48 hours after the second application of this medicine, take a cleansing bath to remove the medicine.
• Your sexual partners, especially, and all members of your household may need to be treated also, since the infection may spread to persons in close contact with you. If these persons are not being treated or if you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Why It Is Used

Crotamiton is used to kill scabies mites and their eggs. It is less commonly used to treat scabies than are other available medications. Permethrin is the treatment of choice.¹

How Well It Works

A medication to treat a scabies infestation is successful when it kills all scabies mites and eggs. Crotamiton frequently fails to cure scabies.¹ For this reason, permethrin or other medication is usually preferred.

Side Effects

Crotamiton's side effects have not been well studied. Skin irritation is sometimes reported as a side effect.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Crotamiton frequently fails to cure scabies.¹ So it is less commonly used to treat scabies than are other available medications.

It is common for itching to continue for up to several weeks after using a scabies medication. This does not mean that the scabies mites are still alive; it means that the body is still reacting to the mites and their feces. Unless your health professional recommends it, do not apply scabies medications more than once. Overuse of scabies medications (such as reapplying the cream when only a single use is prescribed) can irritate the skin and may make itching worse.

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Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: May 24, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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