Scabies
Home Treatment
All people in the household who have had close skin-to-skin contact with a scabies-affected person during the past month must be treated. This usually includes everyone in the home, even if they don't have symptoms. (Symptoms can take 4 to 6 weeks to develop after a person is infested.)
It is important to treat the bedding and clothing of the affected person to destroy any live scabies mites as soon as prescription treatment begins.
Non-prescription medication for scabies mites
Scabies is usually treated with a cream or lotion such as permethrin (Nix, Kwellada) or crotamiton (Eurax). You may need a prescription medicine if your scabies does not go away with over-the-counter treatment.
Non-prescription medication for itching
You can use one of the following non-prescription medications to help relieve itching from scabies:
- Oral antihistamines (such as Benadryl). These medications will not interfere with the diagnosis or treatment of scabies.
- Corticosteroid creams (such as hydrocortisone cream). This type of medication may make the scabies sores look different and make it harder for your doctor to diagnose the problem. Only use this medication after your doctor has seen and diagnosed your condition.
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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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