Over The Counter Scabies Treatment
There are a limited ways of treating scabies including using safe natural remedies and over the counter scabies treatment. Scabies is a very common highly contagious condition which is caused by the human form of scabies mites. Scabies are tiny parasitic creatures which burrow underneath the skin, causing intense itching. They are passed on by close human contact and are particularly common in overcrowded living conditions, but are also common in school and even some hospitals where lots of people are in close proximity.
Scabies can affect people of any age but are most common in children and young adults. The first signs of scabies is often an intense itching caused by an allergic reaction in the skin. This usually results in a rash of red or pink spots which can appear on the body or the limbs. Contrary to popular belief, your personal hygiene has no bearing on your ability to contract scabies. It is estimated that around 1 in a 1000 people will contract the condition each month.
Conventional treatments often come in the form of creams and lotions which are either available on prescription or from the pharmacy. The two most common over the counter scabies treatment options are permethrin cream and malathion lotion. Permethrin is usually recommended first, followed by malathion if the condition has not gone away. Both of these treatments contain insecticides to kill off the eggs of the scabies mite. It is absolutely vital that all family members use the treatments at the same time or reinfestation is likely to occur.
These over the counter scabies treatment options should be applied to clean, dry skin. The skin should be allowed to cool down if overheated from a hot bath. It is essential that whichever treatment you use, that you apply it to the whole body, including the skin folds and under the fingernails and toenails.
Permethrin should be left on for 8-12 hours and malathion for 24 hours. This means that if you wash your hands during this time, you should always reapply. It is also necessary to launder all washable items at above 50 degrees.
Both treatments can sometimes cause skin irritation, numbness or tingling which can last for some time. If these symptoms persist, you should consult a doctor. In addition, some experts express concern about the use of insecticides on the skin.
Scabies can affect people of any age but are most common in children and young adults. The first signs of scabies is often an intense itching caused by an allergic reaction in the skin. This usually results in a rash of red or pink spots which can appear on the body or the limbs. Contrary to popular belief, your personal hygiene has no bearing on your ability to contract scabies. It is estimated that around 1 in a 1000 people will contract the condition each month.
Conventional treatments often come in the form of creams and lotions which are either available on prescription or from the pharmacy. The two most common over the counter scabies treatment options are permethrin cream and malathion lotion. Permethrin is usually recommended first, followed by malathion if the condition has not gone away. Both of these treatments contain insecticides to kill off the eggs of the scabies mite. It is absolutely vital that all family members use the treatments at the same time or reinfestation is likely to occur.
These over the counter scabies treatment options should be applied to clean, dry skin. The skin should be allowed to cool down if overheated from a hot bath. It is essential that whichever treatment you use, that you apply it to the whole body, including the skin folds and under the fingernails and toenails.
Permethrin should be left on for 8-12 hours and malathion for 24 hours. This means that if you wash your hands during this time, you should always reapply. It is also necessary to launder all washable items at above 50 degrees.
Both treatments can sometimes cause skin irritation, numbness or tingling which can last for some time. If these symptoms persist, you should consult a doctor. In addition, some experts express concern about the use of insecticides on the skin.
Source...