Scabies is caused by tiny mites that dig under your skin and leave you with an itchy rash. The bites often show up between fingers, on wrists, or around the waist. If you’ve noticed a rash that gets worse at night, you might be dealing with scabies.
The good news is that scabies is treatable. You don’t need to suffer for weeks. The key is to act fast, use the right medication, and clean your environment properly.
The first‑line drug is permethrin 5% cream. Apply it from the neck down, leave it on for 8‑14 hours (usually overnight), then wash it off. One application usually clears the mites, but a second round after one week can be helpful if the rash persists.
For adults and older kids, ivermectin tablets are an oral alternative. The typical dose is 200 µg/kg taken on day 1 and repeated on day 2. Ivermectin is especially useful for crusted scabies or when a cream can’t reach all affected areas.
Both drugs are available by prescription in the UK and many other countries. Talk to your GP or pharmacist to get the right product and follow the instructions exactly – skipping a step can let some mites survive.
While the medication kills the mites, you’ll still feel itchy for a few days. Over‑the‑counter antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine can calm the itch, and a cool oatmeal bath helps soothe inflamed skin.
Cleaning your surroundings prevents re‑infection. Wash all clothing, bed linens, and towels in hot water (at least 60 °C) and dry on a high heat setting. Items that can’t be washed, such as curtains or stuffed toys, should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours – the mites can’t survive that long without a host.
Vacuum the whole house, especially bedrooms and sofas, to pick up any stray mites. You don’t need harsh chemicals; a thorough vacuum followed by discarding the bag or cleaning the canister works fine.
If you have close contacts – family, partners, or roommates – they should be treated at the same time, even if they don’t show symptoms yet. Scabies spreads easily, and treating everyone at once stops the cycle.
Finally, keep an eye on the rash for two weeks. If it hasn’t improved or if new bumps keep appearing, go back to your doctor. Sometimes a second prescription or a different medication is needed.
Scabies can be annoying, but with the right cream or pill, proper cleaning, and a few itch‑relief tricks, you’ll be back to normal in no time.
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