Clothes, bedding, and towels used by the infested person should be washed in hot water 2 days before treating scabies. Lotions used to treat the infection include sulfur, permethrin, and lindane. Treating scabies in people with HIV (or those with Norwegian scabies) may include an oral medication known as ivermectin. It is possible to get the infection again despite successful treatment.
An Introduction to Treating Scabies
Treating
scabies means killing the mites
(Sarcoptes scabiei), treating any family members who have been in close contact with the infested person, and preventing the scabies from returning. Both the patient and family members can be treated with the same medicine.
Medications for Treating Scabies
Several lotions can be used for treating scabies. Common ones include:
- Sulfur
- Permethrin (Elimite® cream)
- Lindane.
Always follow the directions provided by your physician or the directions on the package insert. Apply lotion to a clean body from the neck down to the toes, and leave on overnight (8 hours). After 8 hours, take a bath or shower to wash off the lotion. A second scabies treatment of the body with the same lotion may be necessary 7 to 10 days later.
For people with
HIV or
Norwegian scabies, ivermectin, which is taken by mouth, may be used when treating scabies.
Other Recommendations for Treating Scabies
It is important that all scabies eggs and mites be killed. Clothes, bedding, and towels used by the infested person should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer 2 days before treating scabies. No special cleaning is necessary for coats, furniture, rugs, floors, and walls.
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