If you notice an itch on your body and rashes that are starting to spread, then you might want to check if you have scabies. This is a medical condition that most definitely should not be ignored. Mites that infect the skin on humans are the reason. Their eggs hatch into mites which then colonize their host’s body, causing the host irritation and discomfort.
The seven-year itch as it is sometimes known, may last for several months and even years. Often times, the rashes are not visible and the symptoms are hard to identify, which makes the condition difficult to diagnose. However, scabies is very contagious and can be transferred from one person to another just by mere close contact – like hugging. That is why immediate treatment for scabies is necessary.
Scabies treatment is usually done through medication because the mites are very hard to remove, especially if they are widespread. Permethrin cream works best in this case. This solution serves all demographics equally as well with the benefit of not deleterious side-effects. Apply this cream to your outer body from stem to stern, and do not rinse it off for at least ten, but no more than fourteen hours. The treatment can be repeated after a week if itching still occurs.
Taking of antihistamines can also be a good scabies treatment. This reduces the itchy feeling on the skin and lessens the appearance of the rash too. You may also use anti-itch lotion in order to give you comfort from the impulse to scratch.
Lindane can also be used as a scabies treatment. It can be applied on the body just like a lotion and should be washed off after about 8 hours. The cream should not be left on the body for too long because it may cause seizures when absorbed by the skin in excess. This is why pregnant women and children are discouraged to use this treatment to relieve scabies.
There is also a scabies treatment that can be administered orally. The ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug that can eliminate scabies. This drug should only be taken as a single 200mg dose and can be repeated only after two weeks. Because this drug may cause side effects such as nausea, stomach pains and vomiting, it is administered only when creams such as permethrin have failed to cure the scabies.
After the scabies treatment, the itching may still persist because of the rash that the mites might have left. It is advisable to disinfect your whole house in order to make sure that all the mites have been eradicated. Wash the bed sheets, linens, and clothes with detergent and and freeze them for about 24 hours as the cold temperature can kill the mites. If possible, change your mattress or bring it outside to dry under the sun. It is also advisable to treat the people who came in close contact with the person suffering from scabies. This way, you can prevent scabies from happening again.
Before you try any treatment for scabies options, it is a good idea to read more on cream for scabies here.