Scabies Treatment & Prevention

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Scabies Treatment: What is scabies?

Scabies is a skin problem caused by very tiny mites that live under the skin. The main signs are severe itching (worse at night) and a rash that looks like small red bumps or blisters. It spreads through close contact or by sharing clothes, towels, or bedding.

Cause of Scabies

Scabies is caused by a very tiny insect-like parasite called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites are so small that you can’t see them without a microscope.

The female mite burrows into the top layer of the skin and lays eggs there.
The eggs hatch into larvae, grow into adult mites, and the cycle continues.
This causes intense itching and rashes because the body reacts to the mites, their eggs, and their waste.

How Scabies Spreads

Close skin-to-skin contact (hugging, hand-holding, or living in the same house).
Sharing personal items like clothes, towels, or bedsheets.
It spreads more easily in crowded places like hostels, nursing homes, or daycare centers.

Scabies Treatment at Home

   1. Cool Baths & Cold Compress 
    Taking a cool bath or applying a cold, wet cloth on the itchy area can give quick relief from irritation. 
   2. Neem Oil
    Neem has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. 
   Applying neem oil or using soap may help soothe the skin and reduce mite activity. 
   Tea Tree Oil
   3. Aloe Vera Gel
   Fresh aloe vera cools the skin and helps reduce rashes.
   It also supports the healing of damaged skin.
   4. Turmeric Paste
   Turmeric has anti-inflammatory power.
   Applying a paste of turmeric and water may reduce redness and itching.

Cleaning and Hygiene at Home

Wash clothes, bed sheets, and towels in hot water and dry them in the sun or on high heat.
Items that can’t be washed should be kept in a sealed plastic bag for 3-7 days.
Vacuum sofas, carpets, and mattresses to remove mites.
Trim nails short to prevent scratching wounds and secondary infections.

Treatment of Scabies

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Medical Scabies Treatment

Permethrin cream
A prescription cream that kills both scabies mites and their eggs. It’s generally safe for adults, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children over 2 months old.
Sulfur cream
Applied at night and washed off in the morning, usually for 5 nights in a row. It’s safe for pregnant women and very young babies under 2 months.
Ivermectin (Stromectol) tablets
An oral medicine is used when creams don’t work, or for severe cases like crusted scabies, or in people with weak immune systems. It’s not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for children under 15 kg (33 pounds).

Scabies Treatment in Homeopathy

Some people choose homeopathic remedies like Sulphur or Psorinum, but effectiveness may vary. Always consult a qualified homeopath before starting treatment.

Special Care for Babies with Scabies

Babies have soft and sensitive skin, so they need gentle care.
Doctors give sulfur cream for babies under 2 months. It is safe.
For babies older than 2 months, doctors may give permethrin cream.
Ivermectin tablets are not safe for small babies.
The cream must be put on the whole body, even the face, head, and behind the ears.
Cover hands and feet properly. Use socks or mittens so babies don’t lick the cream.
Wash all the baby’s clothes, sheets, and blankets in hot water and dry them well.
Things that cannot be washed should be kept in a plastic bag for 3-7 days.
To help with itching, the doctor may suggest calamine lotion or baby-safe medicine.
Keep the baby’s nails short to stop scratching.
All family members must take treatment at the same time. This stops scabies from spreading again.

Treatment or Care	For Whom	How to Use	Safety Notes
Permethrin cream (5%)	Adults, children, over 2 months, pregnant, and breastfeeding women.	Apply to the whole body (neck to toes). Leave 8-14 hours, then wash off. Repeat after 1 week.	Safe for most people. Not for babies under 2 months.
Sulfur cream (5-10%)	Babies under 2 months, pregnant women, all ages	Apply at night, wash off in the morning. Use 3-5 nights in a row.	Very safe for babies and pregnancy.
Ivermectin (Stromectol) tablets	Adults, severe scabies, weak immune patients	Taken by mouth, usually 2 doses	Only use the doctor’s advice
Home Relief	All ages (with doctor’s advice)	Tea tree oil, neem oil uses	Always use home remedies with caution and combine with prescribed treatment—scabies cannot be cured by home remedies alone.