Good hygiene, early medication help fight scabies

Scabies is spread by skin-to-skin contact. If there is one scabies patient in the family, all members of that family must also be treated at the same time. The early stages of scabies may not itch; on must be sure all his or her close personal contacts are treated, even if they are not itching. All contacts must be treated at the same time to prevent back-and-forth spread of the mites. Clothing, linens, and towels need to be washed in hot, soapy water.

The treatment of scabies consists of applying a mite-killing medication (usually 5% permethrin cream) to the entire skin of the body except the face and scalp. It is very important to apply the medicine to every bit of your skin below the face, including the genital area, feet and hands.

 The medicine should remain on the skin for 8-12 hours.

The healthcare experts often suggest that the patient should apply the medicine thinly to the entire skin from the neck downward at bedtime. Rub it on every bit of the skin, including the genital area, and be sure to apply it well to the hands, wrists, feet, ankles and skin folds.

The next morning the patient should shower to thoroughly remove it. The treatment process is finished. Do not use the medicine more often than directed by the doctor.

After the treatment, avoid soap because scabies causes sensitive skin. If your skin is dry, apply a moisturizing lotion or Vaseline. The itching and rash may continue even though all the mites have been killed. This results from allergy to the mites and is called post-scabetic dermatitis. Post-scabetic dermatitis is not scabies, and it requires a special treatment.