How to Treat Scabies
Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by the infestation of mites called Sarcoptes Scabei. This is very contagious and can be transmitted from other people through close physical contact. Here are some things you should know to treat scabies effectively.
Causes:
Close physical contact and sharing of items with a person with scabies makes you at risk of getting this condition.
The itchiness is your body’s reaction to the presence of mites.
Diagnosis:
The doctor would inspect your skin and look for signs of mite infestation. Your doctor may also take scrape a bit of your skin in the burrow to examine it under a microscope.
A burrow is where the female mite lays her eggs. It looks like a thin brown or red line and often appears in skin folds.
Symptoms:
The main sign of scabies is itchiness that is usually worse at night.
The following are areas where burrows are commonly seen on adults:
Armpits
Waist
Wrists
Inner Elbow
Soles of the feet
Around the breast
Buttocks
Knees
Fingers
In children, the burrows are usually located on the following areas:
Face
Neck
Palms
Soles of the Feet
Scalp
Home Remedies:
Itching may still continue several weeks after you’ve started your treatment for scabies. Here are some things you can do to manage itchiness.
Cool your skin. Bathing in cool water or putting a cool wet towel over the affected area will lessen itchiness.
Calamine lotion is also effective in treating pain and itchiness caused by the infestation.
Taking over the counter antihistamine will also help relieve your body’s allergic reaction.
Treatment:
Your doctor may prescribe you drugs that will help get rid of the infestation. Some medications that may be given to you are the following.
Permethrin, which is also known under the names of Elimite and Acticin.
Crotamiton (Eurax)
Prevention:
It’s important to know that scabies can spread easily. When you have this condition, you might want to have your entire family treated even if they don’t have signs of scabies infestation.
Avoid sharing your personal belongings with others to lessen the spread of scabies.
Wash linens and bedding. Use hot, soapy water to clean your clothes and bedding before your start your treatment. It’s also recommended that you use dry heat for these items.
Put items that you can’t wash in a sealed plastic bag and keep them out of reach. This way, if such items have mites, the mites will die because they won’t be able to eat.
Scabies can easily be managed. If you don’t get yourself treated promptly, you’ll put your family at risk of getting this condition. Also, not getting the correct treatment may lead to a severe form of scabies, called Crusted Scabies.