Scabies is a common and intractable condition that causes severe itching of the skin. It occurs due to the penetration of ticks under the skin. Scabies is easily spread through skin contact with an infected person. Itching occurs as a result of an allergic reaction of the body to ticks, their secretions and eggs, which they lay under the skin. On the skin, over the place where the tick is located, small blisters and red spots form, which are very itchy as a result of this reaction. Scabies is an extremely contagious disease, but by eradicating the parasites, you can get rid of the itching and return to normal life.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Begin Treatment
Step 1. Recognize the signs of scabies
Any severe itching that does not go away for weeks or months may be due to scabies. Signs of scabies include:
- Intense itching, especially at night.
- Tiny bump-like bumps that appear on the skin like a rash. The rash can be all over the body or only in certain areas. Most often on the wrists, in the armpits, on the membrane between the fingers, in the genital area, waist and belt line. Small blisters may appear with the rash.
- There may be small lines of itch burrows between the tubercles. They are usually light gray in color and slightly raised.
- Norwegian scabies is a particularly severe form. Signs of Norwegian scabies include thick crusts on the skin that peel off easily and may appear grayish. The skin is home to hundreds of thousands of mites and eggs.
- If you have come into contact with someone who is infected with scabies, then you need to watch for these symptoms.
Step 2. Visit your doctor
It is important to see a doctor. Over-the-counter and home remedies will not completely cure this infection.
- The doctor usually only needs to look at the rash to diagnose the condition. The doctor can also take a sample. To do this, he will scrape off the skin under the tubercle in order to examine mites, eggs and excrement under a microscope.
- Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, have a serious medical condition or other severe skin conditions.
Step 3. Treat the itch yourself
If you have severe itching, you can start treating it yourself until your doctor gives you a prescription or prescription. Cold water or liquid from sunburn can help relieve itching. You can also take oral antihistamines such as hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Atarax) and diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl).
For very severe itching, your doctor may recommend a short course of topical or oral steroids
Step 4. Get a doctor's prescription
Once diagnosed, your doctor will usually prescribe a mite-killing cream or lotion containing 5% permethrin.
- Permethrin is intended for external use and has side effects such as stinging / burning and itching.
- Usually, the effect of permethrin appears after a single use (within 8-14 hours). But after the first use, the doctor may recommend reapplying the drug after a week in order to destroy the newly hatched mites.
- For people with severe infections and weakened immune systems, doctors may prescribe ivermectin as an oral treatment. Ivermectin is an oral medication. It is commonly used for Norwegian scabies in a single dose. Some doctors may prescribe a second dose a week later. Side effects of ivermectin include fever / chills, headache, loss of appetite, joint pain, and rash.
- The doctor may prescribe other creams instead of permethrin. They contain: 10% crotamiton, 1% lindane or 6% sulfur. They are used less often, in cases where the patient has not been helped by treatment with permethrin or ivermectin. Treatment with Crotamiton is often ineffective. Side effects include rashes and itching. Lindane is toxic if overused or misused. Side effects of lindane are cramps and rashes.
- If you have a serious bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Step 5. Learn more about herbal remedies
There are some herbs that are traditionally used to treat scabies. Their effectiveness is still being investigated. Prescription drugs are currently the only proven remedy. Do not rely on this treatment alone. You can talk to your doctor about adding one of these herbs to your basic treatment:
- Nim (Indian Azadirakhta)
- Karanja (Pongamia plumose)
- Turmeric (Turmeric long)
- Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia)
- Darvi (Barberry spinous)
Part 2 of 3: Treating scabies
Step 1. Shower and dry your body with a fresh, clean towel
Allow your body to cool down after showering before using the medication.
Step 2. Apply cream or lotion
First, apply it behind the ears and on the chin, then work your way down slowly. Apply it with a cotton swab, brush, sponge, or any item sold with this product.
- Continue to massage the cream all over your body. Don't miss any part of your body. Try to apply it on your genitals, soles of your feet, between your toes, on your back and buttocks. Ask someone to help you apply it to areas you cannot reach on your own.
- After covering your body, take care of your hands. Apply it between your fingers and under your nails. You will need to reapply the cream to your hands after each hand wash.
Step 3. Please wait
Leave the lotion or oil on your body for as long as instructed. Usually for 8 - 24 hours.
How long the drug should remain on the skin depends on the specific drug and the doctor's recommendations
Step 4. Rinse off the cream or lotion in the shower
When the allotted time has passed, wash off the drug under a warm shower. Remember that itching may persist for several weeks after treatment.
This is because the allergic reaction to the mites does not go away while the dead bodies of the mites are in the skin. If this bothers you, talk to your doctor again
Step 5. Treat all household members
All family members should be treated, even if they do not show signs of scabies. This will avoid re-infection.
Do not forget about those who come to your house. These may be relatives who have lived with you for a while, nannies and other visitors
Step 6. Reapply the product as recommended
Usually the cream is applied once and then reapplied after seven days. But this will depend on the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Be sure to follow these guidelines.
You will likely need to return to your appointment after a week or two for the doctor to assess the improvement and prescribe additional treatment
Part 3 of 3: How to avoid re-infection
Step 1. Clean the house
To prevent re-infection after treatment, it is very important to thoroughly clean the house. The scabies mite can live for one to two days outside the body. Cleaning will eliminate any remaining ticks.
- Disinfect the bathroom by wiping the floor and all surfaces (this must be done after the first application of the drug).
- Vacuum floors, carpets, and rugs. Throw the bag or its contents into a street waste bin as soon as possible.
- Soak the mop in bleach after every cleaning.
- Steam clean your carpet using a professional or your own steam cleaner.
- Change the filters in the heating system once a week.
Step 2. Wash all towels and bedding in hot water
Wash your bedding daily for another week after the last blisters appear. Wear disposable gloves when removing bedding.
- If you have a heavy blanket, you can put it in an airtight bag for 72 hours.
- Dry clothes and bedding in a hot dryer or on a clothesline in hot weather in direct sunlight. Dry cleaning works too.
- Place blankets in the dryer every night before bed until you are sure the infection has stopped.
Step 3. Wash your clothes daily
Pack clothes that cannot be washed in an airtight bag for 72 hours to one week
- This same approach is effective for stuffed animals, brushes, combs, shoes, coats, gloves, hats, robes, wetsuits, and so on. You can buy vacuum bags that are sealed and do not take up much space.
- Collect all your clothes at the same time.
Step 4. Ask someone for help
If possible, have someone else cook and do the laundry and the like over the next day. This will provide you with the best treatment effect. Scabies medications may not work well if water gets on your skin while washing dishes or cooking.
- If you live alone, try some ready-made meals that only need to be reheated until tender. Wash the dishes in the dishwasher or use disposable utensils until you are free to use water again.
- If water does get on your skin, then immediately apply the medicine to the affected areas.
Step 5. After six weeks, reassess your condition
If you continue to itch after six weeks, it may mean that the treatment has not worked. Talk to your doctor for further advice and new treatment options.
Advice
- Itching may persist for about a month after all ticks die, but if new bumps do not appear, then you have recovered.
- The eggs hatch every 2 ½ days. If you notice new bumps 2½ days after the first application, talk to your doctor, as you may need to reapply the cream and everything else. You have killed the adults, but the eggs under the skin may not have been destroyed, resulting in new mites. Get rid of them before they lay their eggs.
- Try not to come into contact with infected people.
- Wipe as many items in the house as possible as efficiently as possible. After treatment, wash all items (such as clothing, bedding, and towels) that have come in contact with all infected individuals in the past three days.
- Use disposable gloves when loading the dirty clothes of infected people into the washing machine. You don't want to increase the number of insects you already have. Use new gloves every day. Use a different pair of gloves to pull the clothes out of the dryer and fold them.
- Store contaminated people's dirty clothes in trash bags, away from the clothes of other family members. Do not put dirty clothes in baskets that are used for clean laundry, or you may re-contaminate your clothes.
- Only use ivermectin if no other medication provides relief. It can make your eyes very sensitive to light for about 24 hours, so wear sunglasses most of the day.
Warnings
- Stop applying any kind of scabies medicine if you continue to itch. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice and help.
- Do not use steroids or corticosteroids unless directed by your doctor. Do not use them to combat itching as they can weaken your immune system.