Have you ever been caught with scabies and wondered about their treatment to help you get rid of an uncomfortable itch? Before digging into scabies treatment, let’s understand what scabies is.
The Sarcoptes scarbiei mite causes scabies. Scabies is an infestation rather than an illness. The mite colonizes the surface of human skin. The invasion is not well received by the skin.
The infestation causes a raging rash and constant itching as the mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin. It results in an itch that keeps you up at night. For scabies treatment, there are certain ointments or medications and natural treatments to treat it.
Keep reading to learn more about scabies treatments!!
Table of Contents
An Overview of Scabies
Before knowing the natural home remedies to get rid of scabies let’s get an overview. The Sarcoptes scabiei mite, which causes scabies, is a skin infestation. These tiny mites can remain on your skin for months if left untreated. They procreate on the surface of your skin before burrowing underneath to lay eggs. As a result of this, your skin develops red, itchy scabies rash.
According to the top dermatologist in Karachi, Dr. Syed Jaffar Imam “At any given time, there are over 200 million cases of scabies worldwide.” In addition, it is a highly contagious illness that is easily spread from one person to another by making direct contact with their skin.
Scabies’ treatment includes medications to eradicate the mites and their eggs. Also, doctors frequently advise treatment even for those who have frequent contact with a person who has scabies because of how contagious it is.
Scabies causes
Wait for a little more to know that natural home remedies to get rid of scabies.
What are scabies causes? An infestation of small, eight-legged mites leads to scabies.
To survive and eat, the mites tunnel into the top layer of your skin. There, mite females produce eggs. When the mites and their excrement contact your skin, a red, itching scabies rash appears.
The most typical method of spreading the infestation is by direct skin-to-skin contact. Additionally, contaminated surfaces can disseminate the mites, such as clothes, bedding, and furniture.
Scabies symptoms
The symptoms of scabies may take two to five weeks to manifest after the initial exposure. However, people with a history of scabies typically have symptoms more quickly, frequently 1 to 4 days after exposure. But natural home remedies to get rid of scabies can fix everything.
Common signs and symptoms of scabies include:
- Itching that is typically acute and worse at night
- Thin, erratic burrow marks on your skin that look like tiny blisters or lumps (usually, the tracks or burrows emerge in skin folds)
Scabies can affect practically any portion of the body. However, it is most frequently observed in adults and older children in the following areas of the body:
- Between fingers
- Armpits
- Insides of the wrists
- Inner elbows
- Soles of the feet
- Breasts
- Buttocks
- Knees
- Around the waist
For newborns and young children, common locations of infestation typically include:
- Hand palms
- Soles of the feet
- Scalp
When to contact a doctor? Scabies diagnosis
Make an appointment with your healthcare practitioner if you believe you or your kid has scabies symptoms. To consult with the best dermatologists in town, you can make an appointment via Healthwire.
What will your doctor do?
Before you know the natural home remedies to get rid of scabies, your doctor will inspect your skin and search for mite indicators, such as recognizable burrows, to determine if you have scabies. When a mite burrow is found, your doctor could take a scrape from that region of your skin to look at under a microscope. The presence of mites or their eggs can be detected through a microscopic inspection.
Scabies rash treatment
The most common method of treating scabies is to use topical prescription creams, lotions, and ointments to eradicate the infestation. There are other oral medicines available.
Let’s have a look at scabies treatments in detail!
Topicals for scabies treatment
Your doctor will probably instruct you to apply the prescribed topical to your entire body, starting at your neck, and to keep it there for at least eight to ten hours.
Dr. Ayesha Rehman who is one of the top dermatologists in Pakistan says that the best time to apply the drug is likely at night when the mites are most active. The following morning, the drug can be removed with water. Besides all this, one question pops up in mind there are other ways other than natural home remedies to get rid of scabies
The following creams and lotions are frequently recommended for scabies:
Permethrin lotion: Chemicals in the topical lotion permethrin kill scabies mites and their eggs. The prevailing consensus is that it is safe for adults, expectant mothers, and kids 2 months and older.
Crotamiton (Eurax, Crotan): Both cream and a lotion are options for this treatment. For two days, it is administered just once each day. The safety of this medicine in children, seniors 65 and older, or women who are pregnant or nursing has not been determined.
Other options: Some common medications used to treat scabies include:
- Benzyl benzoate lotion (25 %)
- Lindane lotion (1 %)
- Sulfur ointment (10 %)
NOTE: Although the mites are quickly killed by these drugs, you might discover that the itching doesn’t completely disappear for a few weeks.
Also, get to know about skin rashes treatment in detail.
Medications for scabies
To deal with some of the annoying scabies rash symptoms (itching), your doctor may also recommend additional drugs besides natural home remedies to get rid of scabies.
- Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or pramoxine lotion assist manage the itching
- Steroids to reduce swelling and itching
- Antibiotics to treat any infections that arise from persistent skin scratching
If the scabies is severe or widespread, more intensive treatment may be required. For that, doctors may prescribe Ivermectin (Stromectol) – a pill that can be taken orally.
Ivermectin is recommended to those who have:
- Compromised immune systems
- Crusted scabies
- Those who don’t respond to the prescribed creams and lotions
CAUTION: Ivermectin is not advised for use in children under the age of 13 or in pregnant or nursing women.
Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Scabies at Home
Now, let’s go over some straightforward home remedies for scabies symptoms relief:
1- Tea tree oil
A well-known essential oil is tea tree oil. According to certain research studies, tea tree oil may help treat scabies while also reducing itching and removing the rash. It may even help remove eggs buried deep under the skin.
2- Aloe vera
Doctors at Farooq Hospital Iqbal Town say that aloe vera is well known for reducing skin irritation and burning, and it is believed to contain antibacterial and antifungal qualities. It has been found that aloe vera is equally effective at treating scabies as a pharmaceutical medication. It was discovered to be as effective as the prescription medicine benzyl benzoate.
Get to know more about the health benefits of aloe vera.
3- Clove oil and other essential oils
One of the best natural home remedies to get rid of scabies is the use of oils. Some essential oils, including clove oil, are known to have potential insecticidal effects that could be used to treat scabies.
In a research study, the efficiency of several essential oils for eliminating scabies was studied. The scientists discovered that, in the following order, these oils were the most effective:
- Clove oil
- Palmarosa oil
- Geranium oil
- Tea tree oil
- Lavender oil
However, more study is needed to determine whether it is beneficial for people.
THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS:
- Before using them, discuss with your healthcare provider, and make sure to check the product quality of any brand you are considering.
- Always do a patch test of essential oil on your arm first.
- Before applying essential oils to your skin, always dilute them with a carrier oil.
Read to know more about essential oils.
4- Oatmeal bath
To lowering inflammation, an oatmeal soak is an excellent approach. As a result, it might aid in reducing scabies-related itching. Although there is no proof that it will treat scabies, it can make you more comfortable while your symptoms last.
5- Neem
One of the best natural home remedies to get rid of scabies is the use of neem. The substances found in the neem tree’s bark, leaves, and seeds can kill the scabies-causing mites. Therefore, you can use soaps, lotions, and oils made with neem tree extract to kill the mites.
6- Cold Compress
Applying a cool compress to the skin can help lessen the scabies rash itching. Try taking a chilly bath or using a cool, damp washcloth to the itchiest parts of your body.
7- Last but not least, Cleaning up!!!
Even if this is not a direct treatment for the condition, if someone has scabies, they should take the following measure:
- Wash any clothing, bedding, or other fabric that has come into contact with them or their skin with hot water. This will help stop mites from spreading to other parts of the wearer’s body or to other people.
- Seal anything that is unwashable in plastic bags for at least five days.
- On the day your therapy starts, vacuum every piece of furniture in your home.
- Everyone who resides in a house where an infection has been found should follow the same cleaning procedures, whether or not they were bitten.
What if scabies treatment doesn’t work?
Keep in mind!!! Scabies rash takes some time to disappear, and while the rash begins to heal, the itching can continue.
It will feel like the symptoms are becoming worse in the first week of treatment. However, after the first week, you’ll experience reduced itching, and by the fourth week of treatment, you should be fully recovered.
However, if you notice that your symptoms persist after receiving treatment for four weeks, call your doctor straight once.
5 FAQs About Scabies Disease and Treatment
Here are some FAQs about scabies that you must have in your mind after reading the whole article:
Is scabies contagious?
Yes, it is highly contagious. It can spread through sexual contact, prolonged skin-to-skin contact, and the sharing of clothing, linens, and towels.
Who gets scabies?
Scabies can affect anyone. The mites do not differentiate according to gender, color, social position, or degree of money. Additionally, your level of personal hygiene, including how frequently you bathe or shower, has no bearing on whether you contract mites.
Can I see scabies mites?
Scabies mites can grow up to 0.45 millimeters (1/56th of an inch), or roughly the size of a pin tip, so they are invisible to the human eye.
What’s better, home remedies or medication for scabies?
A prescription cream is the only way to get rid of scabies in less than 24 hours. You can also use home remedies for scabies symptoms and prevent an outbreak in addition to prescription medications. This is crucial for comfort since, even after medicines have eliminated the mites, scabies itching can last for two to four weeks.
Can I do scabies natural treatment with topicals?
The majority of non-prescription scabies treatments can work in conjunction with home remedies for scabies. However, discuss your specific treatment strategy with your healthcare practitioner.
