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Learning More About Natural Scabies Treatment

A really contagious skin disease which results in itching in one's skin is referred to as scabies, also sometimes called the seven-year itch. It is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei, a very tiny and almost invisible parasite with 8 legs, that burrows under your skin and creates extreme allergic itching. Small female mites feed on you and me, with the males being even smaller.

With the help of a magnifying glass or a microscope, you can easily detect the presence of mites. These mites cannot move in places with temperature that is below 20 degrees C despite the capacity to survive for a long period in the said temperature. They crawl instead of flying or jumping. As they try to lay eggs, they suck the host's blood and flesh, causing a crawling sensation which can be painful and disturbing.

Skin-to-skin contact can spread scabies. However, it would need a very close person-to-person interaction; therefore, scabies cannot be transmitted through shaking hands or hanging ones coat next to a coat that has an infected owner. Sexual physical contact could transmit the disease. Scabies, another sexually transmitted disease, is common among young people who are sexually active.

Scabies are usually found on the webs between the fingers, wrists, back of the elbows, knees, waist and umbilicus, armpit folds, area surrounding the nipples, feet, genital area, and buttocks. Scabies may appear on the face, neck, palms, and head, in infants and young children. These mites can interfere with one's daily activities, thus, it is important to get it treated as soon as possible.

A convenient method of how to get rid of scabies is scabicide drugs. Permethrin and ivermectin are used for the treatment of scabies. One of the most efficient scabies treatments is Permethrin, which is applied from the neck down and washed off after 8 to 14 hours. On the other hand, ivermectin is an oral anti-parasitic medication that is the recommendable treatment for crusted scabies.

Other alternate medications that can be used as scabies treatment are lindane, crotamiton, sulfur preparations, and antihistamines. Lindane is like permethrin, which is applied in the same manner, however, it can cause seizure if it is applied in a very irritated or wet skin. Cortamiton, on the other hand, is both a lotion and cream while sulfur prepared in petrolatum is used as a cream and is known to be the most traditional form of scabies treatment. Antihistamines just relieves the itching.

Every infected person in the community should be treated to avoid re-infection - home treatment for scabies would be ineffective if only one person is treated. Disinfect household items such as linens, bed clothes, furniture, clothing, rugs, etc. as these mites do not live long away from humans.