Over The Counter Scabies Treatment

Permethrin

Permethrin is now available as an over the counter scabies treatment as well as by prescription. It is sold under the brand name “Elimite” or “Nix Dermal Cream”. If you are going to use Permethrin to treat scabies, it is important that you purchase the 5% solution.  The 1% Permethrin cream rinse solution product is intended for the over the counter treatment of lice and is not potent enough to kill scabies.  In addition, 1% cream rinse cannot be left on your body for more than 10 minutes which is not enough time to kill scabies even if it were effective as an over the counter scabies treatment. 

Permethrin is an insecticide based scabies treatment and therefore, poses the health risks associated with human exposure to insecticide.

Benzyl Benzoate

Benzyl benzoate is another over the counter scabies treatment available without a prescription.  It is applied over clean skin from the neck down and left on for 24 hours before washing. It is important to follow the application directions very carefully in order to avoid serious side effects.  The manufacturers of benzyl benzoate warn that pregnant women should only use the product if other treatments are not available and that breast feeding should be discontinued during treatment. When administered as an over the counter scabies treatment, Benzyl Benzoate is applied on the entire body from the neck down and left on for 24 hours.  Overdose is a potential problem with this benzyl benzoate if directions are not followed carefully.  Warning signs of a possible overdoes include include blistering, oozing, itching or scaling skin and crusting. Loss of consciousness has also been known to occur.

Any over the counter scabies treatment comes with the risk of side effects.  Make sure that you are knowledgeable about the risks of conventional scabies drugs so that you can make an informed treatment decision.

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