Applying Scabies Cream

Scabies is a very itchy rash caused by a parasitic mite that burrows into the surface of the skin. It is caused by skin-to-skin contact with someone else who has scabies. The contact may be quite brief (such as holding hands with an infected child). On rare occasions, scabies is acquired from bedding or furnishings.

The management of a scabies outbreak involves the identification and treatment of individual patients and household contacts with a special scabies cream.

To get rid of scabies, the anti-scabies cream has to be on for a minimum of 8 hours. The cream is applied to every member of the family at night, before going to bed.

To get rid of all the mites, it is important to cover every part of the body from the neck down, making sure to apply the cream:

Behind the ears
To the neck
In all skin creases and folds
Under the armpits
Around the groin area
In between fingers and toes

The product is then rinsed off in the morning.

Before getting back into bed, it is important to wash all bedding and linen to get rid of all the mites.