Scabies - aaagh!

[mrsmootoo]

DD age 22 (student house share) has had scabies for weeks. (Not STD related). Has now started antibiotics from GP. Supposed to take weekly but first dose has had no effect so far. She's done all the washing of clothes bedding etc. Now she's got 2 lotions: Permethrin Lotion and Benzocare Lotion. Will this work? Any other suggestions. Thanks.

Antibiotics will do nothing at all for scabies, I can't understand why she was given them.

Permethrin lotion should have been the first treatment she was given! And it needs applying to every inch of her body, at least twice a week apart.

They usually treat the whole household, are her housemates also being treated and washing everything?

Hi
I have to give you my experience. I started itching toward the end of July this year (no marks) mainly on my legs. Went to the doctor 4 times and they couldn't tell me what it was. Referred for blood tests, given anti fungal wash, nothing worked. Fell pregnant about a month after the itching started meaning they were even more wary of giving me anything. The 4th doctor I saw referred me to dermatology but also said it could be scabies but couldn't be sure and couldn't tell me to take the permethrin or not. By this time I had a rash on my arms, inner thighs, neck and torso. I had had about enough as it was unbareable so went to 3 local pharmacists who were all very helpful. Took the last one to say 'look we don't recommend it but very little is absorbed into the skin and u would likely be okay'. I took his opinion and ran with the tubes. Applied the cream all over, left it overnight, doctor called me a week later to follow up and was surprised I'd taken the permethrin and it had improved 70%. She said scabies usually needs two treatments but couldn't tell me to take the second as I was pregnant palm slap on forehead so I did another treatment, making sure I even got under the toenails and finger nails with a toothpick. Washed sheets and clothes at 60,anything I couldn't wash I bagged up and left for 5 days. Basically you need to live out of a bag for 5 days. Hoover the capets, mattress and sofas and make a tea tree oil for spray mixing water and tea tree oil, the buggers hate the stuff. You can spritz it on carpets bedding and upholstery. The itching will continue! It's now week 6 from the first treatment and I can say I'm 95% better but it really does take time for the itching to die down.. It took 3 and a half months in total for this ordeal to end but it will end. Also everyone in the house needs to get treated at the same time. My other half started itching and had likely caught it but even if he hadn't he would still need to undergo treatment. Hope this helps and I wish you all the best in getting rid of em!

This feedback has been really helpful. I have been going through the same and the itching is off the scale unbearable. The first doctor said it was contact dermatitis, but it has spread, and it’s clearly scabies and the second doctor said it could be and has prescribed cream. I’m going to apply a second tube just in case as I’ve got new spots appearing 3 days post first cream application. Just wondering what quantities tea tree to water did you use for the spray?

I'd say buy one of those £1 spray bottles from pound land or wherever and fill it up with water and about 10 drops of tea tree oil or so,you will be able to tell with the smell it should be noticeable but not overpowering. It took me the best part of 5 months for my skin to get back to normal but even now its super sensitive! All the best of luck I definitely feel your pain! But do the permethrin treatment a week apart and you should be okay.

Oh god I had scabies it was a nightmare. Took so long to work out what it was. As above, two slatherings of permethrin and wash everything.
the itching lasted a long time afterwards which made me think it hadn’t gone away but the doctor said my skin had just become really
sensitive. Lots of dry skin moisturiser helped for that eventually.

I had scabies as a teenager and needed antibiotics from a secondary infection - it was awful!

Hi, I'm off to see a private Dermatologist tomorrow as the 4 GPs have done their best but even the most experienced once told me he's only seen scabies a couple of times and seems I knew more than him (after extensive online research). I did the first permethrin on Thurs 2 and second on Thurs 9 Feb. Since then the rash has spread a bit on my chest and bottom (sorry TMI). I am in a very bad place today (can't wait for answers tomorrow) even clothing is making it worse and nights are awful. Did anyone have the rash spread at all after the treatments? and when should it ease off even a bit? I having cold showers 2-3x daily and using Eurax, antihistamines, ice packs, Betnovate, it's truly horrific. Grateful for any feedback :)

So sorry to hear! You've done the right thing with the treatment a week apart just make sure everything's washed at 60 and what can't be washed bag up and leave for at least 3 days. In terms of the rash getting worse it can get worse before it gets better and post scabies rash can last months in some cases. The itching is from the allergic reaction to the skin from the dead mites and eggs falling out. The main thing is that you shouldn't have any new bites. Oat baths helped alot, child's farm oat derma range and also a menthol based aqueous cream, steroid creams won't work at all!

I had the worst scabies in the history of the world (so it felt) about 15 years ago.

I itched for weeks after three lots of treatment and then to make things even better I had an allergic reaction to permethrin and my eyes swelled shut.

Buy stronger antihistamines (the ones that make you sleepy, promethazine is it?) to use at night so you at least get some sleep.

It did start to slowly get better maybe 7-10 days after the last treatment. But tbh my skin never fully recovered, I now get allergic reactions to washing powder and insect bites that I never had before.

Just wanted to say thank you for all the feedback, it really helped. The private Dr I saw (cost £225 + prescription) was worth every penny and a I would highly recommend if you can find the money. He told me I had no live mites or eggs on my body (which was worth the money itself as I could stop washing the house like crazy) and said the rash could be post-scabies or stress (I think a combo). My skin was a right mess with the rash all over the tops of my legs and torso. I couldn't sleep with anything other than a sheet as it aggravated the rash and had to stand to work at my laptop as sitting was too uncomfortable. Anyway I think you get the gist of the discomfort. The Dr prescribed Mometasone Furoate cream - what a godsend - the 200+ tiny blisters/bites on my back cleared within about 5 days and 2 1/2 weeks after starting with it 95% of the rash on my body is gone (I have residual itching but that's going). My GP prescribed Hydroxyzine which was really helpful too and helped me sleep. Honestly the worst medical issue I've ever had (including a horrific child bearing experience). Wanted to share about the cream and tablets to help anyone in the same state.

@Wanderlust73 good news that you are cured.
Today, I really think that I have scabies, I have been scratching my leg and putting Cetaphil on (because I had some, its not for scabies) and several small things came out.
Is that like what you had?

I don't want to take permethrin.

Hi, no I didn’t have anything come out of any of the blisters/lumps etc - I’d make an appointment with the GP. Sure it’s something easy to sort out!

Permethrin isn’t bad - quite an easy cream to apply and I didn’t have any side effects.

I had horrific scabies last year 'dermol' lotion is second line treatment but I preferred it and found it more effective.

Sorry! It's called Derbac M, not dermol

Thanks for your quick replies! @Wanderlust73 @thesilver @mrsmootoo
Just spent 30 minutes scratching my leg, on off itching, putting a clear vaseline like cream on and around 50 small brown things came out! Is that scabies? Aaagh.

Scabies mites are less than 0.5mm big. You can't see them. You don't have scabies.
You need to get to a doctor asap!

Yes agree, book to see your GP

@Seeline and @Wanderlust73 thanks. That's what I will do; shame its a bank holiday Sunday.

No problem. I’d go to a Pharmacy today though just to prevent an infection kicking in 😊

Good idea! I can get to a Boots. I wonder if I will believed but I will take the tissue with the bits on.

Lice?!?

Assuming you are in the UK, have you been abroad recently?

I am a nurse and bought scabies home a while ago. Did two treatments of permethrin on everyone, washed bedding on 60+ and didn’t seem to work. Tried malothian (derbac m) and found it was better!
My sympathies, the itch is like nothing else!!

I went to Italy and I have been staying in hotels. Live in the UK.