Scabies - what works?

xsquared · 2025-01-30T15:15:27+00:00

Not me, but ds who is at uni has got scabies, so he and his girlfriend have been applying Dermac for two weeks, but to no avail. He's pretty miserable about it understandably, but can anyone offer some glimmer of hope. What works? How long does it last? DS also says he's had new bites songs not convinced the cream is working. 😔

xmasdealhunter · 30/01/2025 15:21

Get him to go to the doctors- they can prescribe an oral medicine or different lotion. Also make sure he has washed all bedding on the hottest wash he can, as well as clothing and towels. Any clothes that can't be washed need to be put into a sealed bag for at least 3 days or the mites will still be there, and treatment will be pointless. He might also find that Neem soap helps, use it before his usual body wash. 100% Herbal Neem/Turmeric Protecting Soap

Original poster

xsquared · 30/01/2025 15:29

Thank you. Have you had it before yourself?
If so, how long was it before you stopped itching?

He's just come back from the pharmacy and will try the GP tomorrow.

OP posts:

TheignT · 30/01/2025 15:45

My GS got it last summer. I think it took about 3 months to clear it. We were naive and there is alot to get your head round.

I assume your GS has been using Derbac M? That is what worked for GS, doctor prescribed Lyclear which he used several times and didn't work.

Really important that they treat at the same time. The day you treat strip bed and wash all bed clothes and towels on a hot wash. Have a shower or bath, make sure body is dry and apply the Derbac all over, you get told to avoid face and scalp but we did that in the end. You keep the Derbac on for 24 hrs, if you wash any off, say washing hands after using the toilet, you must reapply to that area. You wear all clean clothes after the treatment. Things that haven't been worn for at least 3 days or have had a hot wash. Anything not washable put it in a sealed plastic bag for 3 days. Make sure to vacuum well after treatment.

To make sure you get any hiding under nails use an old toothbrush to make sure the lotion goes under toe and finger nails.

One week later you do it all again.

The itching will go on for a while, maybe a month or more. The important thing is no burrows, the little threads where the eggs have been laid.

I bought some cheap trainers for him and all his shoes and trainers got sealed in plastic bags for a week or so to make sure anything on them was dead.

If you have a few treatments you can get irritation from the treatments so sometimes it seems hard to know if it is the irritation or scabies but again the big give away is if there are threads.

It is a horrible infestation and I think it can make you quite paranoid. I hope he gets it sorted. With GS I had to tell him to stop with the treatment and give his skin a chance to heal and fortunately that was it.

xmasdealhunter · 30/01/2025 15:51

xsquared · 30/01/2025 15:29

Thank you. Have you had it before yourself?
If so, how long was it before you stopped itching?

He's just come back from the pharmacy and will try the GP tomorrow.

My Niece had it at uni, and it took around a month for the itching to go away. You have to be REALLY consistent with cleaning, wash bedding and towels once a week on the hottest wash

Original poster

xsquared · 30/01/2025 15:53

Thank you @xmasdealhunter . I shall let him know.

OP posts:

Original poster

xsquared · 30/01/2025 15:55

TheignT · 30/01/2025 15:45

My GS got it last summer. I think it took about 3 months to clear it. We were naive and there is alot to get your head round.

I assume your GS has been using Derbac M? That is what worked for GS, doctor prescribed Lyclear which he used several times and didn't work.

Really important that they treat at the same time. The day you treat strip bed and wash all bed clothes and towels on a hot wash. Have a shower or bath, make sure body is dry and apply the Derbac all over, you get told to avoid face and scalp but we did that in the end. You keep the Derbac on for 24 hrs, if you wash any off, say washing hands after using the toilet, you must reapply to that area. You wear all clean clothes after the treatment. Things that haven't been worn for at least 3 days or have had a hot wash. Anything not washable put it in a sealed plastic bag for 3 days. Make sure to vacuum well after treatment.

To make sure you get any hiding under nails use an old toothbrush to make sure the lotion goes under toe and finger nails.

One week later you do it all again.

The itching will go on for a while, maybe a month or more. The important thing is no burrows, the little threads where the eggs have been laid.

I bought some cheap trainers for him and all his shoes and trainers got sealed in plastic bags for a week or so to make sure anything on them was dead.

If you have a few treatments you can get irritation from the treatments so sometimes it seems hard to know if it is the irritation or scabies but again the big give away is if there are threads.

It is a horrible infestation and I think it can make you quite paranoid. I hope he gets it sorted. With GS I had to tell him to stop with the treatment and give his skin a chance to heal and fortunately that was it.

Thank you. Yes, he is being very miserable about it, but at the same time he seems to want to take the easiest route and cut corners.
I just have to reassure him that other needs to persist in the treatment and going to the doctor when it doesn't work.

OP posts:

TheignT · 30/01/2025 20:00

I think my GS was cutting corners so I was very firm with him in the end and told him he couldn't come home at Christmas if he didn't get it sorted. He was also away at university. Amazingly the next treatment worked and I think he was really careful with all the washing and cleaning. There aren't any shortcuts, the treatment can clear it but if they use infected towels sheets clothes it just starts again

Hope he gets it sorted.