Although scabies mites cannot live longer than 48-72 hours, there have been a few cases of apparent transmission through infested clothing, bedding and through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
Alternate treatments are available but it is a good idea to call doctor or dermatologist specially if the itch worsens at night and seems to center around the wrists or the webbed part of the fingers.
Doctors mostly treat scabies by prescribing medicated creams or lotions to kill the scabies mites. The typical medications involve:
Elimite ® 5% Permethrin Cream or lotion that kills the mites but does not treat rash therefore you may need steroid creams, oral antihistamines such as Atarax, Benadryl, and Periactin. Antihistamines and steroids orally or topically help in making it tolerable.
Selsun lotion and Sulfur ointments are also effective in treating scabies. Lice R Gone ®, Safe Solutions, and borax have also proven to be successful.
There is a new and probably most effective treatment called Ivermectic pills. Kwell (lindane) are also effective but felt to be too toxic for routine use.
