To get rid of scabies, a prescription anti-mite medication is essential to treatment. However, adding home remedies can help alleviate the symptoms as well as speed healing.
At-home treatments, like tea tree oil, oatmeal baths, and over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines, work alongside prescription treatments to relieve itching and keep the human itch mite from spreading to others.
Scabies is a red, itchy, and pimply rash caused by a microscopic human itch mite. Mite bite bumps are often in a row connected by a thin line, which is the burrow of the mite. Common on the wrists, fingers, armpits, waist, and genitals, scabies is intensely itchy.
Medical Treatment of Scabies
The only way to get rid of scabies in 24 hours is to use a prescription cream or oral ivermectin. Known as scabicides because they kill scabies, these creams contain:
- Ivermectin
- Permethrin 5% cream
- Sulfur ointment
Scabies is highly contagious. If a person is diagnosed with scabies, their household and intimate partners should be treated as well.
In addition to prescription creams, you can use home remedies to help control the symptoms of scabies and keep an outbreak from spreading.
This is important for comfort since the itching from scabies can continue for two to four weeks, even after treatment has killed the mites.
When To Seek Medical Care
To get rid of scabies, treatment is essential. Medication that treats scabies is only available by prescription.
Over-the-Counter Medications To Reduce Symptoms
In addition to prescription scabicides, you can use over-the-counter medications to help with symptoms like itchiness. These might include:
- Antihistamines to help control itching
- Pramoxine lotion to relieve itching
- Steroid creams to relieve swelling and itching
At-Home Symptom Relief Options
Tea Tree Oil: To use, apply an ointment containing less than 5% tea tree oil to affected skin (you can make this by mixing a few drops of oil with a lotion or coconut oil). Apply daily while experiencing symptoms.Research suggests that tea tree oil may help treat scabies, but its effectiveness in people still needs further study.
Oatmeal Baths: These are a great way to soothe itchy skin by reducing inflammation. Oatmeal baths may help control itchiness associated with scabies, although there’s no evidence that oatmeal cures scabies.
Baking Soda Baths: As an alternative to oatmeal, try a cool bath with 2 ounces of baking soda added. This can help soothe skin and alleviate itching.
Cold Compresses: Putting a cold/cool compress on your skin can reduce itchiness. Try an ice pack or a cool, damp washcloth on areas of the body that are particularly itchy.
Vinegar: You may have heard you can control scabies by applying vinegar to your skin and rinsing it off after a few minutes. However, there's no proof this works, and it could irritate your skin.
Avoid Soap: Soap can further irritate your skin when you have scabies. Wash with water, and avoid soap or scented lotions while your skin is inflamed.
Ways to Reduce Scabies Spread
In addition to treating yourself and your loved ones, it’s important to clean your home or living area to reduce the transmission of scabies.
- Wash bedding and clothes you’ve worn within the past seven days on the day you begin treatment. Use the hottest setting on both the washer and dryer.
- Bag things that can’t be washed, like pillows, in a plastic bag for at least one week. This will kill the mites.
- Vacuum your whole house, including furniture, on the day that you begin treatment.
- Treat the whole family since scabies can be asymptomatic. It’s important to treat all household members as equal partners, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Summary
While OTC medications and at-home remedies can help relieve scabies symptoms, prescription treatment is the only way to kill scabies and clear up the rash. Scabies symptoms can last up to four weeks after the mites have been killed.
Natural scabies treatments like tea tree oil, baking soda, or oatmeal baths, and applying an icepack can help relieve the intense itching from scabies and reduce the risk of transmission.
Scabies is highly contagious and can be asymptomatic. To prevent recurring infections, wash clothes and bedding in hot water, vacuum your furniture and floors, and treat everyone in the household.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of scabies.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Scabies: Diagnosis and treatment.
Thomas J, Carson CF, Peterson GM, et al. Therapeutic potential of tea tree oil for scabies. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2016;94(2):258. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.14-0515
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Home remedies: what can relieve itchy eczema?
Seattle Children’s Hospital. Scabies-itch mite rash.
Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, et al. Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(5):634-639
By Kelly Burch
Burch is a New Hampshire-based freelance health writer with a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston University.
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