Scabies treatment in Australia usually means a pharmacy-only cream or a prescription medicine from your GP, used by everyone in your household at the same time, plus hot-washing your bedding, towels and clothes. Scabies is very itchy and spreads easily, but it’s treatable, and nobody should feel embarrassed about it. Here are the questions we’re asked most, answered using Australian health advice. For other conditions, see our common illnesses A–Z.
What is scabies?
Scabies is a skin condition caused by a tiny mite that burrows into the top layer of the skin to live and lay eggs. Your body reacts to the mites and their eggs, which causes the intense itch. It’s very contagious and spreads quickly between people who are in close contact.
Scabies has nothing to do with how clean you are. Anyone can catch it.
What does scabies look like?
The main signs are:
- intense itching, usually worse at night and after a hot bath or shower;
- fine, thread-like tracks (burrows) on the skin;
- small red bumps, blisters or a rash;
- scratch marks and sores from scratching.
According to healthdirect, it’s commonly found on the wrists, between the fingers and toes, in the armpits, on the elbows, in the groin and in the creases of the bottom. The Royal Children’s Hospital notes that babies and young children often get fluid-filled bumps on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and sometimes on the scalp.
Why didn’t I notice it straight away?
Symptoms can take weeks to appear after you’ve caught scabies. healthdirect says it may take up to 6 weeks. That’s why people around you may already have it even if they aren’t itchy yet.
How do you catch scabies?
Mostly through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it, such as living together, sleeping in the same bed, caring for young children, or sexual contact. healthdirect notes that 20 minutes of close contact can be enough. It can also spread through shared bedding, towels and clothing, though this is less common.
Places where people live or sleep close together make spread easier. Think share houses, childcare, aged care, and the hostels and holiday rentals that fill up around the Gold Coast during school holidays. If you’ve been travelling or staying somewhere crowded and develop an itchy rash afterwards, mention it to your pharmacist or GP.
What is the treatment for scabies in Australia?
There are two main types of treatment:
- a pharmacy-only cream for scabies, which you can get from a pharmacist without a prescription;
- a prescription medicine from your GP, which your doctor may recommend in some situations.
Scabies treatments usually need to be used more than once to catch mites that hatch after the first round, so follow the label or your pharmacist’s or doctor’s advice carefully. Your pharmacist will explain how and where to apply the cream so you don’t miss any areas.
Some people need extra care, including babies and young children, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone with a weakened immune system. Tell your pharmacist if any of these apply, and ask which option suits you.
What is crusted scabies?
Crusted scabies is a severe form that causes thick, crusted skin and involves very large numbers of mites. It’s much more contagious and needs medical treatment, sometimes with several medicines, so it must be managed by a doctor.
Does everyone in the house need treatment?
Yes. healthdirect advises that everyone in your house should be treated at the same time, even people who have no symptoms. This is the step people most often skip, and it’s the main reason scabies keeps coming back. Close contacts outside the home, such as sexual partners, should be treated too.
How do I clean the house after scabies?
You don’t need to fumigate or deep-clean your whole home. Following healthdirect’s advice, after treatment:
- Wash towels, bedding and clothes used recently in water at 60°C or higher, and dry them on a hot setting if you can.
- Bag anything you can’t wash, such as soft toys or shoes, in a sealed plastic bag for 8 days.
- Avoid body contact with untreated items like couches and car seats for 3 days, or cover them.
- Stay home from work, school or childcare until 24 hours after treatment.
Why am I still itchy after scabies treatment?
This is very common. The itch can hang around for weeks after the mites have gone; the Royal Children’s Hospital says it may take up to three weeks to settle. It doesn’t necessarily mean the treatment hasn’t worked.
To ease the itch in the meantime, keep fingernails short, use a gentle soap-free wash and moisturiser, and try cool compresses. A pharmacist can suggest products to soothe itchy skin. If you’re still itchy after a few weeks, or you’re getting new burrows or spots, see your GP. You may be reacting to the treatment, or you may have been reinfected.
How can a pharmacist help with scabies?
We can look at your symptoms, talk you through a pharmacy-only scabies cream and how to use it for the whole household, suggest options for the itch, and tell you when you need to see a doctor instead. You can ask in private if you’d rather not discuss it at the counter.
If you need a prescription or a diagnosis, the Help Medical GPs located inside our store can help.
When should I see a GP about scabies?
See your GP if:
- you’re not sure whether it’s scabies, as other skin conditions can look similar;
- a baby, a young child, or someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding needs treatment;
- the skin looks infected: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, crusting or weeping sores, or you have a fever;
- you notice thick, crusted or scaly skin, which may be crusted scabies;
- the itch hasn’t eased a few weeks after treatment, or new spots or burrows appear;
- scabies keeps coming back in your household;
If someone with infected skin becomes very unwell, confused or has trouble breathing, call 000.
Talk to our pharmacists at Pacific Fair
If you think you or your family have scabies, our pharmacists can talk you through treatment for the whole household and what to do with the washing, discreetly. Pop in, with no appointment needed. Find us on the ground floor of Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, open 7 days (until 9pm Thursdays), or call (07) 5592 2099.
Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey (BPharmSci, MPharm), Pharmacist.
Sources
This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.