Scabies Home Remedies
Scabies treatment in the privacy of your home

These Scabies Home Remedies will discretely help you fight the scabies infection that is bugging you (pun not intended) or your children. Many people no matter what status, lifestyle, group, community or age have gone before you and many will follow after you believe me

You are not the first or the last one that will try a home remedy for scabies, roughly because of 3 simple reasons:

First there is the (needless) social stigma and embarrassment. People feel that they will be ostracized because scabies is thought of as a ‘dirty or poor man’s’ condition. Nothing could be further from the truth because the mite that is causing it (Sarcoptes scabiei) likes all sorts and types of skin, clean or not, rich or not and it makes absolutely no distinction between social levels. Everyone can attract it no matter where they come from

Secondly there is the fear of potentially strong side effects of the doctor-prescribed scabies treatments. These contain many powerful chemical components

Finally and bluntly: Money. Commercial scabies treatments are quite pricy

Don't let it get to you,

These scabies home remedies will help you

right here, right now!

What is Scabies?

What is scabies exactly?

Scabies is an itchy and very contagious skin condition that is caused by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. This tiny creature burrows under the skin, which causes intense itching, especially at night

How do you get Scabies?

You can get scabies by skin-to-skin contact with other people who have it, the longer the contact the higher the chance of course. Also sharing of towels, clothes, bed sheets and other personal items with an infected person can lead to you getting scabies

It is very unlikely that you will get scabies from other sources than humans (e.g. cats or dogs) because their species of mite likes to stay on their own type of host. They also don’t survive long enough once they are away from their preferred host skin

We want to stress that scabies is found on all social levels. The slightest contact, even a handshake, is often more than enough for the mites to spread. It seems to be more common in younger children and older adolescents. It also appears more in girls than boys

Outbreaks of scabies occur most in nursing facilities, nursing homes, school classes and day care centers. From there it is very easy for the mites to spread across your family. You can even spread it to someone else before you experience the symptoms

Scabies Home Remedies
At home scabies treatment

If you are looking for a scabies treatment you can forget about over-the-counter products because these have not been proven to be effective in eliminating scabies. Doctor prescribed ones are very powerful, packed with chemicals and may cause nasty side effects

These natural scabies home remedies have worked for many people before you

Stop scratching

First, and most difficult, you have to try and scratch as less as possible. We know it is almost impossible but still…Over-scratching can break your skin and cause a new bacterial infection

To get some relief from itching

Cool and soak your skin

Soak in cool/ iced water
use an ice pack
apply a wet and cool washcloth

Oatmeal bath

Take an oatmeal bath; this will soothe your itching skin like nothing else. For ideas take a look at our homemade oatmeal bath recipes

Aloe Vera

Another good itch reliever is to apply Aloe Vera (gel is good, fresh is better) you can also mix it with a few drops of vitamin E oil

Powdered Calcium & Oil

Apply a mix of powdered calcium and a little oil to the area to fight the itch

Find the right home remedy for scabies

The following scabies home remedies are not about just one single treatment you also have to make sure that it won’t re-infest you and your family. It’s a whole regimen you and your family will have to follow and we’ll guide you through it

Scabies Home Remedies

Vinegar

For children the smell of vinegar on their skin is mostly unpleasant but for many, applying vinegar to the affected areas has proven to be one of the most effective scabies home remedies. Not to mention that it is inexpensive

Soak a cotton ball in undiluted white vinegar and apply it to the affected skin. Do this 3 to 4 times a day for 12 days. During this period also take regular lukewarm baths, this will clean the skin as well and soothe the itching

The Sarcoptes scabiei mite and its eggs won’t survive the acidic environment when applied consistently. Unfortunately it won’t soothe the itch but make sure you don’t put anything on it that may change the acidity level since that will nix the treatment

Scabies Home Remedies

Tea tree oil

A home remedy for scabies NOT suitable for children, but for adults only. Highly effective because it is so powerful, and that’s also the reason you should never use tea tree oil to treat children, their system can’t handle it yet

Tea tree oil has strong antibacterial properties, which will help kill the little critters. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which will help the healing of the wounds on your skin

First clean the affected area and then apply tea tree oil whenever it itches; before bed, during the night, whenever necessary

The tea tree oil will probably dry out your skin. You can remedy this by soaking in a lukewarm oatmeal bath; see our oatmeal bath recipes for more tips. And you can apply a good strong moisturizer, for ideas take a look at our homemade moisturizer recipes

Keep applying this to a few days after the mites have gone to get back to your normal skin

Caution

Do NOT use this tea tree oil home remedy for scabies on children and adolescents or when you're pregnant or nursing

Scabies Home Remedies

Flowers of Sulfur & Petroleum Jelly

Tests have shown that this is one of the most effective scabies home remedies

Make a mix of flower of sulfur and petroleum jelly. For children use 5% sulfur and 95% petroleum jelly. For adults 10% sulfur and 90% petroleum jelly

Soak in a warm bath for about 10 minutes and then apply the mix. Cover all affected areas and well around it

Do this for 5 nights before bedtime

Tip: It smells horrible and can stain your clothes, also do NOT swallow

Scabies Home Remedies

Coconut, Olive, Tea tree, Lavender & Peppermint oil

Another one of the powerful scabies home remedies is to use Coconut and Olive oil plus some essential oils

What do you need:

½ cup Coconut oil
½ cup extra virgin Olive oil
Tea tree oil
Lavender oil
Peppermint oil

How to do it:

Mix the coconut oil and olive oil until you have one cup full. Then add 8 or 9 drops of tea tree oil, 7 drops of lavender and 3 drops of peppermint oil (orange is also useful)

Apply when the itching starts

Scabies Home Remedies

Pennyroyal

For hundred’s of years Pennyroyal (also called Fleabane) has been used against fleas and it turns out to be a very helpful home remedy for scabies as well

Mix pennyroyal in a cup of hot water like a strong ‘tea.’ Let it cool down and apply to the affected areas

Scabies Home Remedies

Turmeric

A home remedy for scabies that has been used for centuries in Asia

What do you need:

½ cup Turmeric powder
1 cup Water

How to do it:

Put the turmeric and water in a small pot; stir it until it is smooth

Bring this to a boil and then reduce the heat and let it simmer until it has the right consistency

Apply this paste to the affected areas

Store it in sealed container

Scabies Home Remedies

Neem extract, Mustard oil & Turmeric

Another home remedy for scabies that came out of Asia and is now proving its way into the west. Neem is known as a safe to use, non-chemical, ‘pest control’ it has a strong antimicrobial effect

What do you need:

Neem leave extract (Neem is also known as Indian Lilac)
Turmeric powder
Mustard oil

How to do it:

Mix the ingredients until you have a nice paste

Apply this to the affected areas

Hold on, You're not there yet!

You have to continue reading about what other measures you HAVE to take in your regimen together with using the home remedy for scabies you you chose to make sure the mites absolutely stay away

Home Remedies for Scabies
How to prevent scabies from coming back

Preventive Scabies home remedies

Good personal Hygiene

Needless to say that, like in any skin disease, maintaining good personal hygiene is THE key to prevent these tiny creatures from getting under your skin (literally this time…)

Take a bath every day, maybe even more and wash yourself thoroughly. Use coconut oil or coconut oil products to clean yourself

You can also drop 8 to10 drops of tea tree oil in the shower gel you are using. This will disinfect even more

Do this until 7 days after the critters are gone

Tip: Do NOT use tea tree products when treating children or adolescents or when you're pregnant or nursing

Preventive Scabies home remedies

Trim your fingernails

Actually part of the personal hygiene section, but important enough to get a separate mention

Keep your fingernails short to avoid that when you scratch the mites or their eggs hide themselves under your nails and re-infest you after a while

Also wash your hands thoroughly with hot water, soap or sanitizer after you have scratched

Preventive Scabies home remedies

Treat everybody

Not only you but also your whole family or anybody you have been in close skin-to-skin contact with should be treated since there is no telling if they are already infected. You can be infected without showing symptoms

Preventive Scabies home remedies

Clean your house and clothes

Wash all clothes, towels, pillowcases, sheets and whatever you use in a day in hot water, every day! Until at least a week after the mites left. This will kill any mites that are hiding and waiting to re-infest you

Dry everything in a hot dryer or hang in direct sunlight

Vacuum your floors, carpets, rugs and upholstery

Disinfect your entire bathroom after the first treatment only

Deep freeze anything that can’t be washed like specific clothes, stuffed animals, coats, hats, gloves, shoes, robes etc. in a plastic bag to terminate the little critters

Everything that’s too big to wash daily, dry clean or freeze should be stored in a vacuum bag for at least two weeks to suffocate the mites. And don’t start using it until everyone is absolutely clear of scabies

Preventive Scabies home remedies

Keep it covered

Not because of the stigma, but when possible wear covering clothes such as long pants, long sleeved shirts, long pajamas/ nightgowns etc. and wash these daily. This might help prevent spreading

Preventive Scabies home remedies

Eat a healthy diet

Eat healthy food in general and some high zinc products to prevent scabies

Some High zinc foods:

Whole grain products
Wheat Bran
Toasted Wheat Germ
Low Fat Roast Beef
Yeast
Soybeans
Roasted Pumpkin seeds
Roasted Squash seeds

Dried Watermelon Seeds
Sunflower seeds
Peanuts
Lamb (mutton)
Crab
Dark Chocolate
Cocoa Powder
Blackstrap molasses

You should better Avoid:

Fried food
Junk food
Sugar
Chocolate
Soft drinks
Alcohol
Tobacco

When scabies is gone

Just as it takes the scabies symptoms (itching) time to grow to that full crazy making itch; so does it take a while before the itching and the patches go away after the treatment…patience my dear…

Scabies Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of scabies?

Scabies symptoms are:

Severe itching

This most of the times gets worse at nights or when your body temperature rises because of a hot shower or bath or after exercising. Little children seem to suffer from more intense itching, the elderly less

Red blisters, bumps, patches or sores on your skin

These are the thin, irregular and superficial burrowing tracks of the mite, meaning that’s where they are digging. (see image)

These look as small threadlike or s-shapes lines. These are often accompanied by what look like rows of small pimple-like mosquito or insect bites. Although in adults any part of the body can be affected, typically it appears most:

inside of your wrist
in your inner elbow
in your armpits
on the sides and between your fingers
around your waste
on soles of your fee
on your knees
on your ankles
around your breasts
on your buttocks
on your shoulder blades
around the male genital area

scabies symptoms in children are the same of course, but there may be other sites of infestation:

on the palms of their hands
on their neck
on their face
on their scalp
on the soles of their feet

Children typically have worse skin reactions to the infestation

If this is the first time you have scabies, the symptoms such as itching and the blisters and bumps may not show themselves immediately, this may take 2 to 6 weeks. If however you have had scabies before, these symptoms will probably start within a few days

The favorite times of the year for scabies are late summer and early autumn

Scabies Causes

What causes Scabies?

In humans scabies is caused by a tiny eight-legged mite that burrows into your skin and lays its eggs there. These hatch after a few days and the larvae dig their way up to the surface of your skin. There they mature and from there infect other parts of you skin or other people

The itchy rash you experience is an allergic response to the mites and their eggs

Final notes on scabies home remedies

Be careful with the ingredients you use, make sure you’re not allergic to any of them by doing a patch test on a small piece of skin (e.g. behind your ear)

Also make sure that when you treat children that what you use and how much you use is suitable for them

Always be very aware of WHAT you take and HOW MUCH

If the scabies does not go away after serious use of scabies home remedies and treatments and keeping yourself to the regimen, you have to contact your doctor or dermatologist

...and always remember you're already gifted with the

most effective natural solution available: