Permethrin Cream

Product Description

Prescription strength permethrin 5% kills the scabies mite. The National Institutes of Health recommends the following use of 5% permethrin cream for scabies:

• Thoroughly wash and dry skin.
• Massage the cream into the skin from the head to the soles of the feet, paying special attention to creases in the skin, hands, feet, between fingers and toes, underarms, and groin. Scabies rarely infests the scalp of adults, although the hairline, neck, side of the head, and forehead may be infested in older people and in infants. Infants should be treated on the scalp, side of the head, and forehead.
• Leave the permethrin cream on the skin for 8 to 14 hours.
• Wash off by taking a shower or bath.
• Put on clean clothes.
• After treatment, itching may continue for up to 4 weeks.

Permethrin cream (Elimite) is one of the first medicines doctors prescribe to cure a scabies infestation. It is the treatment of choice for children and for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Permethrin 5% cream is considered safe for infants as young as 2 months old.1

Permethrin should be used with caution on people who are allergic topyrethrin products or chrysanthemums.