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Pharmacist-reviewed guide

Scabies & lice treatments — pharmacist-reviewed guide

Also known as scabies cream, lice treatment, craw-craw treatment.

This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.

What this covers

Scabies (intensely itchy burrowing mites) and head lice spread quickly through close contact in households, schools, and hostels. Treatment succeeds only when applied correctly and when everyone in close contact is treated at the same time.

Safe-use guidance

  • For scabies, apply the treatment to the whole body from the neck down (and including the head in young children), not just itchy spots, and repeat as advised.
  • Treat all household members and close contacts simultaneously, even those without symptoms yet.
  • Wash clothing, towels, and bedding in hot water and sun-dry or iron them; items that cannot be washed can be bagged for several days.
  • Itching can persist for weeks after successful scabies treatment — this alone does not mean failure.
  • For lice, follow up with wet combing using a fine-tooth comb and repeat treatment as directed to catch newly hatched lice.

Cautions

  • Kerosene, petrol, and harsh traditional applications are dangerous and should never be used on skin or scalp.
  • Steroid creams alone soothe scabies itching but let the infestation spread.
  • Infants, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers need specific product choices — ask first.
  • Crusted (severe) scabies and skin that has become infected from scratching need medical treatment beyond standard creams.

How GoDoctor helps

GoDoctor pharmacists can walk your household through whole-family treatment and deliver enough product for everyone at once — the key to actually clearing scabies or lice.

Prescription medicines always require an in-app consultation with a licensed doctor first — the e-prescription then goes straight to a licensed partner pharmacy for dispensing and delivery.

Frequently asked questions

What should I be careful about with scabies & lice treatments?
Key cautions: kerosene, petrol, and harsh traditional applications are dangerous and should never be used on skin or scalp.; steroid creams alone soothe scabies itching but let the infestation spread.; infants, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers need specific product choices — ask first.; crusted (severe) scabies and skin that has become infected from scratching need medical treatment beyond standard creams.. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist or doctor before acting.
How can GoDoctor help with scabies & lice treatments?
GoDoctor pharmacists can walk your household through whole-family treatment and deliver enough product for everyone at once — the key to actually clearing scabies or lice. Prescription medicines always require an in-app consultation with a licensed doctor first — the e-prescription then goes straight to a licensed partner pharmacy for dispensing and delivery.

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