Natural health: I have scabies and the itching is extreme

Scabies will not go away on their own, so finding an effective treatment is a priority
Picture: iStock 

Picture: iStock 

I picked up scabies while on holidays during the summer. I’ve used over-the-counter lotions but they haven’t worked. The itching is extreme at times. What would you recommend?

These tiny parasitic mites cause no end of irritation, physically and emotionally. Sarcoptes scabiei mites burrow under the skin, leading to the intense itching sensation you are experiencing. Typically more irritating at night-time, the itching is mostly due to an allergy type reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste. In some cases, where the skin is broken, secondary staphylococcal or streptococcal bacterial infections can become an additional issue.

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