Permethrin Cream is an FDA-approved medication that is used in adults and children 2 months of age and older for scabies and lice. This is in the class of medications called pyrethrins that paralyzes and kills the mites and their eggs.

What condition does Permethrin treat?

Permethrin is prescribed by most doctors for the treatment of scabies. Scabies is a kind of condition that causes tiny insects called mites. These tiny insects might infest and irritate your skin. It seldom infests on the scalp of adults. However, the hairline, forehead, neck, and temple might be infested in the elderly and infants. This medication is an anti-parasite that can also be used to treat lice. Lice are small insects that attach themselves to the skin on the head.

How does Permethrin work?

Permethrin works by acting on the nerve cell membrane to disturb the sodium channel current. It is by which the polarization of the membrane is regulated. Delayed paralysis and repolarization of the mice are the consequences of this disturbance.

This medication is quickly absorbed by ester hydrolysis to not active metabolites which are emitted mainly in the urine. Even though the quantity of this cream is absorbed after a single application has not been determined accurately. Permethrin Cream kills the lice and mites that cause the condition.

What is the dosage of Permethrin?

Permethrin Cream should be applied to clean and dry skin. If you have a shower or hot bath, let the skin cool down before applying the cream. It should be gently rubbed and the cream must disappear. Don’t forget to wash your hands first before applying the cream.

For scabies, all members affected with it should be treated at the same time. The cream should be applied evenly all over the body. It includes the wrists, armpits, external genitals, buttocks, palms of the hands, areas between toes and fingers, soles of the feet, and under the toenails and fingernails. You must also apply the cream to your face, neck, scalp, and ears. Avoid applying the cream on the areas around the eyes.

• Adults usually use up to one 30 g tube for one treatment.
• Children aged 6 to 12 years usually use at least half of a 30 g tube.
• Children aged 2 months to 6 years usually use one-quarter of a 30 g tube.

Leave the cream on the skin for about 8-12 hours and thoroughly wash the whole body after.

For lice, the cream is applied to the scalp and neck. Be careful to not apply the cream to your eyes. Do not apply the cream on your eyelashes as it can moderate eye irritation. Leave the cream on the hair and skin for 12 hours and thoroughly wash it off. You can apply the cream in the evening and wash it off in the morning. For this treatment, the cream should be repeated after seven days.

What are the precautions in using Permethrin?

• Permethrin Cream is not known to interact with any medications. However, corticosteroid creams such as hydrocortisone must not be used while you are using this cream. Corticosteroid creams might make the infestation of scabies and lice worse.
• Do not apply this cream on open wounds, broken skin, or secondarily infected areas of skin.
• Anything that has been in contact with this product burns more easily. For this reason, do not smoke or go near naked flames as there is a risk of burns especially if you are using dressings.
• Avoid using other medicines on the areas you treat with Permethrin Cream unless your doctor tells you to.
• You should speak to your doctor before using this cream if you ever had an allergic reaction to this cream or if you have any allergies.
• After application to the whole body, the amount of this cream is absorbed minimally. The manufacturer of this product stated that any medicine that does cross the placenta or pass into breastmilk is unlikely to present a significant risk to a developing baby. Nevertheless, as with all medicines, it is important to get information from your doctor before using this cream.
• Do not use this cream on a child younger than 2 months of age without first consulting your doctor.
• If Permethrin Cream is taken by mouth, get medical help right away since this is only used on the skin.
• Do not let your skin touch anyone else’s skin while wearing the cream.