the itchy and scratchy showwwwww!

[itchy]

Has anyone had scabies? (Or has a friend that has!) I've been told the itching will continue for a while after treatment, but I would like to know if it will get worse, or lessen off and how long it's likely to last. This is a serous Q! I'm not unclean!

[4getmenot]

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.a spx?articleId=328

[itchy]

Thankyou 4getmenot. I have got loads of info on the li'l bu66ers, but just after some personal experiences.

[saintee]

I had it last year. I went to the chemist and was given a lotion to use. This seemed to clear it for a few days. The annoying thing about scabies is that you can never be entirely sure where you picked it up as it can and will lie dormant in your skin for up to 6 months before symptoms are noticed.

Te lotion I used was to be applied over my entire body including the hair and was not to be washed off for 24 hours. If necessary, it could then be reapplied but not until 7 days had passed. My bottle held roughly 4 applications and although the icthing had in the mainpart stopped after the first application. You will know yourself where the infestation is worst ie inside of elbows, forearms etc so if necessary only apply lotion to these places as and when required.

Good luck I completely appreciateyour comments about being unclean. It's certainly not the nicest sounding ailment to tell people about!

[itchy]

Thanks Saintee. I put the lotion on on Mon night and washed off last night but I'm still itchy and getting a bit anxious if I'll ever me free of it I guess! What annoys me is that I have been itching for weeks and weeks and went to the docs three times and she just sent me away even though I said it wasn't getting any better with her ezcema creams she was giving me. Only got diagnosed when my poor boyf started itching too and went to see a half decent doctor!
When you said you were free of it for a few days.....did it come back then? Or had you not got it all in the first place?

[saintee]

Some parts of my body would remain itchy however some bits calmed down almost straight away. I would recommend cleaning all sofa covers, bed linen etc as well just to make sure you get all of the itchy little sods.

As far as I recall, I used 3 of the applications and by this point the itching had all but disappeared. Nonetheless, I used the fourth application just to make sure they were finally gone although I have to admit I did quite like the smell of the stuff.

I dont know if you are experiencing fluctuations in the times you get itchy or not. In my experience, night-time was the itchy time for me and also when having a shower, the hot water seemed to make my head and the heavily rashed areas really itchy and gave one of those really satisfying feelings when scratched under the hot water.

[4getmenot]

Cant help you much more then. never had them :-)

[Mr Jagger]

I had it a few years back......waking up with extremely Itchy goolies at 3 in the morning. Oh lordy lordy!
Me and my partner both had it... sounds obvious but you must make sure you both get treated at the same time.

[makemesmile]

You poor thing! I had it a few years ago, and it was awful!! I was told by my doc that I may have itching for 2-3 weeks, but with several applications of lotion, it would go. But as previous ABers have said - launder all clothes, bed linen, towels, covers etc. A lot of work, but definitely worth it - you don't want a reoccurance. Keep your chin up : )

[itchy]

Thanks all. Boyfs been covered in lotion too and lots of laundering been going on-I've never had so many clean clothes to choose from!! Still itching, but think I've picked a few dead ones off my skin. Anyone else notice that?

[Big A.T]

Itchy

Hope you are sorted now

Bit of advice to you if not. Don't make the mistake I did and think that I still had it. I put the lotion on only to find that it flared up several weeks later. I re applyed the lotion about 4 times as nobody told me that it was normal for this to happen.

Put it on and give it a few months. Make sure that you wash all your clothes etc as well.

Good luck