How To Get Rid of Scabies Mites

Scabies infestations of the skin tend to respond well to permethrin creams in the beginning. Unfortunately, mite populations can regenerate after periods of overall reduction. For this reason, many people turn to essential oils for long term treatment. In an article released by the National Library of Medicine, essential oils are characterized as effective alternatives for chronic scabies mite cases where permethrin and lindane fail. (View Source.) This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consult your doctor or use the chemical cream prescribed by your dermatologist. No two mite cases are exactly the same, and different people may have unique allergies or sensitivities, which makes it nice to have options.

Some Popular Essential Oils Associated with the Treatment of Skin Mites

Tea Tree Oil is the most popular essential oil used against skin mites. Purported to kill parasites through vapors, it can be extremely irritating when used full strength. Mix with a carrier oil, and do not apply near eyes.

Coconut Oil is often used against skin mites because it contains lauric acid, a natural substance purported to fight bacteria and parasites. It becomes even more powerful when mixed with strongly scented oils such as tea tree, cedar, camphor and eucalyptus. On its own, coconut oil is notoriously kind to sensitive skin, but it can become much more irritating with the addition of volatile oils.

Castor Oil is best known as a beauty treatment and laxative, but it also has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Valued for its supreme thickness, castor oil may also play a role in depriving skin mites of oxygen. The ricin found in castor oil is said to be particularly effective against mite eggs. Castor oil is useful for the treatment of painful skin lesions that don’t respond to anything else.

Olive Oil may not be one of the more powerful oils associated with skin mite treatment, but its superior softening abilities can help the skin absorb various additives more effectively.

Neem Oil: Neem oil is generally regarded as gentle enough to use full strength, but try a patch test before applying over wide areas. Different people have different sensitivities.

Cedar Oil: Purported to kill skin mites through vapors. Great when mixed with a carrier agent, but can be irritating when used full strength. Do not apply near eyes or mucous membranes.

Eucalyptus Oil: Purported to kill skin mites through vapors. Great when mixed with a carrier agent, but can be irritating when used full strength. Do not apply near eyes or mucous membranes.

Peppermint Oil: Purported to kill skin mites through vapors. Great when mixed with a carrier agent, but can be irritating when used full strength. Do not apply near eyes or mucous membranes.

Thieves Oil: Purported to kill skin mites through vapors. Great when mixed with a carrier agent, but can be irritating when used full strength. Do not apply near eyes or mucous membranes.

Oregano Oil: Purported to kill skin mites through vapors. Great when mixed with a carrier agent, but can be irritating when used full strength. Be sure to get your oregano oil from a reputable company, as many oils available commercially are derived from non-oregano species, particularly thyme and marjoram.

Economical Treatment of Bedding and Furniture

Most essential oils associated with mite treatment are sold in tiny bottles with big price tags. That’s fine for skin treatment, but eventually, you’ll need larger bottles for ongoing treatment of couches, beds and easy chairs. Our indoor cedar oil formula won’t stain bedding and furniture because it’s steam distilled in small batches to remove impurities. Mist couches and easy chairs frequently. To reduce the number of times that furniture must be treated, encourage family members to wear full length pajamas when lounging around the house. Change linens frequently, and mist sheets before bed. Statistics vary, but it’s generally accepted that scabies mites can live outside the body for 24 to 36 hours. Given those numbers, it’s wise to treat furniture to avoid infesting others.

The Importance of Proper Laundry Treatment

In most scabies outbreaks connected to hospitals and nursing homes, mites are spread through the common laundering of infested clothing and linens. Scabies outbreaks should be treated as a direct threat to all members who share a communal space.

Products for Wash Water

To soak clothing in wash tubs or washing machines, try our Vet’s Choice Concentrate. This product was originally designed to add to bath water for pets who are infested with fleas, ticks or mites. Since the concentrate contains 90% cedar oil, it should not be used full strength on skin. Follow package instructions for dilution. This product may also be added to wash buckets when mopping hard wood floors or linoleum. Our Vet’s Choice Concentrate is found on our page for Animal Products.

Products for the Pre-Treatment of Laundry

To pre-treat clothing, try our Indoor Spray Formula. This is the same formula used to treat carpets, furniture and bedding without staining. It’s also the same formula used in our fog machines. Do not dilute this product, as it’s mixed exactly as it should be. Pre-treatment of laundry is a wise practice for those who store their clothing in hampers for several days before washing. An even better practice would be to store infested clothing in snap tight plastic containers, as mites can easily escape traditional wash hampers and find their way back into your home. Our indoor spray formula is found on our page for indoor pest control products.

What Makes Our Organic Indoor Formula Powerful and Unique?

Can be used as a direct hit spray to destroy common household insects.

Leaves a fresh cedar aroma to discourage insects from moving back into sprayed territory. (Residual effects are just as important as immediate effects, especially when it comes to treating carpets, bedding, cabinets and wood floors.)

Dissolves eggs on contact, but not by proximity. In other words, eggs must come in contact with the formula, not just the vapors.

Won’t stain carpets, bedding or furniture because it’s steam distilled in small batches to remove impurities.

Can be applied directly to humans, dogs and horses to treat fleas and mites.

Much less expensive than essential oils packaged in tiny bottles. Tiny bottles are meant for skin, not for wide scale home treatment!

Excellent for use with fog machines.

Endorsed by Animal Wellness Magazine as a safe alternative to dangerous chemical and spot drop flea treatments, which shorten life spans and cause SEVERE reactions in more than 44,000 animals each year. Read more…

Used by housing authorities across the country against bedbugs because these hearty parasites have an uncanny ability to develop resistance to chemical pesticides.