I have read that scabies can be killed by extreme heat in dryers. But what about extreme cold? I have read of one account where someone put their stuff outside in the cold weather overnight to kill the scabies. Does that work? Topcial Permethrin 5% and oral Ivermectin(dosed by body weight) are first-line scabies treatments recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Scabies is easy to treat at home. Over-the-counter lotions containing Lindane (Kwell, Nix, Rid) will kill the mites, but you must follow the directions carefully. You must leave the lotion on for eight hours (most people do an overnight treatment) because the bugs are under your skin and it takes time for the medication to reach them. Don't forget to wash all linens and clothing in hot water and then run them through a dryer on high heat to kill any bugs still hiding out. Occasionally, you must re-treat yourself a week later. Don't expect the itching to subside immediately after treatment: it can last for a week or more.
So, your answer is no, cold weather will not kill scabies--bring your clothes inside and put them into the dryer!
Hope this helps-- |
