title: A new treatment regimen with permethrin in scabies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical permethrin, applied once daily, is considered as the most effective treatment in scabies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine adult immunocompetent patients with scabies were treated with 5% permethrin cream: 42 patients were treated with a single application/day (group 1); 47 patients were treated with one application/day for two consecutive days (group 2). Clinical diagnosis of scabies was confirmed by microscopical examinations. The cream was stored in refrigerator and applied cold on the entire skin surface. The cream was left on the skin for 24 hours. No other topical or systemic drugs were allowed, except for a cleanser with chlorhexidine. The treatment was repeated in all patients 7-10 days later. The follow-up was 2 months after the end of the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients (61.8%) in the group 1 and 34 patients (87.2%) in the group 2 were considered recovered both clinically and microscopically. Three patients (7.1%) in the group 1 and 4 patients (10.2%) in the group 2 developed a mild irritant contact dermatitis. During follow-up, three patients (7.1%) in the group 1 and two patients (4.2%) in the group 2 developed a recurrence or a re-infestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five per cent permethrin, when applied as cold cream, on the entire skin surface, once daily for two consecutive days, is more effective than the single application in adult immunocompetent patients with scabies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, I.R.C.C.S. Foundation Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy - stefano.veraldi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veraldi
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi e Ricerche Terme di Comano, Ponte Arche, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Micheli
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Dermatology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schianchi
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate School of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pontini
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012008:Recurrence; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D063465:Skin Cream; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin; D002710:Chlorhexidine