Two different insecticides (chemicals that kill insects), permethrin (Lyclear Dermal Cream) and malathion (Derbac M Liquid, Prioderm Lotion), are available in the UK for treating scabies. They work by poisoning the scabies mite. Permethrin is usually the first-choice treatment wherever possible.
Use of permethrin and malathion in pregnancy is not known to cause problems for the unborn baby, although very few pregnant women using these treatments have been studied. However, scabies is very contagious, unpleasant, and scratching the affected skin can lead to infections. The benefits of treatment are likely to outweigh any possible risks and treatment of scabies should not be delayed just because a woman is pregnant.
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your healthcare provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.
Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.
If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.
If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.
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