Normally scabies is treated with Permethrin, a cream, by applying it from the neck down before going to bed then washing it off in the morning. If you've been wondering how nice it would be if there was a less messy treatment option that worked just as well, you can stop wondering. And the answer is yes.
Ivermectin is a pill that's used to treat certain types of intestinal worms in humans. We've long known that ivermectin is a treatment option for scabies, especially scabies that's resistant to permethrin. In a recent review of the treatment of scabies in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors cite a study that shows two doses of ivermectin 2 weeks apart works better than permethrin.
Ivermectin should not be considered the first line of treatment for scabies, because: 1- resistance may develop using it widely for the non-resistant cases, simply treated with standard measures, 2- Although the evidence is not strong some cases of sudden death are reported after Ivermectin therapy.