Skabi-Rid Lotion

Skabi-Rid is a skin lotion for the treatment of scabies caused by Sarcoptis scabiei. It is the drug of choice for this condition and has the most favourable side effect profile of all treatments.

Skabi-Rid was developed out of need for a new, safer, more effective and simpler treatment for scabies. This condition affects more than 300 million people worldwide every year.

Compliance in treating is essential as incomplete treatment leads to resistance, spreading of the disease and further morbidity. This application cures scabies with a single application. The formulation was developed by the Research Institute for Industrial Pharmacy, Potchefstroom.

Active Ingredient

Skabi-Rid contains permethrin 5% (5 g in 100 g). Permethrin belongs to a group of toxins called the pyrethroids, synthetic derivatives of pyrethrins designed to be stable in ultraviolet light, whilst retaining the potent insecticidal properties.

Pyrethrins originate from the chrysanthemum genus of plants originally from China; these plants were cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC. About 200 years ago people living in central Asia discovered that dried, crushed flowers of certain chrysanthemums were toxic to insects.

Better Efficacy

Proven to be more effective than:

• Oral ivermectin
• Topical crotamiton
• Topical lindane

As effective as benzyl benzoate. Efficacy in resistant lice infestation.

Better Compliance

• One single application

Best safety profile of all scabies treatments

• Less irritation than benzyl benzoate & lindane
• Treatment of choice for pregnant women in the US and UK
• First line treatment for scabies in AIDS patients
• Treatment of choice for lactating women

CDC 1998 Guidelines for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. MMWR 1998;47:1116. Clinical Effectiveness Group (Association of Genitourinary Medicine and the Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Diseases). National guideline for the management of scabies. Sex Transm Inf 1999;75 (Suppl):S767

The risk of foetal toxicity following maternal application of permethrin is likely to be no greater than that for the general population.

Drugs.com (sources include Micromedex™, Wolters Kluwer™)