Sulfur Treatment for Scabies: A Historical & Practical Guide

Sulfur was one of the earliest treatments used to kill the scabies mite. This treatment still gets used today. It is one of the few over-the-counter medications that a consumer can buy to cure this skin condition.

How the Pastes Work

• The sulfur pastes work the same way the prescription permethrin creams work: They kill the scabies mite.

How to Apply

• Sulfur creams must be applied to the entire body from head to toe before a person goes to bed each night.

Using Pastes Properly

• A person should apply a sulfur paste after taking her daily bath or shower. The paste must stay in place for 24 hours to be effective.

The Rotten Egg Smell

• Sulfur pastes have an unpleasant smell, but it must be worn most of the day in order for the paste to have its proper effect.

How Long for a Cure?

• Sulfur creams must be applied to the skin for at least three days in a row.

History of Sulfer Pastes

• Pastes that contain roughly 6 to 10 percent sulfur were used during the time of the Roman Republic as a cure for this condition.