Elimite
Elimite is a 30g tube of permethrin cream for scabies: one full-body application left on for 8 to 12 hours, then washed off.
- Category
- Antiparasitics · Skin Care
- Active ingredient
- Permethrin
- Route
- Topical
- Form
- Cream
- Strengths
- 30g
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Scabies · Lice infestation
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Permethrin Topical Cream
- Therapeutic Class
- Scabicidal agents
- Pharmacological Class
- Pyrethroids
- Minor Side Effects
- Itching, Redness, Mild swelling
- Moderate Side Effects
- Stinging, Tingling sensation at application site
- Dosage Forms
- Cream
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- Allergan
- Onset Time
- Immediate action upon contact
- Duration
- Persistent effect throughout the treatment cycle
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
- Age Restrictions
- Not recommended for infants under two months without medical guidance.
What you will receive
Elimite is the originator brand name, made by Allergan. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Elimite.
- The same active ingredient (Permethrin) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
What Elimite tube sizes and pack quantities are available?
Elimite comes as 30g tubes in packs of 2, 3, 4 or 6. The pack contains generic permethrin, not the original Elimite. Larger packs cost less per tube.
How discreet is the packaging for Elimite?
Elimite is sent in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents. You can choose tracked courier, which takes 5 to 9 business days and includes online tracking, so you can follow the parcel easily.
What other names is permethrin sold under?
Elimite, Nix and Acticin are brand names of permethrin, which is also sold as Lyclear and Permite. Here, permethrin can be bought online as generic Elimite, and also as generic Acticin and permethrin tubes. These are generics, not the original brand.
Does Elimite work for head lice?
Permethrin does treat head lice, but the lotion made for lice is a weaker strength than this scabies cream, and it is rinsed off after a short contact time instead of being left on for hours. Elimite itself is the scabies cream, so it is not the one to reach for if lice are the problem.
Can I use Elimite on my face or scalp?
In adults and older children the cream goes on from the neck down, so the face and scalp are not treated. If any gets into an eye, rinse it out with plenty of water.
Can I drink alcohol while using Elimite?
There is no need to avoid alcohol with this cream — it is not one of the medicines that reacts with drink. Have a glass of wine with dinner if you like; the cream simply needs to stay on your skin for the full 8 to 12 hours.
What if I miss a patch of skin when applying Elimite?
A gap in the covering gives mites somewhere to survive, so it is worth checking your work. The spots most often missed are under the nails, between the toes and along the creases of the wrists. Smooth a little more cream over anywhere you skipped.
About Elimite
What Elimite is for
Elimite is a 30g tube of permethrin cream, the strength used to clear scabies: an infestation of the skin by tiny mites that burrow in and cause itching that is often worst at night. The cream goes on the skin and kills mites on contact by disrupting their nerve cells. Very little permethrin passes into the bloodstream, and it does not treat bacteria or calm inflammation the way a steroid cream does — it clears the infestation itself. Permethrin is used against head lice too, in a weaker lotion made for the hair and scalp rather than this cream.
How to apply it
Clean, dry, cool skin works best, so don't treat yourself straight after a hot bath. Apply a thin layer from the neck down — between the fingers and toes, around the wrists, over the buttocks and the soles of the feet — and keep it away from the eyes, nose, mouth and any broken skin. It is a vanishing cream: rub it in gently and it disappears, so there is no need to keep adding more until you can see a layer. Leave it on for 8 to 12 hours, then wash it off thoroughly. Wash your hands and reapply if you use them during those first 8 hours. One tube covers one full-body treatment for an adult. Everyone in the household, and anyone in close contact, is usually treated at the same time so the mites are not passed back.
What to expect afterwards
Itching can carry on for two to four weeks after successful treatment, because it is the skin's reaction to the mites rather than a sign the cream failed. Stinging, burning, redness or a rash where the cream went on are the usual complaints and generally settle. A widespread rash, hives, or swelling of the face, lips or throat is a serious allergic reaction and needs urgent help. Bedding, towels and clothes used in the days around treatment should be washed hot and dried on a hot cycle. Keep the tube in its carton, out of direct sunlight.
Elimite and the other permethrin creams
Acticin and Permethrin hold the same 30g of permethrin cream as Elimite; what differs is the brand name, not the ingredient or the amount of cream in the tube. Acticin is listed for scabies, while plain Permethrin covers scabies and lice. For how the ingredient works, the forms it comes in and the conditions it treats, see permethrin.
Sources
- Permethrin Topical: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus
- Permethrin 5% w/w Cream - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) | 6540 — electronic medicines compendium (emc)