Success
Why it helps
3 rules from Reddit success stories
Failures
Why it doesn't help
3 main reasons from the community
Stories
Real voices
Translated, with links to originals
I'm cured! You will be too!
Permethrin 5%: applied to whole body, 12 hours, repeated after a week. Washed bedding at 60°C. 3 weeks — clear. Don't panic about post-treatment itch.
Post-treatment tingling is NOT mites
After 2 courses symptoms remained — tingling, crawling. Turned out: residual allergy (4-8 weeks). Re-applying only irritated skin. After 2 proper courses — stop and let skin heal.
Permethrin for rosacea: results in 4 days
Metronidazole didn't help, doctor switched to permethrin. Huge difference in 4 days. Fights demodex mites that may cause inflammation.
Benzyl benzoate saved me after 3 failed courses
3 courses of permethrin — itch wouldn't stop. Benzyl benzoate — remission in 2 weeks. Not for everyone. If 2-3 courses don't help — ask for alternative.
Statistics
Overall picture
Sentiment across 50 medical Reddit posts
66%
helped
33 positive reviews
Standard protocol worked: 2 courses, full coverage, treating contacts
3 negative reviews
Resistance or damaged skin. Alternatives helped
14 mixed reviews
Post-treatment itch, uncertain diagnosis, mixed results
Alternatives
If it didn't help
What the community recommends
Ivermectin
oral200 mcg/kg, 2 doses 7-14 days apart. Prescribed by doctor.
When 2-3 courses of permethrin didn't work or crusted scabies
Benzyl Benzoate
topicalEmulsion 10-25%, applied to whole body. Course 2-3 days.
Popular alternative in Europe and CIS. Often mentioned as 'what finally worked'
Permethrin + Ivermectin
comboPermethrin cream topically + ivermectin pills simultaneously.
Severe cases, relapses, resistant strains
● 97-99%
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Top 10 questions about permethrin
Where does the data come from?
We collected 1,034 posts via the Reddit API. Of those, 514 medical posts from r/scabies (285), r/AskDocs (100), r/DermatologyQuestions (97), r/Rosacea (9) and others. Top 50 posts by upvotes were analyzed with comments. All links lead to original posts.
How was 'helped' vs 'not helped' determined?
Sentiment analysis based on keywords in titles and text: 'cured', 'worked', 'gone' = positive; 'didn't work', 'failed', 'resistant' = negative; 'post scabies', 'experience' = mixed. This is a simplified model reflecting the general trend.
Is permethrin 5% prescription-only?
In most countries, permethrin 5% requires a prescription. In the US, 1% (for lice) is OTC but 5% (for scabies) is prescription-only. Rules vary by country. Always consult a doctor.
Why does itching continue after treatment?
Post-scabies itch is the most discussed topic (28% of posts). Dead mites and their feces remain in the skin, causing an allergic reaction for 4-8 weeks. This does NOT mean treatment failed. Re-applying permethrin only irritates the skin further.
How many times should permethrin be applied?
Standard: 2 applications, 7 days apart. First kills adult mites, second kills hatched larvae. Those who applied only once reported more relapses on Reddit.
How long to leave the cream on?
Instructions say 8-14 hours. Reddit data shows most who recovered left it 12-14 hours (overnight). Those who washed off after 6-8 hours reported worse results.
Can mites become resistant to permethrin?
Yes. Resistance documented in Australia, parts of UK and northern Europe — about 10% of failure cases. In these regions, oral ivermectin or combination therapy is recommended.
Does permethrin help with rosacea?
Yes, but via a different mechanism. For rosacea, permethrin fights demodex mites that may cause inflammation. Positive reviews exist on r/Rosacea. However, the demodex-rosacea link isn't fully understood — don't self-diagnose.
What's the difference between ivermectin and permethrin?
Permethrin is topical (cream), works from outside. Ivermectin is oral (pills), works systemically. Permethrin is first-line. Ivermectin is prescribed when permethrin fails. Together they give 97-99% efficacy.
Can Reddit reviews be trusted?
Reddit is subjective experience, not verified medical data. However, the upvote system filters useful content. Posts with 100+ upvotes are usually detailed and community-verified. We use Reddit as a real-experience indicator, not a medical source. For clinical data, refer to PubMed, CDC, WHO.
Final verdict
✓
Permethrin works for the majority (66%) when applied correctly. First-line treatment per CDC and WHO.
✓
Main cause of failure — application errors, not the drug. Full coverage + 12-14h + repeat + treat contacts.
✓
Post-treatment itch is normal. 4-8 weeks. This is NOT a relapse.
✓
No improvement after 2-3 courses? Don't suffer — ask for ivermectin combination.
Analysis based on Reddit data. Subjective user experience. Consult a doctor.