Crotamiton: What It Is, How It Works, and Where It's Used

When your skin won’t stop itching—no matter how much you scratch—you might be dealing with something deeper than dryness. Crotamiton, a topical medication used to treat scabies and relieve intense skin itching. Also known as Eurax, it’s one of the few treatments that both kills mites and calms the itch at the same time. Unlike some other scabies drugs that focus only on killing the parasite, Crotamiton works on two fronts: it disrupts the mites’ nervous system and blocks the nerve signals that make your skin feel like it’s crawling.

Scabies isn’t just about bugs—it’s about the body’s reaction. The mites burrow, lay eggs, and trigger a fierce allergic response. That’s why itching can last weeks even after the mites are gone. Crotamiton helps break that cycle. It’s often used when other treatments like permethrin don’t work, or when someone can’t tolerate stronger meds. It’s also gentle enough for kids and sensitive skin, which is why doctors still reach for it in clinics and homes across Canada.

But Crotamiton isn’t just for scabies. People with chronic itching from eczema, insect bites, or even unknown rashes sometimes find relief with it. It’s not a cure-all, but for stubborn itch that doesn’t respond to hydrocortisone or antihistamines, it can be a game-changer. The key is using it right: apply it to the whole body from the neck down, leave it on for 24 hours, then reapply. Skip that step, and you might not get rid of the mites.

It’s not without downsides. Some users report mild burning or redness. It doesn’t kill eggs as effectively as ivermectin, so repeat applications are common. And while it’s available over-the-counter in some places, it’s still a medicine—don’t use it long-term without checking in with a provider.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a real-world look at how medications like Crotamiton fit into the bigger picture of skin health, infection control, and symptom management. You’ll see how it compares to other topical treatments, how it stacks up against oral options, and what patients actually experience when they use it. Whether you’re dealing with a rash, helping a child through scabies, or just trying to understand why your skin won’t calm down, these posts give you the facts—no fluff, no guesswork.