Scabies Treatment in Holborn, London — from £24.99
Ways Pharmacy offers a private pharmacist-led service for scabies, an itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that spread through close skin contact. We are a GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1, around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. You can start online and send photos or a short video of the rash, or come into the pharmacy. A pharmacist checks that your symptoms match scabies, explains exactly how to apply the treatment, and makes sure everyone in your household knows they need treating at the same time. Consultations are available in English or Chinese (中文).
Scabies treatment at a glance
| Treatment options | Permethrin 5% cream, applied to the whole body twice, 7 days apart. Malathion 0.5% liquid is an alternative if permethrin is unsuitable |
|---|---|
| Price | From £24.99 per 30g tube. Most adults need at least one tube per application, so a full course is usually at least two tubes per person |
| Who it is for | Adults and children aged 2 and over with typical scabies, and their household members and close contacts |
| How it works | Online, with clear photos or a short video of the rash, or in person at the pharmacy. No separate consultation fee |
| Pharmacist assessment | Required every time. If your symptoms might be something else, or you have crusted scabies, the pharmacist will not supply treatment and will tell you where to go instead |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start your free online assessment or call 020 8106 7084. Prices and treatment options are listed below.
Treatment options and prices
| Option | What it is | Price | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permethrin 5% cream (first choice) | Permethrin（氯菊酯）5% cream. Applied to the whole body, left on for 8 to 12 hours, then washed off. Repeated after 7 days. Also the usual choice in pregnancy | £24.99 per 30g tube | Lyclear Dermal Cream · Permethrin 5% cream |
| Malathion 0.5% aqueous liquid (alternative) | Malathion（马拉硫磷）0.5% water-based liquid, for people who cannot use permethrin. Applied to the whole body, left to dry and kept on for 24 hours, then washed off. Repeated after 7 days | Price on request, subject to availability | Malathion 0.5% liquid |
If the medicine you choose is not suitable for you, the pharmacist may suggest another option; you only pay once a suitable treatment is confirmed. There is no separate consultation fee: the price shown is the price of the medicine.
The pharmacist will supply enough for two full-body applications. Larger adults may need more than one tube each time. Everyone in your household needs their own treatment at the same time, even if they have no itch, and each person is assessed before treatment is supplied.
Who can use this service
- Adults and children aged 2 and over. Children can use the online service, but a parent or guardian must be present on the video call with the pharmacist, and photos or a short video of the child's rash are still needed
- People with typical scabies symptoms: intense itching, often worse at night, and a rash or thin, wavy lines (burrows), especially between the fingers, on the wrists, elbows, armpits, waist, buttocks or genitals
- Household members and close contacts of someone with scabies
- People who are able to apply the treatment to the whole body as instructed, with help if needed
Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have eczema or psoriasis, or have already used a scabies treatment for this episode.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
See your GP if:
- the patient is a child under 2
- you have a thick, crusted or scaly rash, especially on the hands, feet, elbows or knees (this can be crusted scabies, which needs medical treatment)
- the skin looks infected, with pus, spreading redness, warmth or pain
- the rash may be something else, such as eczema, psoriasis or a fungal infection
- you still have new spots or burrows, or itching that has not eased, 2 to 4 weeks after completing both treatments correctly
- scabies is spreading in a care home, hostel or other shared residential setting, which needs a coordinated public health response
- you have a weakened immune system and a severe or unusual rash
Get urgent help the same day (NHS 111) if infected skin becomes hot, swollen and very painful, or you develop a fever. Call 999 or go to A&E if you have swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing after using a treatment.
How it works
- Start your free online assessment. Answer questions about your health and medicines, upload clear photos or a short video of the rash, and confirm your identity (upload photo ID, or show it on a video call).
- Pharmacist reviews and speaks with you. The pharmacist speaks with you by phone or video to go through your answers and photos and confirm whether treatment is suitable.
- If suitable, choose and pay. The pharmacist confirms which treatment is suitable; you then order and pay online from the price list above, or call 020 8106 7084. If it is not suitable, including when the pharmacist gives advice only, you pay nothing — the pharmacist explains your other options. If you have already paid and treatment is not suitable, you get a full refund.
- We post your medicine or you collect it. Orders approved by the pharmacist before 3:00pm on a working day are dispatched the same day; see our shipping information for delivery options and costs. You can also collect from the pharmacy once your order is approved.
How to apply the treatment
- Apply to clean, cool, dry skin, not straight after a hot bath.
- Cover the whole body, including the scalp, face, neck and ears, but not around the eyes. Pay attention to the skin between fingers and toes, under the nails, wrists, armpits, skin folds, genitals and buttocks.
- Leave permethrin cream on for 8 to 12 hours (overnight is easiest), or malathion liquid for 24 hours, then wash it off.
- If you wash your hands during this time, apply the treatment to your hands again.
- Repeat the whole treatment 7 days later. Both applications are needed to kill mites that hatch from eggs.
Treating close contacts and cleaning your home
- Everyone in your household should be treated on the same day, even if they have no symptoms, and again 7 days later. Anyone you have had sexual contact with in the past 8 weeks should also be treated.
- On the first day of treatment, wash clothing, bedding and towels used recently on a hot wash (60°C or higher) and tumble dry on a hot setting if possible.
- Items you cannot wash, such as some clothes, soft toys or shoes, should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least 3 days (72 hours), until the mites die.
- Avoid close skin contact with others and do not share towels, bedding or clothing until treatment has been completed.
- Most people can return to work or school once treatment has started; avoid close contact for the first 24 hours. Children under 5 can go back to nursery 24 hours after the first treatment.
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- Clear step-by-step instructions on applying the treatment and cleaning your home
- The pharmacist helps you plan treatment for your whole household at the same time
- Clear prices per tube, shown before you start
- Consultation and explanation in Chinese (中文) or English
- GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises 9012227) in Holborn, about two minutes' walk from the British Museum
Related services: eczema and dermatitis treatment and impetigo treatment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does scabies treatment cost at Ways Pharmacy?
Permethrin 5% cream starts from £24.99 per 30g tube. Most adults need at least one tube for each of the two applications, so a course is usually at least two tubes per person. The online assessment is free, and you only pay once the pharmacist confirms treatment is suitable; if you have already paid and it is not suitable, you get a full refund.
Does everyone in my home need treatment, even without symptoms?
Yes. Symptoms can take several weeks to appear after you catch scabies, so people without an itch may already have mites. Treating everyone on the same day, and again 7 days later, stops it passing back and forth.
Why do I need two treatments?
The first application kills the mites; the second, 7 days later, kills any that have hatched from eggs since. Skipping the second application is a common reason treatment fails.
I am still itching after treatment. Has it failed?
Not necessarily. Itching can continue for up to 4 weeks after successful treatment, even though the mites are dead. Speak to a pharmacist or your GP if the itch has not eased 2 to 4 weeks after the second treatment, or if new burrows or spots keep appearing.
What are the side effects?
Mild burning, stinging, tingling, redness or itching of the skin. These usually settle. Stop and get medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing. The pharmacist will also go through the safety advice in the leaflet, including keeping away from naked flames and not smoking while the treatment is on your skin.
Can I use scabies treatment if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Permethrin is usually the preferred treatment in pregnancy. Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. They will check the treatment is suitable and explain how to use it safely.
Can I catch scabies from clothes or bedding?
Scabies spreads mainly through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. It can occasionally spread through recently used clothing, bedding or towels, which is why washing them hot or sealing them in a bag is part of treatment.
Is this an NHS service?
No. Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a private pharmacy and does not provide NHS services.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
