infested individual or by other close contact. Gamma Benzene Hexachloride ointment
(lindane, KwellR) is the drug of choice for the treatment of lice and scabies infestations.
Usually, one application is sufficient to eliminate the problem.
5-10. SKIN CLEANSING
(1) Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts). This drug, although normally used to
flush poisons out of the human body, can also be used in a bath or a soak to cleanse
the skin and to relieve pain.
(2) Aluminum acetate or Burrow's solution (Domeboro). This medication is
similar to boric acid but more drying. Bur-Veen, Domeboro, and Soy-Boro are
commercial products of this medication. This medication is good to apply to a skin
lesion when the eruption needs to drain.
(3) Potassium permanganate. This medication may be prescribed in water
or in normal saline solution. It is used in inflammatory, superficial infections and is
applied to the skin lesion then covered by a wet dressing. Although soothing to the
affected area, the medication leaves a brown stain on the skin. Dalidome may be used
instead of potassium permanganate. Dalidome is a nonstaining preparation.
b. Soaps and Shampoos.
(1) Superfatted soaps. Use these soaps when the skin is extra dry. Elderly
people often need such soap.
(2) Neutral soaps or soap substitutes, medicated soaps. Oilatum soap, a
neutral soap containing peanut oil, is used when regular soaps produce excessive
dryness and irritation. For oily skins, use Fostex cake, Lava soap, or Acne-Aid
detergent soap. Gamophen and Mycoderm are examples of medicated soaps. Soap
substitutes are used for cleansing the skin when soap is too irritating. Soap substitutes
include Lowilacake, Acidolate, pHisoderm, and pHisoHex.
(3) Medicated shampoos. A variety of medicated shampoos fight skin
problems on the scalp: Capsebon, Sebulex, Betadine, Domerine, Fostex, and
Alvinine. Kwell is a shampoo used to treat pediculosis capitis, Phthirus, and their nits.
Wet the hair with warm water, apply the shampoo as you would any shampoo, and
allow the lather to stay on the scalp for at least 5 minutes. These shampoos leave the
hair soft and have a pleasant odor. Only one application of KwellR is necessary when it
is used to treat pediculosis and Phthirus.
MD0575
5-16