Although permethrin is toxic to insects, like lice and tics, it is much less toxic to humans.

This especially applies to the permethrin included in medications, which are heavily regulated to ensure that your medicine is perfectly safe when used as instructed.

There’s absolutely no reason to worry about the safety of permethrin as long as you follow the advice of its manufacturer, your doctor, or your pharmacist.

Permethrin can absolutely be used on the skin when it’s included as the active ingredient in your scabies or lice treatment.

If you’re ever sure whether a medication is safe to apply to your skin, read the patient information leaflet that comes with the product carefully and speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

If you’re an adult under the age of 65, then you should not apply permethrin to your face or scalp unless your doctor has advised that scabies or another condition has infected this area. If you’re over 65 or treating a child, then you should apply permethrin cream to the head and face as well. If you’re treating crab lice with permethrin, then you should remove any lice or eggs from facial hair and eyelashes with tweezers before applying the cream as recommended by the manufacturer.

Permethrin is a type of insecticide known as a pyrethroid. It works by affecting the nervous system of any insects that come into contact with it, and is especially effective against biting insects. It can give insects muscle spasms and paralysis and will eventually kill them, treating the infestation of scabies, crab lice, or head lice directly.

Permethrin is suitable for children and infants, but you should only use this treatment if told to do so by your doctor.

If your doctor does recommend permethrin for your child, make sure you follow their application instructions carefully.