Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Scabies

J. Thomas, Christine Carson, G.M. Peterson, S.F. Walton, Kate Hammer, M. Naunton, R. C. Davey, Tim Spelman, P. Dettwiller, Greg Kyle, Gabrielle Cooper, K.E. Baby

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Globally, scabies affects more than 130 million people at any time. In the developed world, outbreaks in health institutions and vulnerable communities result in a significant economic burden. A review of the literature demonstrates the emergence of resistance toward classical scabicidal treatments and the lack of effectiveness of currently available scabicides in reducing the inflammatory skin reactions and pyodermal progression that occurs in predisposed patient cohorts. Tea tree oil (TTO) has demonstrated promising acaricidal effects against scabies mites in vitro and has also been successfully used as an adjuvant topical medication for the treatment of crusted scabies, including cases that did not respond to standard treatments. Emerging acaricide resistance threatens the future usefulness of currently used gold standard treatments (oral ivermectin and topical permethrin) for scabies. The imminent development of new chemical entities is doubtful. The cumulative acaricidal, antibacterial, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing effects of TTO may have the potential to successfully reduce the burden of scabies infection and the associated bacterial complications. This review summarizes current knowledge on the use of TTO for the treatment of scabies. On the strength of existing data for TTO, larger scale, randomized controlled clinical trials are warranted.
Original languageEnglish
Article number26787146
Pages (from-to)258-266
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume94
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2016

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Scabies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this