Comparison of the Efficacy of Sulfur 10% and Permethrin 5% in the Treatment of Scabies

Abstract Scabies is a highly contagious parasitic skin disease that significantly impacts the quality of life and can lead to secondary complications if not adequately treated. Topical sulfur and permethrin are among the most commonly used treatments for scabies. This study aims to compare the efficacy of topical sulfur and permethrin in the treatment of scabies. In this single-center study, patients diagnosed with scabies in the dermatology outpatient clinics of our university hospital between December 2023 and December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Data collected included age, gender, date of diagnosis, type of topical treatment administered, and treatment response at the second-week follow-up. The patients were divided into two groups: those receiving 10% topical sulfur and those treated with 5% permethrin solution. The effectiveness of both treatments was then compared. The findings of this study will help determine whether topical sulfur can serve as an alternative or superior treatment compared to permethrin in managing scabies.