Skin assessment
- Medical questionnaire and photo review
- Personalized treatment plan
- Prescription when appropriate
CA$175
per consultation
Modern Dermatology
Permethrin
Prescription only
Permethrin prescribed online
Permethrin is a topical treatment that kills scabies mites and lice. Share your symptoms and photos online. A Canadian-licensed medical professional decides if it suits you and how to treat your household.
Start my assessmentAt a glance
- Topical cream, lotion or rinse
- For scabies and lice
- Application plan set by your clinician
Why Modern Dermatology
- Canadian-licensed medical professionals, 100% online
- Prescriptions sent to your pharmacy or delivered
- Follow-up and refills through your Care Team
Used forScabies
Do not apply permethrin near your eyes or mouth or on open wounds. Call your Care Team if you have a spreading rash, swelling or signs of infection. Do not repeat treatment unless your clinician says so.
Choosing the right plan for you
Your clinician decides the product, how much to apply, how long to leave it on and whether to repeat it. The plan depends on your condition, your age and your household. Your Care Team gives you clear steps.
Considerations include
- Scabies or lice, and how widespread
- Age of the person being treated
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- People you live with and close contacts
- Past treatments and how they worked
How permethrin works
Permethrin kills the parasite on contact
Permethrin acts on the nerve cells of mites and lice. It disrupts their nerve signals, which paralyzes and kills them. It is not absorbed in large amounts through the skin.
It does not stop the itch at once. The skin needs time to calm down after the mites are gone.
Modern Dermatology
Permethrin
Prescription only
Recommended for
- Scabies with night-time itch
- Head lice
- Household members of someone with scabies
- Pregnant or breastfeeding people, when your clinician agrees
- People who need a non-pill option
Your clinician reviews your skin and history, and confirms that this treatment is right for you before prescribing.
Disrupts parasite nerve signals
Paralyzes mites and lice
Kills on contact
Clears live parasites
Clears the infestation
Skin can heal
Limits spread
Protects close contacts
How it works.
- 01
Tell us about your skin
Complete a quick medical questionnaire and upload a few photos of your skin concerns. No appointment needed.
- 02
Get your personalized treatment plan
A Canadian-licensed medical professional will review your information and recommend a personalized treatment plan, including prescriptions when appropriate. Most conditions can be assessed without a video consultation.
- 03
Start your treatment
Get your prescribed medications delivered right to your door. Medication costs are billed separately from your consultation.
- 04
Follow up on your progress
At a follow-up, your clinician can review your progress, discuss side effects and adjust your treatment if needed.
Clear answers.
Have more questions? See our full FAQ or Contact us.
Still have questions? Reach our care team at 514 111 1111
Start my assessmentYes, when it is appropriate for you. You complete an assessment, and a Canadian-licensed medical professional reviews it and decides if permethrin suits you.
Permethrin disrupts the nerve signals of scabies mites and lice. This paralyzes and kills them. Your skin then has time to heal.
It kills the mites soon after you apply it. The itch can last for a few weeks as the skin settles. Call your Care Team if you see new burrows or new bumps. Do not re-treat on your own.
Most people clear scabies when everyone in close contact is treated at the same time. Clean bedding and clothes as your Care Team explains. Itch that continues for a while does not always mean the treatment failed.
Mild stinging, burning, redness and itching are the most common. A spreading rash or swelling is rare and may mean an allergy. Call your Care Team about any new symptom.
People who had an allergic reaction to permethrin or similar products should not use it. Very young infants need special advice. Tell your clinician about any skin condition that is open or infected. Your clinician decides if it is safe.
Oral ivermectin is the main alternative for scabies, for example if cream is hard to use or did not work. It is not used for everyone, and your clinician decides. Your clinician picks what fits your age, health and household.
Often yes. Scabies spreads through close contact, even before symptoms start. Your clinician tells you who needs treatment and when. Treating everyone at the same time lowers the chance of passing it back.
Clinicians often use permethrin in pregnancy and breastfeeding, because little reaches the blood. Tell your clinician if you are pregnant or nursing. Your clinician decides what is safest for you and your baby.
Ask your Care Team first. Apply it to clean, dry skin as they explain. Do not use other creams on the same skin at the same time unless they agree. A steroid cream or antihistamine can help the itch afterward.
Each consultation costs CA$175. Your pharmacy charges separately for medication. Ask your insurer whether your plan covers the prescribed treatment.
Nix and Kwellada-P are brand names in Canada. Different products suit scabies and lice, so the form matters. Your pharmacist can fill the product that your clinician prescribes.
Your clinician decides how long you use permethrin and when to renew it. Your Care Team follows up with you, and you can message them with questions. Renewals depend on whether the infestation has cleared and on your clinician's review.
Simple pricing for your skin care.
Medication costs are separate. Ask your insurer whether your plan reimburses online consultations.
Start my assessment
Related treatments
Your clinician can suggest another option when this one is not the right fit.