Used to kill lice and the mites responsible for the skin condition scabies.
The mechanism behind benzyl benzoate's actions is not known. However, in light of the its effects on vertebrates, it is presumed that benzyl benzoate may act on the nervous system of the parasite, resulting in its death. In vitro, benzyl benzoate has been found to kill the Sarcoptes mite within 5 minutes.
Oral, rabbit: LD<sub>50</sub> = 1680 mg/kg; Skin, rabbit: LD<sub>50</sub> = 4000 mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose include blister formation, crusting, itching, oozing, reddening, or scaling of skin; difficulty in urinating (dribbling); jerking movements; sudden loss of consciousness.
No data are available on percutaneous absorption of benzyl benzoate. Some older studies have suggested some percutaneous absorption, however the amount was not quantified.