Permethrin as a treatment for head lice

January 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Permethrin (trade name Nix Creme Rinse) is a synthetic pyrethroid  pesticide. If you have a crysanthemum allergy you may also be allergic to permethrin as they have a similar chemical base.

Permethrin is not 100% ovicidal meaning that between 70 and 95% of eggs may be killed during treatment. However, that remaining 5 – 30% of surviving and hatching eggs may go on to produce a repeat head louse infestation. One treatment is never enough to completely solve the problem. There are also claims that some head lice are becoming resistant to permethrin. Vigilence after treatment in essential to ensure complete eradication of head lice.

 Permethrin is traditionally administered in shampoo form which is then left for 10 minutes before rinsing. Part of the appeal of this method of treating headlice is the speed of treatment compared to formulae that need to be left applied for several hours.

Are Synergised pyrethrins effective treatment for head lice?

January 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment

What is synergised pyretherin?

Synergised pyretherin is the name given to a chemical insecticide that the Chrysanthemum plant produces naturally.

Are synergised pyrethrins effective for killing head lice?

Head lice have the ability to oxidise the chemicals in synergised pyrethrins quite easily unless a synergising agent is added to boost their pesiticidal effectiveness. The most common additive of this kind is Piperonyl butoxide (derived from petroleum). The FDA states that this chemical combination is both safe and effective (class 1) for use of hair and scalps.

How is this combination used to treat head lice?

The most common carrier for synergised pyrethrins is shampoo that is lathered on wet hair and left for 10 minutes to before rinsing and re-washing the hair with non-medicated shampoo. This treatment will kill live lice but is not completely effective in killing head louse eggs. For this reason, treatment needs to be repeated in 7 – 10 days time to kill off any newly hatched head louse eggs before the nymphs become old enought to breed. This is FDA’s advice even though some products claim to kill both lice and eggs and therefore suggests one treatment for effective head lice elimination.

Cautionary advice about using synergised pyrethrins….

•  If you are allergic to Chrysathemums, kerosene, ragweed or any product derived from petroleum, you must not use synergised pyrethrins to treat head lice.
• In any case avoid using the product near to mucous membranes and wash hands thoroughly after use.
• Some patients are claiming that lice are becoming resistant to synergised pyrethrins. Anecdotal evidence seem to back this up but scientific research is yet to be done on head lice resistance to treatment.
• The Federal Trade Commission website can also be visited to see evidence of patients sold synergised pyrethrins as a product effective in killing head lice in a single treatment who have discovered that this is misrepresentation. This can be distressing for people (already distressed by having head lice) thinking they have effectively dealt with the problem then finding they are still infested with head lice. 

Alternative treatments for head lice

January 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment

There are several companies that are promoting a variety of “alternative head lice remedies” that are, in fact, totally unproven as effective head lice remedies.

These remedies tend to include ingredients such as tea tree, rue and other herbal ingedients.

The problem with alternative treatments for head lice  is that, if their efficiency is not scientifically proven, then their users may develop a false sense of security and confidence that proves later to be unfounded as the head lice infestation happens again or even worsens.

The other problem with alternative remedies for head lice can be that there are no firm guidelines about safe dosages to use. This may cause personal reactions to the ingredients ….or may even render the treatment of head lice unsafe if used incorrectly.

Additional symptoms of head lice infestation

January 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Several key symptoms of head lice have been covered in earlier post. These head lice symptoms include itching, tickling sensations (from head louse movement) and evidence of head louse eggs and nits on the hair shaft.

An additional symptom of head lice can also be lice feces. You may find lice feces inside your shirt / blouse collar or left behind on  your pillow in the morning. Head lice faeces will be small dark specs that become lodged in the collar area of your clothing. With perspiration around the neck these may smear onto the collar as the head turns from side to side giving additional clues to head louse infestation.

Other additional symtoms of head louse infestation incluse “railroad scratching” to the scalp where the itching has caused aggressive scratching in parallel lines from the finger tips. These scratches can become infected so they should be checked out by your pharmacist if becoming sore or uncomfortable as they may need antibiotic treatment. 

Suffocating treatments for head lice

January 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment

What are suffocating methods of removing head lice?

Suffocating methods of treating head lice come under the description of home remedies for head lice. The process involves smothering the scalp and hair with heavy oil based products such as mayonnaise or olive oil, wrapping the scalp with cling film or plastic then then leaving this on the hair overnight with the aim of suffocating head lice.

Are suffocating methods of killing head lice effective?

Unfortunately there are no studies to scientifically test the suffocation methods of head louse elimination. The fact that a lot of shampooing after the treatment to get rid of the oily substances used to suffocate lice means that hair may become damaged due to being stripped of natural oils.

Furthermore, if you have been scratching your scalp, decomposing mayonnaise or rancid olive oil may seep into open wounds and cause a bacterial infection.

In all, suffocation methods of killing head lice are not recommended. 

Malathion for treating head lice

January 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Malathion was once a prescription treatment available for treating head lice infestations (under the brand name Ovide). Because it has a very unpleasant smell, sales of Malathion were low and it was eventually removed from the market.

Malathion is known as an organophosphate insecticide and is a safer prescription treatment that some for head lice. The manufacturers have mooted a re-launch of the product.