Treatment Headlice

This section is about what over the counter treatments are available (not all treatments may be available in that country) and how they help.

Please check all ingredients if one are allergic or sensitive to them.
All products are flammable; keep away from naked flames or cigarettes.
Please use all products according to manufacturer’s instructions for treatments to be effective.
An average head needs 50ml of treatment. Long or thick hair will need more amount of treatment.
Treat all household members and those who have had close contact (including sexual contact) evening if they have had no symptoms.
All treatments may affect pre-rinsed, bleached or permed hair.
Avoid using hair gels, body wash, sprays, shampoos and 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioners before using treatment
Do not use treatment after a hot bath or hairdryer. This makes treatment less effective
These products should be used for treatment purposes.
They are not repellents.

Treatment only kill ‘live lice’, one must take precautions and try not to get infected again.
Please follow the direction carefully, poor compliance and poor directional use can also lead to failed treatment.
It is normal to see head lice after 24 hours of treatment. Treatment has not failed; it takes time to kill head lice.
No treatment is 100% effective; it all depends on careful and correct use.
The symptoms will not clear up straight away, the body will do that in its own pace so please be patient.
Itching can take up to 2-3 weeks to clear up.
Please note treatment kills lice and not the eggs; therefore a second application is required usually seven days later to kill newly hatched lice (nymphs).
It is important to check if all head lice have been killed by combing.
A successful treatment is that all head lice are killed after two to three days of treatment.
If lice are still there 8 days after treatment then treatment has failed or re-infestation has occurred.

There are a wide range of treatments available.

(Malathion, Permethrin and Phenothrin)

These treatments contain chemicals that kill head lice by acting on their nervous system and have been traditionally used.

They are highly inflammable so do not dry hair with hair dryers (let your hair dry naturally) or light objects near by i.e. cigarettes or be near a naked flame of gas heater.
They get inactivated by chlorine in swimming pools, so one doesn’t recommend one goes swimming throughout treatment and it should not be used by people with broken skin, asthmatics or eczema patients (alcohol content can irritate skin and can trigger asthma attacks).
They should be left on for 12 hours, it is ideal to apply in evening and leave overnight. Lotions have an advantage over water based products because they have a greater contact time and generally are more concentrated.

These come in a range of formulations, e.g. creams, liquids and mousse. They kill lice by acting on their immune system and have been traditionally used.
It should be applied for 8-12 hours and it is ideal to apply in evening and leave overnight.

(Dimethicone, Octanediol, Isopropyl myristate plus cyclomethicone cream)

These products kill head lice by physical means by dehydration (Head lice become thirsty, sweaty and have breathing difficulties).
They show no resistance to head lice due to the way they work, they have a more physical rather than chemical mode of action and are the more ‘newer’ treatments available.
Dimethicone 4% lotion is suitable for:
- Pregnant
- Breast-feeding mothers
- children aged 6 months to two years
- Persons with eczema and/or asthma

These are natural oils to kill head lice. They have the least side effects (tea tree oils) and have antiseptic properties.