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The Many Treatment Options for Head Lice
When you or your child have head lice, there is only one priority—getting rid of them as quickly as possible. There are many treatment options available to you for eliminating head lice quickly and safely. These options include over the counter lice treatment shampoos, prescription lice treatments and natural remedies for head lice. All of them have varying degrees of success, and by knowing all you can about each option, you can make the most informed choice about which option is the best one for you or your child with head lice.
Over the counter head lice treatments are by far the most commonly used option for people with head lice. These treatments employ chemicals and pesticides to kill the adult head lice, and often include a small nit comb in the kit. In order to use these over the counter lice killing kits most effectively, it is of the utmost importance to fully read all the instructions included with the kit.
Many of the shampoos, gels, and no drip mousse preparations for head lice are intended to be applied to dry hair. Wetting the hair first will dilute the active ingredients and reduce their effectiveness. It is also very important to leave the solution on the hair for the recommended period. Too short of a time means the lice might not die, and extended exposure to the chemical pesticide increases the risk of skin irritation and exposure hazards.
Due to the misuse and overuse of over the counter head lice treatments, some strains of head lice have become immune or resistant to the active ingredients found in these treatments. When this happens, many parents will turn to their physician for a prescription head lice remedy.
Like the over the counter treatments, these shampoos are usually intended for dry hair application. Prescription head lice treatments are often stronger or more concentrated than the over the counter ones, and correct timing of the application is crucial to prevent irritation from over exposure.
Natural remedies for head lice are less well studied than over the counter or prescription treatments. However, many parents swear by these treatments, claiming that they are just as effective and far less toxic. Olive oil, mayonnaise and petroleum jelly are just a few of the commonly recommended ‘smothering’ agents that people often use to kill head lice.
Application of these smothering agents usually occurs at bedtime, and the substance is allowed to remain on the hair until morning. Then it is washed out, usually with some difficulty. Other natural remedies include essential oils, although some people have allergic reactions and irritations after using them.
Whichever option you use, the most important part of any effective head lice treatment is thoroughly removing the lice eggs from the hair. Called nits, these eggs are tiny, yellowish white or grey specks, which are glued to the hair strands. These can be removed with special combs. Only by removing all the nits can you be assured that the head lice will stay away after treatment.
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Sun 6 Jul 2008 02:06:45 CST | |