Archive for July, 2007

Dangerous Chemicals and Headlice Treatment (part 1)

headlice July 31st, 2007

When Licenders started providing head lice treatment, we used the lice shampoo products that were available in the regular national chain drug stores. However, we found that those products were not sufficiently getting rid of head lice. After following the directions, we still found live bugs in the hair. This led us to research what was going on. That’s when we came across the concept of chemical resistant lice. But we also became more informed about chemicals, and how they could affect our clients.

We found out some pretty frightening information:

Pesticide based lice shampoo contains ingredients which are known or suspected to cause cancer, affect the nervous system, and have other harmful effects. They can trigger asthma or allergic responses. Children, especially children with asthma and allergies, are more vulnerable than adults to these chemicals. Your home is supposed to be a safe place for your children. Home remedies for head lice shouldn’t be dangerous. 

Nix®, Elimite®, Acticin®, and Lyclear™ are hair lice treatments that contain permethrin. Permethrin is a synthetic version of an extract from the chrysanthemum. Such chemicals are called pyrethroids. Exposure to pyrethroids can cause skin irritation or sneezing, nasal stuffiness, or breathing difficulties. Children with a history of allergies or asthma are particularly sensitive. It may also produce numbing, tingling, and burning sensations. The EPA has permethrin classified as a possible cancer-causing agent. And it’s being used in order to treat headlice! 

Rid®, Pronto®, and R&C®, more remedies for head lice, contain pyrethrum and piperony butoxide. Pyrethrum is a natural insecticide made from chrysanthemums. Pyrethrum can trigger allergic responses like skin rashes, hives and asthma. There have been cases where this chemical insecticide caused a human fatal asthma attack. It has been directly linked to neurological problems, causing paralysis and general muscle weakness. To add insult to injury, piperonyl butoxide is a synthetic chemical that increases the potency of pyrethrum. Kids are being exposed to such risks! Why? To get rid of hair lice and nits.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.

There’s still more disturbing stuff… (to be continued) 

 

When Lice Shampoo doesn’t work

headlice July 18th, 2007

The unwelcome call comes from school or camp: "Your child has lice, please come pick her up." Stay calm you tell yourself. But how to remove the lice?

"Oh, just go down to the pharmacy and pick up a lice removal kit", says your helpful friend. So that’s what you do. You pick out one of the head lice products with a catchy name, and it promises to kill all the lice and nits. Great, you think! I’m going to have this beat by the end of the day. So you follow the instructions, keep the lice shampoo in the hair for the recommended amount of time, and comb through your darling’s head with the interesting plastic lice comb that is provided. It took a couple of hours, but you’re through, you think. Tomorrow it’s back to school/camp/work for everyone!

And then they call again! "Your child still has headlice, please come pick her up again." What’s going on here? The product specifically stated that it was guaranteed to kill all the lice and nits! You read the lice information on the side of the box, and you followed the directions!

Lice are beginning to develop a resistance to lice shampoo! The front page of the health section of the Wall Street Journal on July 17, 2007 puts it simply: "Lice are getting tougher". Joseph De Avila writes, "In recent years in the U.S., head lice have been developing resistance to the insecticides in over-the-counter treatments such as Nix and RID. And while the most common prescription treatment, Ovide, remains effective in the U.S., medical studies in the United Kingdom show that bugs there have developed a resistance to the insecticide malathion, an active ingredient in Ovide."

So there you have it. A louse can outlive those head lice treatments, and merrily continue to lay more eggs! Luckily there are solutions. Chemical-free products, like Licenders Professional Shampoo are available to you. And hair lice do not develop resistance to chemical free lice shampoo.

Chemicals?? That’s a topic for another time.