headlice February 27th, 2008
Previously, I posted a conversation overheard in a pharmacy, between the pharmacist and a customer. The customer was looking for an over the counter Lice Shampoo, but was confused. He therefore approached the pharmacist for information on prescription lice treatments. The symptoms he described were for body lice, not human head lice. This customer, had he not consulted with the pharmacist would have purchased a product with very potent and dangerous chemicals, available over the counter for treating head lice.
The moral(s) of this anecdote:
- LICE INFORMATION is crucial, in order to properly treat the problem. Headlice Shampoo will not treat body lice. A dermatologist must be consulted for body lice. Fortunately, medical intervention is not needed for pediculosis capitis, human headlice. Although both kinds of pediculosis are human parasites, they are different. The bugs do look similar, but body lice are smaller. Human head lice can be easily treated without prescription formulas.
- Dangerous chemicals are being used for treating head lice. Your head is one of the most absorbent parts of the body. Since chemicals are becoming less and less effective in treating hair lice and nits, the chemical lice treatment products are increasing their concentrations of these chemicals! Read the ingredients. Do your research. Fight back! Non-Chemical Lice Shampoo is available. Why resort to chemicals?
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headlice February 25th, 2008
Last week a friend of mine was in the pharmacy for some routine purchases. He noticed a gentleman looking at a display of lice removal shampoos. The customer picked up each lice product, examined the box, and put it back on the shelf. When he had looked at every available lice treatment product, he seemed quite perplexed. This is not surprising. These products promise all sorts of quick fixes, and it's hard to tell what the difference is between them.
Apparently confused, the gentleman approached the pharmacist for some help. This is the conversation my friend overheard:
Customer: I need to treat lice.
Pharmacist: There are many products for treating lice.
Customer: what is the difference between them?
Pharmacist: You need to read the active ingredients.
Customer: They seem to be full of chemicals.
Pharmacist: Yes, these products use strong chemicals to kill lice. Each product uses different chemicals, in different concentrations.
Customer: But they all kill lice?
Pharmacist: That's what they say on the box!
Customer: Are there other products? like soap? They all are called lice shampoo!?
Pharmacist: Well, you have to wash your hair with it, in order to kill the lice.
Customer: How do I kill the ones that aren't on my head?
Pharmacist: If they are not on your head, why do you think they are lice?
Customer: Well my whole body is itching. I have itchy red patches all over. It seems odd to wash my whole body with shampoo.
Pharmacist: You have body lice! These chemical lice shampoos are specifically made for human head lice (pediculus humanus capitis). If you have body lice, you need to go to a dermatologist right away and get a prescription for body lice (pediculus humanus).
Customer: Oh. I didn't know there was a difference.
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headlice February 20th, 2008
A final word on plastic lice nit combs:
Some Lice Shampoos come bundled with a plastic lice comb. A lice removal product may provide clear instructions about how to divide the hair to effectively comb out the nits, using the comb provided. These plastic lice combs also come in many shapes. Some brand-name lice killing products even seem to provide different lice combs with their different lice removal products.
Although these combs are coming bundled with a very expensive, or popular lice product, the fact is that a plastic nit comb will not do the job. In a previous article, we have explained the problem with plastic lice combs, and why they often do not work. We continue to be amazed at the poorly made, and highly ineffective nit combs that are being included in professional lice removal kits.
No matter how well planned the design, plastic teeth will not catch all the nits! Large, mature nits may possibly be removed using such a comb. However, the tiny nits must also be removed in order to prevent re-infestation. Use only a metal lice comb if you don't want your efforts to be in vain.
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headlice February 18th, 2008
Lice combs made of plastic are available in stores, and through mail-order. Some have obviously been manufactured with intent to catch nits. They have teeth spaced very closely together. There are plastic nit combs with very short teeth, as well as lice combs with much longer teeth. A plastic lice comb can be made of strong plastic, and be considered "unbreakable". Some of these lice removal combs come with a long handle, meant to be used the same way one would hold a disposable razor. Others have an extended handle, shaped for a comfortable grip. Unfortunately, no matter how well planned the design, plastic teeth will not catch the nits.
Louse nits are attached to the hair with a very, very strong biological glue. This glue is naturally created to keep that nit attached to the hair. The survival of the nit depends on that nit staying attached to the hair shaft. This is so that the nymph inside the louse egg can grow and thrive on the human host. To the naked eye, the teeth of the plastic lice comb appear to be rigid. However, the plastic teeth will spread apart, just enough to get around many nits. Plastic teeth on a lice comb do bend microscopically and slide past the tightly glued nits. Remember that nits can be tinier than a poppy seed!
It doesn't matter if the plastic lice nit comb is especially made and marketed for this purpose by "experts". A plastic comb passes over too many nits to be considered worthwhile. This has been proven by the thousands of frustrated parents who have attempted to use such a plastic lice nit comb. The amount of time needed to properly comb out lice and nits is long enough. It is a shame to invest all that effort using an ineffective lice removal tool.
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headlice February 5th, 2008
continued from Why use Head Lice Shampoo AND a Lice Comb?
The second step of head lice treatment is to remove all the remaining nits. Although some lice shampoos may loosen the glue that holds the nits on the hair shafts, there is no safe OR chemical lice shampoo that has been shown to kill or remove nits. It has been established that the only way to properly treat a lice infestation is to carefully and methodically remove every nit. Nits must be removed with a very good lice nit comb. Combing the hair properly is even more effective for getting rid of lice nits, than trying to remove them one at a time by hand. Nits that are left in the hair will continue to hatch 7-10 days after they were laid. Newly hatched lice, called nymphs can not lay eggs. They are not mature enough to be fertilized until they are approximately 10 days old. Nymphs, like mature lice crawl extremely quickly. If the hair is properly combed, even nymphs that may have hatched shortly after the initial lice shampoo treatment will be combed out.
Because combing out lice nits and nymphs is so important, Licenders has done considerable review of lice combs. We have evaluated dozens of nit combs while providing treatment for head lice. Many different lice combs are available, each with different features, and innovations. Some of the features offered in lice combs are useful. Other lice removal products range from unnecessary, to ineffective, to downright ridiculous!
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headlice February 4th, 2008
In an active lice infestation, the number of live bugs may vary widely, depending on the length of time that the hair has been infested.
The first step of lice treatment in an active infestation, is obviously aimed at killing the live bugs, to prevent them from laying more nits. Use of a safe, non-chemical lice shampoo is recommended. An enzyme-based lice killing shampoo kills lice on contact, and avoids the use of poison on your child's scalp. Enzyme-based lice shampoo works, and lice can not become resistant to it, the way they have become resistent to chemical shampoos, such as RIDLICE, NIX, and even prescription products such as LINDANE. Once the mature lice are gone, you need to proceed to step two.
The second step in treatment of head lice is combing out the lice. There is no short-cut. If you do not manually comb out nits, they will continue to hatch. You will be faced with a complete re-infestation if live head lice. The baby lice, called nymphs will mature within 7-10 days, and the head lice shampoo treatment will have been a waste of your time and money. This cycle can continue indefinitely unless you remove every nit.
To be continued
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