The Three Groups Of Head Lice Treatment

headlice February 20th, 2007

Treating head lice as soon as it has been diagnosed is essential because of the rapid rate that lice grow over a short period of time.  There are a number of treatments for head lice, none necessarily being better than another.  However, there are three different groups of treatment that can be used to treat head lice.

Insecticides
Insecticides are available, for people who don't care that they are placing chemicals in the hair to solve the problem.  Insecticides are sometimes effective and can quickly kill lice and nymphs.

There are a number of insecticides that can be purchased over the counter such as malathion, permethrin, and phenothrin.  Other types of insecticides, such as carbaryl, are only available through prescription because of their intensity.  It is important to note that insecticides can have strong chemicals that potentially lead to side-effects such as rashes and scalp irritation.

Insecticides for treating head lice and nits can be purchased in the form of lotions, liquids or cream rinses.  You can also find shampoos, but these are not nearly as effective as the lotions and creams.  However, alcohol-based lotions are by far the most effective form of insecticide out there.  If you are treating a young child, professionals recommend that you stay away from alcohol-based lotions and stick with liquids and cream rinses.

It is important to follow the directions carefully when applying the insecticide into the hair.  Usually they tell you to leave the insecticide in the hair for a certain length of time.  This should kill the living lice. The bottle may also claim to kill the nits, but not all of them. Therefore, it is vital that you do a follow-up treatment a week later to ensure that you get rid of all lice and nymphs that may have hatched in the interim.

For the record, our experience has shown that no product ever "kills" nits, despite the claims of insecticides.

Combing
Combing is by far the most popular and effective home cure of head lice and nits.  This method involves using a fine-toothed comb to remove the lice from the scalp.  This treatment is time consuming and vigorous, but will allow you to avoid placing chemicals on your child's head.  The treatment requires that you comb at least every four days for a two-week span. 

Herbal Treatment
Using herbs to treat head lice and nits is another method that can be used to avoid placing chemicals on your child's head.  The most effective herbs include placing essential oils, herbal extracts, or homeopathic tinctures.  There is no concrete evidence that using herbs will effectively rid your child's scalp from lice, but many people do find it to work just fine.

If you are looking to avoid placing chemicals in your child's head, try combing or using herbs to treat the problem.  Otherwise, there are a number of insecticides that can be taken into consideration. Whatever treatment you choose to use, it is vital that you begin treating the problem as soon as you have accurately diagnosed it.

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