DermaTechRx Research Center

Posts Tagged ‘nit’

Choosing a Head Lice Lotion
With such a variety to choose from choosing the right head lice lotion for your or your child’s treatment can be time consuming and confusing, and perhaps the best way to get the right information is to look at some of the websites that deal with head lice and have testimonials from people who have successfully used different brands or methods.
However, you are likely to find that there will be two distinct groups of people: those who prefer the insecticide lotions and shampoos prescribed by doctors, and those who opt to use natural or alternative substances for their head lice remedy.
There are arguments for both, and good reasons why you should consider such things carefully before going ahead.
The first thing to remember is that while head lice are potentially embarrassing they are not in any way dangerous; they do not pass on any diseases and they simply go about their daily lives with the worst you can expect being an itchy head. Yes, the thought of them feeding on our blood is gross, but there are many far nastier parasites out there. An infestation of head lice is not something that signifies poor hygiene, either, as up to 12 million children, in America alone, suffer from an infestation every year.
As the danger is nonexistent it is questionable whether using powerful insecticides to combat what is a minor problem makes sense. The three main insecticides used are Malathion, Permethrin and Lindane, and while the first two come with little controversy other than possible minor side effects such as exaggerated irritation of the scalp, the latter is a very controversial substance indeed that has been linked to serious convulsions in patients, and even to possible deaths.
The alternative lotions are those that are made from, or utilize, natural ingredients; Tea Tree oil is very much in vogue, and ylang ylang too, and products using these in their make up – shampoos and lotions both – have been found to be as effective as a Permethrin based lotion in independent trials.
Whether you choose to opt for the medically proven insecticides and have your doctor prescribe one of the safe versions, or whether you are prone to go down the natural route and look at herbal options, the choice is, after all, your own, but many would say that trying something completely safe and without any risk is a more sensible first step, particularly as the condition itself is far from a serious one.

Malathion Head Lice treatment – is it safe?
There has been much written of late about the controversy surrounding some of the prescription and over the counter insecticide head lice treatments, hence it is worth us taking a look at how safe they actually are.
There are many such lotions and shampoos on the market, most of them with three main insecticides as the active ingredient: Malathion head lice treatment comes in the shape of a brand known as Ovide, and this is a very popular medicinal treatment used by many people all the time. Others include those made using Permethrin, and most controversial are the lotions that utilize the powerful insecticide Lindane.
The latter has become particularly controversial as it has been linked to a number of very serious cases of side effects – convulsions of a serious nature, and even a death – and as a result products using the substance have been banned from sale in many European countries, but are still available on prescription in the USA. Unlike Lindane, its sister aforementioned insecticide lotions are said to be entirely safe and come with only the chance of minor side effects.
So what are Malathion and the others? Insecticides are essentially poisons that are designed to kill insects. The ones used in these products are synthetic – that is manmade – versions of natural products, and are very powerful indeed.
It is the act of covering a child’s head in potentially dangerous chemicals that puts a lot of parents off using the lotions, and this is why there have become available a series of alternative treatments that are safe, yet not scientifically proven. Malathion is a successful product, and has many adherents who swear by its efficiency, however.
Using it is simple – it is rubbed into the head and left for a short time, therefore killing as many lice as possible. Despite manufacturer’s claims, it is unlikely to kill nits, hence they will need to be treated in a different manner. Furthermore, the possible side effects include irritation of the skin and possible increase in dandruff, and it is not recommended that those already suffering from known skin conditions use the substance or others like it. Nor should they use it if they have open wounds, and it is imperative it is kept away from the eyes.
Given the number of restrictions, and the press horror stories, it is no surprise that people opt to use alternative methods, washing with a shampoo mixed with Tea Tree oil being very popular, but it must be said that Malathion products are certified as safe to use, and known to work in many cases.

American Academy of Pediatrics head Lice report
In an interesting study that was recently carried out and published, the American Academy of Pediatrics – or AAP – looked closely at the head lice problem, a problem that affects millions of children in America during their lifetimes.
As the report points out at the beginning, head lice infestation can lead to anxiety in the child concerned, although it also points out that this is the very worst that can happen – the head louse, while annoying, is essentially harmless and needs to be eradicated thanks to the hygiene problem they present; easy to spread among children, the AAP report sheds light on just how prevalent the problem is.
Some interesting figures are published in the report, including the fact that an estimated six to 12 million children, between the ages of three and 12 years, suffer from head lice during each year in America alone; these are staggering numbers when considered in the cold light of day, and explain why the problem is one that, although practically harmless, needs to be addressed.
The AAP also take the trouble to point out that lice are not a sign of poor hygiene and, unlike some insects, are not responsible for passing on any other diseases;  there is plenty advice too on the head lice life cycle, its various stages, and why it is important to understand this in order to treat an infestation properly. Indeed, of particular interest is that a louse will not survive for long away from a humans head, and therefore removing them is a very efficient method of elimination.
Also interesting is the explanation as to why it can take several weeks for us to realize we have head lice – the itching is an allergic reaction, and this takes time in some cases to come forth – and also that the life cycle of the creature, from birth to breeding, takes as little as three weeks. This is the reason why these creatures spread at such an alarming rate.
Remedies are covered in some detail, from the many insecticide lotions including Malathion head lice treatment, through to the various natural remedies, some of which have been found to be as effective as the medicinal ones, and also the suffocation methods, while instructions and guidelines for schools and parents are also investigated and outlined.
All in all, it is heartening to see the AAP take an interest and invest so much time and effort into what is an embarrassing, if needlessly so, condition that is suffered by so many.

Mayonnaise Head Lice remedy – does it work?
Among the more bizarre suggested remedies for the head lice problem is one that uses mayonnaise – common, kitchen mayonnaise – the details of which we shall come to a little later on, but it is interesting to understand why such unusual alternative treatment methods have such following.
The medically prescribed lotions – insecticide washes that contain powerful poisons for killing the creatures – are avoided by many thanks to controversy in recent years; indeed one such substance – an insecticide known as Lindane – has been the subject of a number of scare stories regarding extreme reactions and even deaths, and as such has been removed from use in many countries although it is still available by prescription in the USA. This is not to say that all insecticide methods of treatment are dangerous, but they do come with the risk of minor side effects, something that the alternative methods do not.
This is where mayonnaise comes in, and you might ask yourself what could be less harmful – or, indeed, less ridiculous – than coating the head in a salad dressing! The truth is that while it does seem very odd it has its reasoning in a sound basis, for the mayonnaise head lice remedy plays into a very unusual biological feature of the tiny creatures.
Head lice have an unusual breathing apparatus that is accessed by tiny holes in the side of the body, and while these holes are able to close for periods of time they have to open again at some point; the trick is to smother the head, very liberally, with mayonnaise and leave it there for several hours. If the thought of sitting around with a head covered in mayonnaise seems utterly bizarre then it bears thinking about what happens – the head lice, when its breathing holes open, finds it cannot breathe and simply suffocates.
This cheap and simple method of treatment is not without its problems, however: considerable mess is obviously one and the need to sit around for hours another, while the fact that it will not kill all the lice, or the nits – eggs – in one go is another. This means another day sitting around with a head covered in mayonnaise, but if it gets rid of the pesky creatures, that can only be worthwhile.
Given that head lice are not dangerous – unpleasant and embarrassing, yes, but no danger to anyone – it makes sense to use the least harmful method of treatment and mayonnaise may just be the answer!

Head Lice Cetaphil treatment
The methods of treating a head lice infestation range from the obvious – combing with a head lice comb – to the downright ridiculous methods of smothering the creatures with mayonnaise or olive oil; however, the latter methods are recognized as being successful, if very messy, and in the face of insecticide lotions that are subject to reports of lessening impact and, in some cases, quite severe side effects it is no surprise that many people choose to try the more unusual techniques in an effort to get rid of the head lice problem.
One slightly less messy way of pursuing the smothering method is to use Cetaphil, a common cleaner that is not riddled with chemical potions and does the suffocation job as well as anything else, while being easier to control and far less unusual than covering your head in something out of the fridge.
The smothering method of killing head lice works because of the way the lice breathe, which is through a series of miniscule holes all down its body; these holes are filled by the Cetaphil – or other substance – and the louse suffocates. It can then be brushed out of the hair.
By massaging the Cetaphil firmly into the scalp the lice are covered, as that is where they live, and the solution is left in place for a while for the effect to take place. The reason for the wait is due to a complex mechanism by which the louse can close its breathing holes, but it can only do so for a short time. This helps it to survive on our heads when we wash our hair.
Once dried, the Cetaphil needs to be thoroughly washed out of the hair and the hair and scalp wet combed with a special nit comb. The problem with all suffocation techniques, however, is that they will not kill the nits, the tiny eggs that are laid on the base of the hairs and hatch after about a week.
For this reason a further treatment or two, accompanied by vigorous combing, will be necessary to ensure that you have successfully killed and removed all of the nits and the living lice, as any that hatch in the meantime will be caught next time around.
Using Cetaphil is easier than the traditional mayonnaise – some people use Vaseline petroleum jelly for the same effect – and also easier to clean up, and best of all it is absolutely safe with no side effects.

Malathion Head Lice Treatment
One of the great controversies of treating a head lice infestation surrounds the use of insecticide lotions and shampoos, with reports of side effects – sometimes quite severe – being off-putting to many. The three main insecticides used – Malathion, Permethrin and Lindane – all have reported problems, and in the case of the latter reports of severe seizures and even fatalities have led to it being removed from use in many countries, although it is still available on prescription in the USA.
Among the three one of the most popular is Malathion, as used in the very widely prescribed Ovide, a lotion that is known to have an effect on head lice and their nymphs when used in many cases. It is a fact, however, that no insecticide will kill all of the well protected nits – the head lice eggs – and these need to be treated with a different method.
Among the known side effects of Malathion are those of a dry scalp, a stinging sensation and a possible increase in dandruff, and the substance should not be used – like all insecticide products – on those who have open wounds or a prior skin condition. It needs to be kept away from the eyes, too, and pregnant women are strongly advised to steer clear of insecticide products.
These minor side effects are acknowledged by the FDA, and the lotions – Ovide among them – are considered safe for use when the instructions are followed.
One thing that should be borne in mind is that Ovide is not recommended for children under the age of six (in fact no insecticide products are) and if the infestation is present on the head of such an infant, and it is very likely, then medical advice should be sought as to what steps to take.
The alternatives are the natural shampoos that abound on the market – many with the very popular Tea Tree oil, a medicinal herbal remedy favored by the Aborigines of Australia, present – and the trusty nit comb, an essential item in any treatment regime. Head lice combs are available in two types, the traditional version with the very close teeth and a newer version that works by administering an electric shock. The shock may be fatal to the lice but is not felt by the patient, being provided by a standard battery.
Using insecticides such as Malathion has been shown to work, yet it is not everybody’s choice to coat the head with poisons; consider your options carefully.

Head Lice Hatching Routine
One of the difficulties involved in treating a head lice infestation comes from not understanding the life cycle of these annoying but oddly fascinating little creatures; diminutive they may be, miniscule even, yet they can cause a lot of trouble in a very short time!
Fortunately the age of the internet has led to us being able to understand the way these creatures live their lives – and feats on our blood – much more readily thanks to the prevalence of highly detailed and illustrated websites that show us exactly what happens, where and when. Summarizing the head lice hatching point is essential to understand where we need to be, and what we need to do, to catch these pesky creatures in order that they do not spread out of control.
The head lice is distinct from the nit – a point many people are unaware of; the former is the living creature, the tiny wingless insect that crawls around in your hair and pierces the skin to suck up blood – while the latter is the egg of the adult, and is by far the most difficult part of the equation to deal with. Indeed, the nits are so small that they may easily be missed with the best of head lice combs, and as such demand attention above and beyond that given to the living creatures.
In any treatment regime – whether using the likes of Malathion or Permethrin head lice treatment, or even the controversial Lindane, or resorting to herbal remedies or the bizarre suffocation by mayonnaise ritual – understanding that there may have been nits missed in the first treatment is essential and understanding the life cycle – and where the hatching point is – is essential.
An adult louse lives for approximately one month, and in that time she lays around 200 nits – around six every day – and the nits remain as eggs, attached to our hair by a very clever natural glue, for about one week. Once hatched they become head lice nymphs, young lice that are rapidly – in one to two weeks – advanced to breeding adults, and the whole episode begins again.
Knowing that we have one week from laying to hatching means we need to keep an eye out for new born nymphs for that period of time after clearing the head of lice, and we then have a further week to get rid of them before they begin laying. This is why regular, thorough examination is the best way to prevent head lice, and why understanding the hatching routine is vital.

Permethrin Head Lice Treatment
A head lice infestation presents a very real problem – how to treat it. This problem raises debate across the world as those who favor natural products go head to head with those who choose to use prescribed or over the counter insecticide lotions and shampoos, and there is much to consider when making what is an important decision.
One of the problems pointed to where natural products are concerned, in particular the popular Tea Tree oil shampoos, is that unlike the insecticide versions they are not scientifically tried and tested; this is not to say that they do not work, but that the jury remains undecided as to their natural worth.
As for the insecticide lotions there are three main substances used: Malathion is a popular insecticide, Lindane a very controversial one and Permethrin a substance that is accepted as being among the safest of its family.
The controversy with Lindane has led to its use being banned in some countries, although it is still prescribed in the USA. However, shocking cases of it causing convulsions, and even fatalities, in the young abound, and it has to be said that Permethrin remains the preferred insecticide for head lice treatment.
Permethrin is found in the very popular head lice infestation treatment known as Nix, and this is known to be an effective killer of lice. However, it is important to remember that neither Permethrin nor the other insecticides will kill the nits – the tiny eggs – hence these need to be treated in a different manner, perhaps with the use of a nit comb, persistently and repeatedly, until they are all removed.
One problem that is reported when using insecticide products is resistance to the substance; colonies can develop resistance to the likes of Permethrin, and if lice are not killed within 30 minutes of the application of an insecticide shampoo or lotion then the treatment has failed. The option now is to try a different insecticide lotion, or resort to one of the natural versions or, more wildly, to smother the creatures in mayonnaise or olive oil, a messy but reportedly effective method of treating these tiny mites.
The controversy surrounding insecticide lotions and the use of Permethrin and its related products is one that will rage for ever more; there is no truly, entirely safe insecticide as all are poisons, yet if you follow the terms of use you may find that they present a successful solution; on the other hand your preference may be for natural products – the choice is, after all, yours.

All About Head Lice Nits
In understanding the problem of head lice it is necessary to dispel a few myths and misconceptions; one is that head lice cannot fly – they are wingless creatures as evidenced by the many head lice pictures available on the internet – and perhaps more important is to understand that head lice and head lice nits are two different things.
This is vital in treatment terms as getting rid of either requires a different approach; the lice themselves, the adult walking creatures, are relatively easy to get rid of by using either one of the many insecticide lotions or shampoos, Malathion or Permethrin for instance, available in well known brand such as Ovide, or by using a natural method or lotion, many of which are rather bizarre and somewhat questionable. Nits, however, are absolutely microscopic and may avoid being eliminated by even the strongest of insecticide treatments, meaning that while the lice have all been killed there are living, soon to hatch eggs remaining, and ready to start off a new colony in a matter of days.
One problem with head lice nits is that they are attached to our hair by what amounts to a very strong glue, and they are laid very close to the scalp making them difficult to find; wet combing the hair with a nit comb over a white sheet of paper may help to identify those that you do manage to dislodge – they will appear as tiny white specks – but this does not mean they have all been successfully removed.
A seemingly odd process may help to dislodge the nits from their strong holding, as bathing the head in vinegar has been shown to loosen the attachment to the hair, thanks to the acids present. Once done, and rinsed thoroughly, a further combing with a nit comb may result in a full clear out of all attendant nits.
As some may remain we need to keep a close eye on the patient over the next few days; nits hatch approximately one week after they are laid, and in as little as a further week the young head lice nymphs become breeding adults. This means you have a space of two weeks from the initial treatment over which close attention, and regular inspection, must be kept up in order to clear the head of any future or possible infestation. Nits are the biggest part of the problem, and the most difficult to spot, so such examinations are an integral part of any treatment regime.

Ovide head Lice Treatment
Where head lice are concerned there are several different methods of treating them, among these being the very odd methods of smothering the creatures with substances that are found in the average kitchen through washing the hair regularly in a natural herbal shampoo, right down the basic and essential practice of combing the hair with a special head lice comb, something that should be carried out in conjunction with any other chosen method.
However, despite the availability of prescription insecticide shampoos, designed to kill the creatures and reportedly very effective, many people are wary of using these items, and choose not to do so. They fear the consequences of smothering their child’s head in what is effectively a poison, and of the apparent possible side effects these substances can have.
Ovide head lice treatment is one of these popular prescription only lotions, so let’s have a closer look at what it is, what it does, and whether or not there is anything to be concerned about.
The first thing to understand is the Ovide is a trade mark, a brand name for a particular head lice treatment, and it contains an insecticide called Malathion. Malathion is present in only minute quantities in the product – one half of a percent, in fact – yet this is said to be enough to kill the head lice while being harmless to the patient. However, it is not for use on those under six years of age, and does come with some possible side effects.
Side effects are minor, and include an increase in dandruff and irritation to the scalp; furthermore, the substance can be dangerous to the eyes, and as Ovide is an alcohol based product it is flammable.
The plus side is that it is thoroughly tested and is safe when used in conjunction with the directions given, and as it is available only on prescription cannot be given for anything other than serious head lice infestations.
There are many reports that some insecticides have become useless as the head lice have developed immunity to them, although this is not a reported problem with Malathion based lotions such as Ovide. It remains popular and widely prescribed, and is certified safe.
The choice as to whether to use an insecticide or a natural product remains with the individual, with the advantages of scientific testing and known success being for the former, and the knowledge of complete safety for the latter; it’s a choice only you can make.