Pharmacist

Back Menu
Take This Know This What If Comments

 

 

 


Let's see what to use over the counter for this head lice.
Pharmacist

We will approach this in the context of an overall lice management program.

Remember, if you did not find any egg or lice, you do not need to treat. Just wait another day and look again for head lice or nits or use the wet combing technique for a more detailed check. 

There are different treatment approaches to getting rid of head lice.

For instance, your child may be very sensitive to insecticides on the hair, you may not have time to be combing, combing, combing or even just having a long hair will eliminate a treatment type.

Here is an overview of available over-the-counter lice treatment options. Take a look and see how they work.

Boy with head lice


Insecticides

Lice are insects that use humans as a host.

You need insecticides to kill them.

The insecticides safe to use on humans are permethrin and pyrethrins.

Examples include 1% permethrin (Nix®, store brands), pyrethrins (Rid®, store brands).

 

Dimethicone 4%

This coats the lice in silicone oil depriving them of human blood and ultimately death.

This may be useful if you don't want insecticides on the hair. But there are disadvantages.

Example is LiceMD®

 

Sodium Chloride 1%

Basically salt water, the goal here is to dessicate the lice (draw water from their cells by osmosis).

This may lead to their death if done properly. 

An example is LiceFree®

 

Cetaphil Cleanser

Idea is to smother the lice by coating them in cetaphil cleanser and drying the cleanser on the head.

Example Nuvo

 

 

Let's use this information to choose a good over the counter remedy and prevent any lice treatment failure.

 


Which of these listed below apply to your child right now?
Pharmacist

Choose what applies to your child from the list below and see what is recommended.


 

Selection require using pediculicides to kill the lice.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require a natural approach.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require you to outsource this to a lice removal professional.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require a visit to the doctor's office.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require pediculicides or natural approach.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require using pediculicides or outsourcing to a lice treatment professional.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require using pediculicides, but prefer seeing a healthcare provider.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require a natural approach or outsourcing this to a lice removal professional
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require a natural approach. but seeing a doctor is prefered.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require outsourcing to a lice treatment professional or a visit to the doctor's office.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require using pediculicides, or a natural approach or outsourcing to a lice removal professional.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require using pediculicides, or natural approaches. But we prefer a doctor visit.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require pediculicides, or outsourcing to a lice treatment professional or a doctor office visit.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require a natural approach, or outsourcing to a lice removal professional or a visit to the doctor.
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require pediculicides, or a natural approach, or outsourcing or a doctor visit.
Pharmacist

 

Something to prevent head lice?

 

Preventive measures


 

All of these?
You must have this lice really bad.
Pharmacist

Your best bet would be to visit the nearest urgent care clinic. if you don't think so, here is what we recommend to use over-the-counter.

This is pretty bad. Your child needs to see a pediatrician for this.

 

None of these?
We must have left something out.

Please choose what closely relate to what your child is experiencing and see what is available over-the-counter to use.

Pediculicides

1% permethrin (Nix), or pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide (Rid) or store brands are the pediculicides available over-the-counter for head lice.

Nix, Rid or Store brands. Like to know which to use?

  1. Allergic to ragweed or chrysanthemums?
    If yes, get the 1% permethrin.
    Pyrethrins are naturally occurring extracts from the chrysanthemum flower.
  2.  Plan on using this on a child less than 2 years old?
    Go with 1% permethrin lotion or cream.
    Pyrethrins are not recommended for use on children less than 2 years old.
  3. Don't plan on repeating the process in a week?
    You should re-apply both in a week for best results.
    None of them will kill the eggs.

Nix® website says kills the eggs. What they mean is that permethrin has a residual activity on the scalp which will help get rid of  any newly hatched baby lice from the eggs for up to 14 days.

Don't depend on this. Re-apply it after a week.

If you seriously want to eliminate the lice, these manufacturers depend on you combing out the nits, live and dead lice every single day.

If you slack on combing, you may not succeed the first time around.

To make combing frustration free, invest in a good metal nit comb. If it is plastic, be ready to get frustrated.

 

 

Natural Approach

This will assume you don't want to use insecticides on your hair.

Natural lice treatment aids might sound very good.

You may want to answer a few questions before deciding on one.

Do you intend to use this on a long hair?    

Stay away from dimethicone (LiceMD). It can be messy. 

It will be a pain getting the gel out if you have long hair.

See it as rubbing silicone gel on your hair. It can cake and you will end up swearing a lot.

If you have short hair, you may give it a try.

Know that all over-the-counter remedies depend on you combing, combing and combing to achieve any result and avoid treatment failure.

Want to avoid a dull, flat looking hair day after treatment?    

Then stay away from Cetaphil cleanser method.

The Cetaphil cleanser method (Nuvo®) can make your hair look dull and flat after treatment.

Here is a brief rundown on these natural products before you start running to get them.

  • They all depend on you combing and combing for up to 10 days straight to get the nits and live or dead lice out.
  • Your chances of failure are higher if you have long hair. You may have to cut the hair first.
  • Invest in a good metal comb.
    Most do come with a good metal comb, however.
  • You will have to repeat application for up to 3 times for good results or the lice will come back with a vengeance.

 

 

Outsourcing

May want to outsource if you have a large household that needs to be treated.

See it as hiring a cleaning service - To come and clean your household's hair of lice!

Getting rid of head lice is a major process that requires diligence, time and care. Washing hair, combing, cleaning the household items.

If you decide to go this route, look for:

  • Specific pricing information.
  • Hidden fees, such as travel fees.
  • Hourly or per person charging.
  • Aftercare process.
  • Guarantee terms.

 

 

See a Doctor.

You will need a prescription lice treatment lotion or cream.

 

 

Combination Products

 

 

Worth doing

Remember

First thing is to check everyone in the household.

It can take up to 3 weeks before you realize there is a lice problem.

The longer someone has it in the house, the greater the chance it has already spread to other members of the household.

Moreover, doing this would help you estimate how many lice shampoo / lotion to get should you decide to go that route.

You don't want to start running back and forth to the pharmacy.

Hope you figured out what will work best for you.

See the 'Know this'  and 'What if' sections above for more information.

Contact me with any questions.

 

 

Last updated by pharmacist on 02/15/2016

Back


 

 

 

 

Know this about the safe and effective use of this recommendation.
Article photo

How to use what is recommended

What to know

Important Safety Information

FAQs

Additional Resources

Our disclaimer

  • Recommendation is the opinion of a registered US Pharmacist currently practicing as a community pharmacist.
  • Recommendation is not an attempt to discuss all possible self care or treatment approach to this health challenge.
  • The responsibility of the recommending pharmacist is limited to this question:
    "If a patient presents with these symptoms, what will you recommend and why?"
    It is not an attempt to publish an article on the treatment of any condition. Just what would you tell a patient who present with so and so in the usual course of your practice.
  • The pharmacist image presented in this article may or may not be the actual image of the authoring pharmacist.
    Because we insist on using articles written by currently practicing community pharmacists, these pharmacists may choose to remain anonymous especially if they are employed by an employer to avoid being pressured to recommend a particular product to drive sales.
  • Please read the policies and terms of use for self-care OTC, selfcarepharmacist.com and it's affiliates by clicking on the button below.

 

 

 

 

What if your child is currently experiencing the condition listed below?

Or if you have a question for the pharmacist?
Pharmacist


You have a question

Please contact the pharmacist. He or she will gladly answer your questions.

Contacting the pharmacist

You may have to unlock the contact form using social networking tools (facebook, twitter, google+, linkedIn) we have made available to you.

If you can't do this, you will have to wait a few seconds depending on the number of users at the time.

Contact Pharmacist


What to expect

Expect a reply as soon as possible.
If the authoring pharmacist cannot reply within 24 hours, the system will push your email to the rest of the team. Any available pharmacist will answer your question as soon as possible.

If you have a comment and not a question, please post it in the comments section for all to read.

What can't be done:

No replies to vulgar, disrespectful emails.
The system is programmed to look for certain words that are disrespectful and will automatically delete such emails. They don't get to the pharmacist. This will blacklist your email address automatically.

Email addresses or questions are not saved.
They are deleted once answered and not stored in a database. Should you need to follow up, copy the previous question(s) along with the new message for quick reference.

The pharmacist does not reply to emails that are not relevant to the topic he or she authored. They are forwarded to the author of the topic and are under no obligation to reply.

We encourage pharmacists to respond to questions but are under no obligations to answer questions.

 

 

 

 

 

No comments or ratings on this recommendation yet. How about being the first to say something?
Pharmacist

 

Leave a comment Why?


  • Let others know if the recommendation worked for your child.
  • Share the treatment outcome with others.
  • Add to the recommendation.
  • Improve on the recommendation.
  • Quickest way to ask a pharmacist a question.
  • What about answering a few questions?