In this section you will learn:
- About the various types of treatment available
- What to do if treatment fails
First, don't worry. Head lice are a normal part of life and are nothing to be embarrassed,
panicked or ashamed about. There are FOUR types of head lice treatment:
- Pesticide lotions and liquids
- Non-pesticide lotions
- Wet combing with conditioner (Bug Busting)
- Alternative treatments (herbal remedies etc)
Conventional pesticide-based treatments are available in pharmacies. You need to apply these treatments at least twice, a week apart,
to kill the lice. However scientists do claim that many lice have developed immunity to
some pesticide-based products.
Non-pesticide lotions work in a different way. They coat the outside of the lice so they
suffocate and die. This means there's no chance for the lice to build up a resistance to
the treatment.
Combs remove lice and nits but do take time and patience to ensure a thorough job is done.
It's quite easy to miss a few and needs to be done twice a week for at least two weeks.
There are a number of herbal and other treatments available - although their effectiveness varies.
Go to your local pharmacy for information and advice on which treatment is right for you.
Shaving your child's hair as a way to prevent head lice is a complete myth.
It is unnecessary and can be really upsetting for your child!
Research by scientists has found that 4 out of 5 lice have developed resistance
to the chemicals in some pesticide treatments.
A reliable method for diagnosing head lice infection, the Hedrin
Head Lice Detection Comb is 3.84 times more effective than a visual inspection
alone.