Head lice are spread by head-to-head contact. These wingless insects are the size of a pinhead when they hatch, but when fully grown, they can reach 3 mm in length. Head lice take six to 10 days to reach maturity, at which time they are able to spread. Children are most likely to be affected by head lice, though they can also affects adults. It is important to treat head lice quickly in order to prevent them spreading from person to person.
Combing
According to the U.K. independent consumer advice website Which?, combing is the cheapest way of removing head lice. Which? advises coating the hair with conditioner and then using a special fine-toothed comb available from drug stores to comb through the hair and remove the lice. This method is time-consuming, especially if a number of people need to be treated. Which? states that combing needs to be undertaken for at least 30 minutes, and repeated four times over two weeks or until all lice have been removed.
OTC Insecticides
Head lice may be treated with over-the-counter insecticides which are available as shampoos, lotions or liquids. According to U.K. health care provider Bupa, two applications, 7 days apart, are usually required. This is to ensure the lice that hatch from the eggs after the first treatment are destroyed. Insecticides can be water-based or alcohol-based. Over-the-counter treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration either contain pyrethrins, which are compounds extracted from the chrysanthemum flowers, or 1 percent permethrin lotion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both preparations are safe and effective when used according to the instructions.
Prescription Medicines
Prescription medicines are also available for head lice treatment. These include malathion lotion 0.5 percent and lindane shampoo 1 percent. Malathion kills live head lice as well as lice eggs. It is not suitable for children under the age of 6. Lindane is an organochloride; however, although it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, its use is not usually recommended except in cases where all other treatment options have failed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overuse or misuse of lindane shampoo can be toxic, and may affect the brain and central nervous system.
Other Treatments
According to Bupa, alternative remedies such as lotions and shampoos containing essential oils like tea tree or herbal extracts are sometimes used to treat head lice. However, Bupa states that there is no scientific data to support their efficacy in the treatment of head lice. In addition, Which? cautions that the potential side effects associated with alternative remedies for head lice treatment are not yet fully known.
