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 and can also be
prescribed on the NHS. 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.
If you still find live lice after you finish the treatment either its failed or there has
been a re-infestation. If the treatment failed you’ll usually find lice of all stages but a
re-infestation will have less lice if discovered quickly. You’ll need to treat again so make sure:
- If you’re using a pesticide change to a different type of treatment
- You use a good quality comb if you’re using the Bug Busting method
- You read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly
- You use enough treatment to cover the whole head and full length of hair
- You leave the treatment on for long enough
- You complete the treatment course
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.