How to choose the right remedy for lice and nits

Lice are parasites that live in hair and feed on human blood. When they bite, they secrete their own fluid and inject it into the skin. This results in red, itchy bumps. Pediculosis, the condition caused by these insects, is easy to treat with the right treatment.

What remedies exist for nits and lice?

For the treatment of pediculosis, many drugs are produced in the form of:

• concentrated emulsions;
• sprays;
• shampoos;
• creams.

This classification is based on their effectiveness (in descending order). There are also many folk remedies, but they are less effective. When removing lice and nits, you cannot do without special combs, since combing is an important stage of the procedure.

After treating your head with any chemical preparation or folk remedy for lice, you need to comb your hair with a fine-toothed comb.

Most lice treatments won't get rid of the nits. Stronger medications are used to combat them. A doctor can help you choose the most effective treatment.

Classification of drugs by active substance

Pharmaceutical lice treatments are categorized based on ease of use, hair safety, and price. But the truly important criterion is the type of active ingredient.

Preparations based on benzyl benzoate

Benzyl benzoate is the phenylmethyl ester of benzoic acid. Additional ingredients include stearic and citric acids, alcohol, laundry soap, and cetostearyl wax. The drug has been known to doctors since the Soviet era, when it was used to treat acne and scabies. Benzyl benzoate is more effective against these conditions than against lice.

Benzyl benzoate is available in the form of creams, gels and emulsions, but the principle of action is the same.

This substance has contraindications:

• childhood (up to 3 years);
• benzyl benzoate intolerance;
• pregnancy;
• lactation period.

Positive qualities include:

• low price;
• availability in any pharmacy;
• the ability to kill larvae and adults by penetrating their chitinous covering and accumulating phenylmethyl ether in the parasite's body to a lethal dose.

But there are also disadvantages:

• a burning sensation is possible if there are bite wounds on the skin;
• destruction of hair structure;
• high toxicity;
• duration of action - the result appears within 2-6 hours;
• an allergic reaction is possible.

Some benzyl benzoate-based medications share the same name as the active ingredient. They are available as a white or yellowish-white cream, gel, or emulsion with a distinctive odor. They are used externally only:

1. Apply the product to the scalp with massage movements, rubbing in thoroughly.
2. Wrap your hair in a cotton towel (one or more) for 1.5–2 hours.
3. Wash your hair with soap or shampoo and rinse with 3% vinegar. It seals the hair, preventing the destruction of its structure, and makes it smooth, which simplifies the combing process.

Creams, gels and emulsions based on benzyl benzoate are equally effective, the only difference is in ease of use.

Foxylon contains 20% benzyl benzoate, the rest are functional additives. It is applied to damp hair for 10-15 minutes, then washed out with shampoo. Then, rinse the hair with a vinegar solution, and once dry, comb out the dead parasites and nits.

Foxilon is contraindicated for children under 5 years of age.

Dimethicone is a biologically inactive substance widely used in cosmetology (as an additive in decorative cosmetics, shampoos, conditioners, aftershave products, and sunscreens) and medicine (for intestinal gas treatment). Dimethicone is a biphasic substance that comes in two forms: viscous and liquid. The liquid acts as a carrier for the viscous substance, allowing it to glide across the surface and penetrate all pores. This is what kills lice and nits.

Dimethicone "seals" the spiracles, depriving the louse of air.

Liquid dimethicone completely envelops the body of the louse, and the viscous one penetrates the spiracles and further into the trachea and tracheoles. The insect doesn't have enough air and dies. In this regard, preparations based on two-phase dimethicone are the most effective in the fight against lice:

1. NUDA. This is one of the best pediculicides available. It contains at least 92% biphasic dimethicone. The remaining ingredients are functional additives to facilitate use. Apply to dry, well-combed hair. Do not use or store near hot objects, including a hot hair dryer, as some components are flammable.
   

   In addition to products based on two-phase dimethicone, NUDA also produces other anti-lice products, such as combs

2. Paranit Sensitive. It's designed specifically for women with long, thick hair. It contains the Oxyphthyrin complex, which is based on two-phase dimethicone (4%). The other ingredients have a synergistic effect (enhancing the active ingredient).
   

   Paranit Sensitive is a safe product for pregnant women and small children.

3. D95. This pediculicide is formulated with two-phase dimethicones of varying viscosity, making it quite effective. It also contains limonene, cyclopentasiloxane, and capric triglycerides—substances that preserve hair, impart a pleasant pine or citrus scent (depending on the type of limonene), and leave it smooth and silky. Apply the product to dry hair, distributing it evenly over the entire length. After 45 minutes, comb out any dead nits and lice, then wash your hair with shampoo.
   

   D95 is a non-toxic product, but it should not be used on children under three years of age.

Malathion is a chemically active substance used to control various insects, including cereal pests, parasites, and mites. It is also used medicinally as a pediculicide. Malathion penetrates the insect's chitinous covering, oxidizes to a more active substance (malathion), and accumulates to a lethal dose. The insect dies, but if the female manages to lay eggs after ingesting malathion, subsequent generations will be less susceptible to it.After 3–4 generations, insects will produce a special substance that destroys malocclusion.

Malathion-based products are widely used in malaria-affected areas because they also work well against mosquitoes.

Animals and humans can be poisoned by malathion if it has been applied to cereals and agricultural products. Signs include:

• diarrhea;
• vomit;
• salivation;
• general lethargy.

A cat can die within 3-5 hours of ingestion, up to 3 days, and a person may die after longer. Poisoning is treated with intensive therapy using atropine. The substance is completely destroyed by heat.

Malathion is used to control various insect pests, including lice.

Karbofos

Karbofos is considered one of the most effective drugs against lice and nits due to its high level of toxicity. But for this reason, extreme caution is required when using it. Malathion is a dark brown liquid that should be applied to damp hair along the entire length. Leave it on for 5 minutes. Then rinse it out, dry your hair, and comb it out.

For long and thick hair, you may need more than one bottle of Karbofos

PAIR Plus

PARA Plus is developed on the basis of three components that destroy lice and nits:

• permethrin - disrupts the ion permeability of sodium channels in insects, leading to paralysis and death;
• piperonyl butoxide - has a contact effect: only contact with the insect's body is required;
• malathion.

All three components complement each other. Apply PARA Plus to dry hair, thoroughly distributing the product along the entire length of the strands. It is important that the drug gets on the skin. It is washed off with shampoo or soap, and dead nits and lice are combed out with a special comb after the hair has dried.

PARA Plus is made in France

Lice and nit treatments with permethrin

Permethrin is found in plants of the Asteraceae family and has insecticidal properties. It inhibits the polarization of nerve cell membranes, leading to insect paralysis. It is characterized by low toxicity, therefore, in its pure form it is often used to treat the hair of children from six months (cream) and from one year (emulsion). Various preparations use permethrin in combination with other substances that enhance its effect.

Permethrin in its pure form is quite effective against lice, but complex preparations cope better with the destruction of parasites.

Permethrin is used against parasites in its pure form (creams and emulsions), but complex preparations are more effective due to their synergistic action:

1. Hygia is an insecticide based on permethrin and a detergent (surfactant). When it comes into contact with water, it lathers well, gently affecting the skin without damaging it even after multiple bites. The product contains a small amount of glacial acetic acid. It helps to break down the adhesive substance that attaches nits to the hair. Distribute the shampoo throughout the entire length of damp hair and massage it thoroughly into the roots. Rinse after 20–25 minutes. Repeat the treatment after 7–10 days.
   

   Hygia is a non-toxic product, but it must be applied twice.

2. Medifox is a permethrin-based product with added substances that enhance the active ingredient but have no other purpose. The drug's effect is that nits are prevented from developing due to prolonged excitation of nerve cells, and adult lice die from paralysis. Treatment with Medifox is carried out in a well-ventilated area.
   

   Medifox comes in different forms: emulsions, creams, solutions

3. Hygienic. The product is formulated with permethrin, which is only 1%, and auxiliary components. It doesn't have a strong, unpleasant odor because it contains mint or apricot flavoring. Hygienic is most often recommended as a preventative measure against lice.
   

   Most often, Hygienic is used for the prevention of pediculosis.

4. Nittifor. It works similarly to other permethrin-based products. The active ingredient remains in the hair for two weeks after use, without leaving it looking dirty. Nittifor is available in both solution and cream form. The solution is applied to dry hair along the entire length, and once dry, it is washed out with shampoo. The cream is distributed throughout the entire length of the hair and left on for 10 minutes, after which it is also washed out.
   

   Nittifor can be used to treat children from three years of age.

5. Avicin. It is formulated with permethrin (15%) and surfactants, making it effective against insects such as ants, fleas, bedbugs, mosquitoes, and flies, not just lice and nits. To treat pediculosis, it is necessary to use a 0.15% aqueous emulsion, that is, dilute Avicin with water in a ratio of 1:100. Typically, just 30–50 ml of the product is enough to treat one person. Apply it to damp hair along the entire length and cover the head with a scarf or plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. Leave the product on for just 15 minutes, after which it's washed out with shampoo.
   

   Avicin is intended for the destruction of various insects, including lice, and is therefore sold in large quantities.

Phenothrin-based products

Phenothrin disrupts cation exchange in insect nerve cell membranes, leading to constant agitation and paralysis. This is what kills adults and larvae. It washes off easily.

Parasidosis

Parasidoz is available in the following forms: shampoo, repellent spray, and a product with a comb (Parazidoz+). Apply the product to the entire length of damp hair, leave it on for 10 minutes, and rinse. Once the hair is dry, comb out the dead parasites. The remedy is used a second time after 24 hours, and the third time - a week after the second.The repellent is used once every 2 days; the effect lasts for 48 hours.

Parasidosis+ can be used to treat pregnant women, women during lactation, and children over 3 months of age, but a doctor's consultation is required.

Table: Contraindications, pros, and cons of chemical head lice treatments

Preparations based on essential oils

Essential oils are used against lice and nits:

• lavender;
• bergamot;
• eucalyptus;
• geraniums;
• tea tree.

Olive oil with some acids (acetic acid is most commonly used) is also suitable. Combining several oils will enhance their effectiveness. All of them are highly viscous, which helps close the lice's spiracles. This prevents air from entering the body, and the parasite dies from suffocation. But essential oils are only effective against larvae and adult insects; they will not kill nits. One treatment won't be enough. The advantage of these products is that they are completely harmless, making them suitable for treating head lice in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, provided they are not allergic. Essential oils should be used on children only after consultation with a doctor.

Essential oils not only kill lice, but also nourish the skin and hair well.

Pediculen Ultra

Pedikulen Ultra is formulated with anise essential oil and works like all essential oils. It comes in both spray and shampoo forms, making it much easier to use.

Pedikulen Ultra consists of anise essential oil, alcohol and functional additives.

Advantages:

• non-toxic;
• effective after first use;
• holding time - up to 30 minutes.

Contraindications:

• children under 5 years of age;
• allergy to anise.

Flaws:

• does not kill nits;
• average price - 500 rubles.

Combination remedies for lice and nits

They are created on the basis of several toxic substances.

Spregal

Spregal is developed on the basis of:

• esbiola (a neurotoxic poison that disrupts the insect's nervous system and leads to paralysis);
• piperonyl butoxide (blocks the production of protective enzymes and enhances the effect of the first component).

Spregal is used to treat scabies, but is very effective against lice. It is available in the form of a spray and should be used in the evening (between 6 and 7 o’clock).

Contraindicated:

• for bronchial asthma, obstructive bronchitis;
• in case of individual intolerance;
• during lactation.

Advantages:

• can be used to treat newborns, small children and pregnant women;
• high efficiency of the product against adult individuals;
• One aerosol is enough for 3-4 procedures.

Flaws:

• does not kill nits;
• long holding time of the drug;
• redness, itching, and burning may occur for the next 8–10 days after use;
• high price - from 900 rubles.

Spregal is used primarily for the treatment of scabies.

How to choose the right product

The selection of lice and nit treatments is so vast that it can be difficult to choose the right one for a specific case. Much depends on the severity of the infestation. It's best to consult a doctor. If this isn't possible, treatment should not be delayed. Below are classifications of treatments based on various criteria.

By duration of treatment

The fastest-acting (in minutes) remedies are:

• NYUDA, Karbofos - 5;
• PAIR Plus, Parasidosis+, Parasidosis - 10;
• Hygia - 20-25;
• Pediculen Ultra - 30;
• D95 - 45.

Other products must be kept on for more than an hour.

By price

The cheapest means are:

• Karbofos - 50 rubles;
• Benzyl benzoate, Foxylon and D95 ​​- 150 rubles;
• Hygienics - 250 rubles;
• PAIR Plus - 350 rub.;
• NUDA - from 500 rubles.

The most expensive drugs are:

• Spregal, Paranit Sensitive - from 900 rubles;
• Avicin - from 1500 rubles.

Often, drugs that cost less are much more effective and act faster than expensive ones.

Medicines for children

All medications reviewed are intended for the treatment of patients over 5 years of age. For children 3 years and older, the following are suitable:

• Benzyl benzoate;
• NUDA;
• D95;
• Karbofos;
• Medifox;
• Nittifor.

For children under 3 years old you can use:

• Spregal - from birth;
• Paraziodz+ - from 3 months;
• Paranit Sensitive - from 1 year;
• Nittifor cream - from 2 years;
• PARA Plus and Parasidosis shampoo – from 2.5 years.

Before choosing and purchasing a drug, a preliminary consultation with a doctor is required.

Treatments for head lice in pregnant and lactating women

Almost all medications are dangerous for the fetus and infant, so they are contraindicated for women during pregnancy and lactation. However, if the risk to the fetus is less than the risk to the mother's health from lack of treatment, then doctors prescribe antiparasitic medications. Purchasing medications without consulting a doctor is a huge risk to the child’s health.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should prioritize the health of their baby and not use medications without a doctor's recommendation.

Reviews

At the time, we both had long hair down to our waists. Every pharmacy we went to offered us several lice treatments, but the price—100 hryvnias per can—was completely out of reach. Imagine treating my daughter's hair, and mine, perhaps more than once—it would be a huge expense. Then my aunt, a mother of four, told me about benzyl benzoate, which costs around 8 hryvnias. And that can would be enough for both of us! I was overjoyed. It turns out this product is available in every pharmacy, but pharmacists don't recommend it to customers who ask for lice treatment, because it's more profitable for them to sell them the expensive stuff. Incidentally, this applies to almost all pharmacy products—they rarely recommend something cheap, trying to push something more expensive. It's kind of a shame. That's why I'm writing this recommendation—people, please know!

Benzyl benzoate emulsion kills lice and, apparently, even eggs painlessly, quickly, and inexpensively! When I applied it to my daughter, her scalp turned very red when I rinsed it off, and it stung a lot, BUT, that was only the first time. She didn't experience any negative effects with subsequent applications. We used three treatments, separated by seven days (the life cycle of lice). The first treatment kills all the lice, and the second treatment kills newly hatched lice if any live nits remain. The third treatment is a control. We haven't had any more problems with lice, and my daughter and I saved a lot of money. Only our dad was spared; for some reason, the lice didn't attack him.

At the pharmacy, they recommended Foxilon lotion, which I used on my daughter's hair, strictly according to the instructions. It's a good product, although I haven't had any comparisons. Indeed, as the pharmacist said, a single ten-minute treatment was enough. The only problem is the distinctive smell, not particularly pleasant, reminiscent of anise. But the shampoo completely removed the scent, and I also had to fiddle with the vinegar solution, converting it from 9% to 4.5% for rinsing.

Nuda worked for us the first time!!! Of course, to put my mind at ease, I repeated the procedure the next day, and a week later, nothing was found except dry nit shells. I recommend this product because Nuda accomplished its intended purpose 100%.

I applied it to my daughter's and my own dry hair before bed. I covered our pillows with cloth napkins just in case, but there were no stains on them in the morning, so we could sleep without them. In the morning, I rinsed my hair first with water, then shampooed my daughter's and mine, one after the other.

When I rinsed it out, I saw the nits washing away with the water, but I didn't notice any live lice. Once my hair was dry, I combed it thoroughly with a comb. My head was clean, and I'd treated both of us thoroughly. After that, I combed my hair periodically for another week, worried I might have missed a lice somewhere, but I didn't; it was clean. Overall, it's a good, safe, and effective product. I recommend it, as we managed to get rid of lice in one go, without combing, from my daughter's long hair and my not-so-long hair.

I'd like to say that D95 is quite effective against active lice, but as for the eggs, it turns out no other product works. Therefore, after killing the adult lice, the main task is combing out the newborn and dead animals. If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have bought various expensive shampoos and sprays. With proper use of D95 pediculicide and regular combing, lice can be eliminated in 10 days. I recommend this product to mothers with small children, as D95 treatment is safe, fast, and affordable.

My daughter brought the same infection home from camp two years ago. Nitifor and Pedikulin were complete crap. We got rid of it with Malathion. We bought it in ampoules at a gardening store. We mixed it in a glass, smeared it on my head, and covered it with plastic for 20 minutes. The smell was terrible, of course. But both the lice and nits died the first time. We then combed out the nits with a comb.

One bottle lasted for two uses, and I still feel like there's some product left. Again, my hair is just below my shoulder blades, so I think the product is quite economical. Contrary to my fears, the product didn't affect the quality of my hair at all. It's been almost two months since the second use of the Para Plus spray.

I was really worried the remedy might not work, so it took me a while to make sure both the lice and nits were a thing of the past. No one in the household has developed parasites. I check every day.

So, I treated my daughter's head. I'll say right away that the shampoo smells pleasant. Waiting the stated 10-15 minutes with the shampoo on her head is no problem; it doesn't run at all. Overall, I had nothing but positive emotions from using it, but as for the results... While combing, I found a couple of live lice... The instructions warn that the lice may still be alive after the treatment (they're already poisoned and need to wait a little while). But the next day... All the lice were alive and kicking! I combed out about six completely live ones! I was amazed at how quickly they moved across the napkin! The only thing I liked about this product was the comb. It's plastic, but very thick.

So, as per the instructions, I diluted the product with water and applied it to damp hair, first covering it with a plastic bag, then with a towel. Since it was summer, my child was indoors. But within five minutes, I saw blisters, similar to mosquito bites, starting to appear right before my eyes along the edge of the bag. And not just one or two, but a large number. My daughter started complaining of a terrible itch, which bothered her under the towel. She practically tried to scratch herself through the bag and towel. We ran to wash it off. It was terrible, but my scalp was covered in these very same pimples, which were starting to appear on my forehead. I lathered it up probably three times and rinsed it thoroughly. Taking an antihistamine right away only helped partially. The itch subsided but didn't go away, and the pimples took three days to clear up. I didn't know how to use anything else on such a scalp. As you can imagine, I wasn't able to assess the effect of the product on the insects themselves. I saw dead insects, but I also saw live ones.

By the way, the comb is almost ineffective; it barely removes any nits. But the second time I used it, I combed out a dead louse, then a live one. So much for the effectiveness of the product. I didn't understand why they all died, but one remained, but I think it hid somewhere in my hair. Since the comb doesn't remove nits, the lice would reappear literally the next day. In short, it's terrible. I've had this problem for five days now, and I don't feel any significant progress in the fight against lice, even though the product kills most of the lice.

It turned out to be a lice-fighting cream—TEVA Nittifor Cream Pediculicide. It was a small 115 ml bottle of orange-colored cream for topical use, based on 1% permethrin (the consistency was like a hair mask or a thick balm, so I had to constantly shake the bottle to get the cream out. I had no time to be picky. It was inconvenient, but I was glad I was at least taking some action). All the little creatures in my hair died. I was afraid of a relapse. You never know, maybe some nits might survive, hatch, and produce offspring. I observed the lice for 2-3 weeks. There were no offspring. The hairs remained clean. The product worked 100%. http://irecommend.ru/content/vse-manipulyatsii-s-etim-sredstvom-opravdyvayut-bezuprechnyi-rezultatfot

Girls, essential oils are a very effective way to combat lice. Essential oils found in aromatherapy anti-lice mixtures have a paralytic effect on adult insects, alter the surface tension of the adhesive that holds the lice in place, and promote the restoration of damaged skin. The mixtures are prepared with vegetable oil. Mustard, canola, or camelina oil, or corn oil with mustard added, are best. If you have no other choice, any vegetable oil will do.

The box said to repeat the procedure after a week if necessary, but it worked for us the FIRST time! Pedikulen is an excellent shampoo for children, buy it with confidence!

With a responsible approach to treatment, pediculosis can be treated quickly. If you choose the right treatment, you can overcome the problem in a matter of days.