Pediculosis (lice and nits) is not a recent problem, it has always existed in humanity, and it is not easy to control as they have gradually adapted to our lives.
According to some investigations, the continued use of highly toxic chemicals on the scalp (some of which have since been removed from the market) has caused lice to undergo genetic mutations that have made them more resistant and difficult to treat.
These unwanted visitors have learned to survive many of the treatments!
The multiplication of new generation lice, due to their genetic adaptation to products developed to eliminate them, motivated the international alert of dermatologists in Europe and the USA as an epidemic, for which there is no effective and definitive chemical treatment.
In 2016, a study * was published in the USA indicating that in 48 states (exceptions: Alaska and West Virginia) lice showed resistance to common over-the-counter treatments and were therefore called "Super Lice". It was found that products containing chemical pesticides such as pyrethroid and pyrethrin were responsible for resistance to lice. Since these ingredients have been the standard for treating lice for many decades, these little creatures have had enough time to develop immunity.
This made many professionals, doctors and parents’ question: how could it affect the number of lice outbreaks and how could they be treated.
Fortunately, there are other lice treatment options that are effective against all lice (yes, that includes super lice), such as:
Removal of lice and nits
It is a time consuming and difficult task, for this it is necessary to use a lice remover comb (preferably metal). It is a long and tiring process, it is recommended to comb the hair in sections at a time, and the comb to be cleaned and rinsed after each pass.
Natural and non-toxic treatments for the scalp
There are also several natural and non-toxic anti-lice treatments; most contain various combinations of essential oils to help "repel" lice, not necessarily kill them.
Other treatments in this category contain dimethicone, which is a lubricant to aid styling.
Finally, there are treatments that kill lice and nits by mechanical action through dehydration and / or vacuuming, such as the non-toxic anti-lice treatment at Happy Heads Clinic.
Tips for treating lice:
Anti-lice treatments are not all the same, as there is no single treatment for lice, you will have to find the most suitable solution for your family.
Our advice is to regularly check your child’s heads and make our professional and specialized treatment in case of infestation.
* Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 53, Issue 3, 1 May 2016, Pages 653–659, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjw023 Published: 31 March 2016
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