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Lice are an all-too-common nightmare for American parents. Every year, as many as 6 to 12 million infestations are discovered in three to eleven-year-olds. It’s not that they’re dirty or more attractive to lice than others - this age group tends to play in close quarters.
If you’re dealing with an infestation, you’re probably concerned about how to effectively treat lice. You may have heard of “super lice” that are resistant to conventional treatment. In fact, conventional treatments such as pyrethroids have also been linked with some nasty side effects.
Pyrethroids are a known neurotoxin and can cause health havoc for your child. When you walk into a store for an over-the-counter lice treatment, you need to be aware that it is not always “safe.”
Every parent would prefer non-toxic lice treatments for their child, so what should you look for?
It helps to understand how lice work so you can make an informed assessment of the treatments available. Lice are small, grayish-white insects about the size of a sesame seed. They feed on blood from the scalp.
If your child is infested, you will probably also notice the eggs, known as “nits.” These nits take 6 to 9 days to hatch into nymphs. This is important to know as some treatments do not kill the eggs.
If your child has dandruff, this may be mistaken for nits. You’ll probably want to get a proper diagnosis – a lot of school days are missed each year due to lice!
Now to bust some common myths:
Watch how closely young children tend to play together and you’ll see how easily lice can be passed around. They put their heads together and they share hats from the dress-up box. Kids get lice while simply being kids!
Now that you’re armed with a few facts, you’re ready to find safe, non-toxic lice treatment options that actually work. There are several treatments out there which only check the non-toxic box. Look for treatments which have the backing of research for their effectiveness.
Many home remedy treatments fall into this “questionable” category. Sure, coating your hair with mayonnaise is non-toxic, but your only result may be to smell like a sandwich!
Most home remedy treatments work the same way; they are usually designed to suffocate or smother the lice. Treatments may include coating the hair with things like:
These treatments might work to smother the lice, but they don’t work to get rid of the nits. Lice can last 6-8 hours without air. How long is your child likely to comply with having oil or mayonnaise all over their hair?
Tea tree oil is another common non-toxic lice treatment. This oil has a smell that repulses lice, but unfortunately doesn’t send them packing if they’re already there. Unfortunately, its active lice-fighting ingredient, anticholinesterase, is less effective these days. Lice have developed resistance to common insecticides, which includes this active ingredient. This means tea tree oil can be good as a preventative measure, but not so much as a treatment.
Where does that leave non-toxic lice treatment? Let’s look at a couple of options that have been backed by research:
Lice combs involve no shampoos or stinky solutions. They can be used on dry hair and are one of the least fussy treatments. You should section your child’s hair to ensure proper coverage of lice. Those with thick hair may need to be treated in layers.
The electric lice comb will not kill the nits. As such, be aware of that lice lifecycle. You will need to repeat treatment over a period of 10 days.
Non-toxic lice treatment is a priority for most concerned parents. Fortunately, there are some treatments that are both safe and effective. This is the magic combination if you want an infestation cleared up as quickly as possible!
]]>Your next concern is treating the creepy little crawlies as safely and effectively as possible. You need to be at work and your kid needs to be at school – no miniscule blood-sucker is standing in your way!
If you’re worried about the idea of over-the counter chemical treatments for head lice, this is a rightful concern. Studies have shown that head lice are increasingly resistant to common over-the-counter remedies. This includes the pyrethrin treatments that have been prevalently used for the last thirty years.
“Super lice” is the term for the new breed of treatment-resistant lice. Specifically, they remain unmoved by insecticide treatments. A 2014 study in the UK found that wet-combing hair was just as effective as permethrin treatments, due to this resistance.
Another concern with those insecticide treatments is the impact of the chemicals on your child. Permethrins are a known neurotoxin, and reactions can include a range of symptoms. Consider this:
“In 2008, the Center for Public Integrity analyzed 90,000 adverse reaction reports and found that health problems linked to pyrethroids had increased 300 times in 10 years.” (source)
This is definitely good cause to look for a safe, non-chemical treatment for head lice.
Lice combs are a simple, yet effective treatment, which don’t involve the use of nasty chemicals. Which is the best lice comb to use?
Lice combs have been used for years as a part of treatment regimens for infestations. The regular, old-fashioned steel lice comb is simply a very fine-toothed comb which gets run through hair to capture the nits (lice eggs). Usually, this is after using a shampoo or other treatment to kill the live lice.
For best results, combers should rinse the comb after each swipe through the hair. This ensures that you’re not putting eggs back in! Another important point is to keep combing for 8 – 10 days, as long as you see no new lice or eggs. This is the period it takes for a new egg to hatch.
These sorts of combs are still often used, although expert advice is to use metal rather than plastic versions. This is because the tines of metal combs tend to be narrower and more rigid, meaning they trap the eggs more efficiently.
A benefit of these combs is that they’re cheap and easy to use. They also may avoid chemical treatments. A distinct disadvantage is that they tend to be difficult to use in long, thick or curly hair. The combs can get stuck and it is challenging to do a thorough job with those hair types.
Moving on to more high-tech combs for lice treatment, there are a few different choices for vacuum combs out there on the market. These can also be a chemical-free treatment solution.
Vacuum combs work exactly as the name implies – by sucking up the live lice and nasty nits. Usually they have a collection chamber or bag in which the live catchment is captured. Yes, the lice are still alive, so if you’re squeamish, this may not be for you!
An advantage of vacuum combs is that the user doesn’t have to use shampoos first, as the device is applied directly to the hair. A disadvantage, however, is that the combs don’t kill the lice and they are reportedly difficult, or even painful, to use in very thick hair. They are noisy and may irritate children or anyone else who is sensitive to sound.
Electric lice combs are another chemical-free option. This option, however, stuns or kills the lice by using the comb. As the operator runs the comb through the hair, it removes the lice as well as the nits.
There is clinical evidence to prove the effectiveness of electric lice combs. While they don’t kill the eggs, users can successfully treat hair over the 8-10-day incubation period for the nits. They can eliminate lice without chemicals or mess.
Lice combs do emit a small, electrical noise but aren’t nearly as noisy as vacuum combs. Parents with sound-sensitive children may find this option less-scary to them. A disadvantage is that they’re not silent! Young children may be bothered by the buzzing sound.
As far as the operation of the comb, it is simple and safe. The operator and the infested person are protected from electric shock by rubber guards on the comb. The comb is suitable for use in all hair types, although those with thicker hair will need to be careful about sectioning it.
You’ll find that an electric lice comb such as the RobiComb®, is the best-selling lice comb on the market.
No matter what sort of comb you choose, you need to be prepared that you’ll need to use them over several days. While some combs are more effective than others, none of them kill the nit eggs. This means that there is a possibility of eggs being missed and hatching.
Lice combs are a safe, chemical-free option to treat an infestation. With a little persistence, you’ll have your child back to school in no time!
]]>If you’re on the receiving end, it’s common to feel some level of embarrassment. “Not my child?! I swear she washes her hair!” Don’t stress over this – an important “fact of lice” to know is that they just love clean hair!
In fact, head lice are so common in America that the CDC estimates up to 12 million three to eleven-year-olds are infested each year. They don’t come from dirty homes or have poor personal hygiene; your children get lice because they play in close proximity with one another! Infestations can happen as easily as a shared hat, or two heads bent together over a project.
So now that you’ve put the phone down, what’s next? Here are three quick steps to quickly getting rid of lice:
Dandruff, dry scalp or some weird substance your child gets on his or herself after crawling through bushes sure can mimic a lice infestation. Often the first alert is because an observant teacher believes they have spotted the nits (lice eggs) in your child’s hair.
Your first step is to confirm that your child really does have headlice. An estimated 12 – 24 million days of school are lost each year to head lice, but not every child kept at home actually has an infestation. Days away from school and work can be detrimental to your child’s learning and an economic penalty when you must miss work.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has already called for schools to end “no nit” policies. They state that head lice are a nuisance, but not a serious disease or sign of poor hygiene. They further find that these policies are unjust toward otherwise-healthy children.
How do you know it’s really head lice? You could take your child into their pediatrician for a check-up. Alternatively, try shining a bright light onto your child’s scalp. The lice appear as brown, sesame-seed-sized insects crawling on the scalp. The nits are small and white. They are usually close to the scalp and appear to be stuck to individual hairs.
Okay, so you’ve found that the suspicion was correct – your child does have lice. Your next step is to choose a treatment.
As a parent, you always want something that is safe for your child yet yields effective results. In many cases, this does not include common pyrethroid treatments found over-the-counter. Permethrin and other pyrethroids are common treatments that have been used for decades. Unfortunately, they’ve also been proven to be ineffective in many cases.
Lice have grown increasingly resistant to insecticides and in some areas of the country, they are one-hundred percent resistant. To top that off, pyrethroids are neurotoxins and can result in a laundry list of nasty side-effects for your child.
Let’s assume you’d rather skip the dicey chemicals and find an alternative lice treatment. Non-toxic shampoos such as dimethicone work by blocking the lice’s ability to get water and suffocating them.
You’re going to have to use a comb along with any shampoo treatment, to carefully remove the nits. What you could do is use a “comb with benefits,” such as the RobiComb® Electric Lice Comb. These work by zapping live lice, killing or stunning them. The combing action removes the nits as you go.
You can treat your child the same day the lice are identified and have them back at school the following day. Be sure to follow up with the comb for 8 to 10 days. This is the time it takes for lice eggs to hatch if you’ve missed any.
After your efforts to treat your child’s lice infestation, you sure don’t want them spreading further, or coming back! This means acting to prevent further infestations.
It’s helpful to understand some facts about lice. You may have seen people do a panic deep-clean of their entire house, worried that the lice are existing in its very fabrics. This is not necessary. Lice don’t survive for very long without a human host and are not like fleas, which can live in furniture.
Lice don’t fly or jump. They’re not lurking beneath every surface – they need that close contact and blood food-source from humans! Lice will not survive longer than three days without a human.
So what should you do?
Are there too many items you fear you need to clean? No sweat! Just don’t touch them for three days. Any lurking lice will die without human contact. Remember, they only lay their eggs on human hair.
A lice infestation doesn’t have to cause shame or panic. It’s a very common occurrence in households with school children. Take a breath and follow these three steps to getting rid of lice– your household will be back to normal in no time!
]]>I mean ugh, those nasty little bugs can be persistent. You’re worried the entire household might be infested, and what will your boss think when you take time off from work?
Don’t panic! The (good?) news is that lice are extremely common. They’re not a reflection on your parenting or cleanliness. According to the CDC, every year six to twelve million children aged three to eleven are infested with lice.
You’re not alone, but you need a plan of attack. OTC lice treatment options are created to “get behind enemy lines” and kill and remove lice as quickly as possible. Your next mission is to assess the available treatment options. How do they perform for safety, efficacy and convenience?
Many common OTC lice treatments use permethrin or pyrethrin as their active ingredients. Permethrin and pyrethrin are both pyrethroids, synthetic chemicals derived from the chrysanthemum flower. Pyrethroids are used as insecticides in many different capacities.
It all sounds kind of natural, right? Surely a shampoo derived from a plant would be safer than some of the chemical prescription options? This sort of assumption has led to the common use of pyrethroids for lice treatment since the 1980s. But, more recent research gives reason for caution.
Pyrethroids are a known neurotoxin and can cause any of several possible side-effects. These can range from the relatively minor, such as mild skin irritation, to more serious affects such as trouble breathing, or scalp infections. The US National Library of Medicine warns that you should “call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication” – not exactly comforting!
Of course, many people may not suffer any ill-effects at all. However, they also may not get the desired effect – getting rid of the lice! In this age of “super” everything, super lice are also a thing. The effectiveness of common OTC treatments like pyrethroids has been found to be declining. While these treatments were once 100 percent effective, they’ve slipped to somewhere around 20 to 30 percent. In some parts of the U.S., lice are completely resistant to pyrethroid treatments.
Another consideration is the application of the product. The advice for pyrethroids is to stay fully dressed and apply the product over a basin or sink. This limits contact with skin anywhere else on your body. Not exactly the most convenient process!
The bottom line is that a pyrethroid OTC treatment might work, but there’s a 70 to 100 percent chance that it won’t. There’s also a chance that you’ll go through the messy application process, only to experience side-effects.
Dimethicone is a silicone-based product and does not contain any nasty pesticides. The treatment acts as a lubricant which coats the lice and stops them from getting the water they need to stay alive. You will usually find this OTC lice treatment in a shampoo or gel.
As a polymer, dimethicone is not an insecticide. Researchers think that it will be unlikely that lice are able to develop any kind of resistance to the treatment. Studies using 100 percent dimethicone treatment and 4 percent dimethicone treatment revealed that it is effective on lice. One noted that dimethicone users reported much less irritation from using the treatment as compared to insecticide users.
It is still relatively early in terms of research into the impacts of dimethicone. Overall, scientists don’t expect that it has high risk in terms of side-effects. However, the Environmental Working Group lists “suspected environmental toxin” as a concern.
The application process can be lengthy. Dimethicone is applied to dry hair, and either kills or disables lice. It does not impact the eggs, although it makes them easier to comb out. The process of combing lice and eggs thoroughly out of hair may take up to two hours. Treatment may need to be repeated over a 10-day period.
Electric lice combs are a completely chemical-free lice treatment option. This OTC lice treatment zaps live lice on contact, stunning or killing them to make removal easy.
The combs are safe to use as they zap the lice, but not the user. Compared to shampoo- and gel-based treatments, electric lice combs are a breeze to use. There are no stinky solutions and there is no mess to clean up after use.
How effective are these electric combs? Most people who use them can get rid of lice infestations very safely and effectively. Some people with thick or curly hair have reported difficulties with using a comb. A key tip is that users section their hair to treat it properly. If you have thick hair, you may need to section in layers. Treatment may need to be repeated over 10 days, as the combs do not kill the nits. However, this is a treatment that can be done anywhere without the need for sinks or other equipment.
Generally, OTC lice treatment options are a safer choice than chemical prescription products. However, there is still concern over safety and efficacy, especially with pyrethroids.
Once you’ve chosen an OTC lice treatment you’re comfortable with, be vigilant about washing clothes and bedding that have been in contact with the lice. The good news is that lice don’t live very long without their blood supply, and you don’t have to worry about treating any pets.
Finally, take a breath! Parents can expect to encounter lice at some point, and it’s no reflection on you. With swift treatment, everything will be back to normal soon.
]]>This is always such a tricky position for any parent. You need to be at work, but your child can’t be at school. Additionally, you’re anxious about the possibility of lice being transferred to other kids, or members of the household. What should you do?
Firstly, if you do get “the call,” don’t panic! According to the CDC, there are an estimated six to twelve million infestations of head lice each year among children aged three to eleven. They are not known to transmit disease and it is certainly not an indictment of the cleanliness standards in your household – in fact, lice love nice, clean scalps!
Secondly, it’s important to get a correct diagnosis, confirming that your child has lice. A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that lice are commonly misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessarily missed school days. Further studies show that there are 12 to 24 million school days missed due to head lice each year. You might save yourself the time away from work and school with a simple checkup.
If the lice infestation is confirmed, then you need a safe, expedient lice treatment for kids, and ASAP! Let’s examine a few options:
One of the most common concerns about chemical lice treatments for kids is whether they are safe. Even the CDC states: “The drugs used to treat lice are insecticides and can be dangerous if they are misused or overused.”
Chemical solutions that you buy over the counter or on prescription tend to be pyrethroids – a class of insecticide that kill lice. The issue with pyrethroids is that they are also known neurotoxins. The safety of using these lice treatments on kids has been in question for years now. Problems associated with pyrethroids include burning and tingling skin, respiratory trouble, involuntary twitching, dizziness, nausea, fainting, convulsions and seizures.
The effectiveness of these chemical lice treatments on kids is also questionable. Research published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that head lice in 42 states are 100 percent resistant to over-the-counter treatments!
There is a new generation of “super lice” in town (as itchy as that probably makes you feel right now!), and they’re genetically evolved to resist those chemical treatments. Which brings us to other options…
Enzyme lice treatments for kids are usually in the form of shampoos. They are designed to disable and kill lice by mimicking their own molting enzymes and dissolving their exoskeletons. They also work to loosen the nit “glue” which sticks the eggs to the hair. Studies have shown this to be an effective method of lice treatment for kids.
A big plus for concerned parents is that enzyme lice treatments are not loaded with nasty chemicals. This makes them safe for your kids, without the side-effects that can be associated with chemical use. They are also effective for getting those “super lice,” as there is no resistance to the enzyme shampoo.
Unfortunately, this sort of treatment doesn’t kill the eggs; it just makes it easier for you to comb them out of your child’s hair. Treatment is still a two-step process – shampoo, then comb. You may need to repeat treatment to ensure that no eggs were missed.
Dimethicone lice treatments for kids are usually in shampoo or gel form and are designed to suffocate lice. They have been shown to effectively kill the eggs in many cases. One study found that after one day of treatment with dimethicone, 98.3% of subjects were free of live lice and 55.2% were free of viable eggs. On day 14, 96.5% were still free of live lice, and 80.7% were free of viable eggs.
Dimethicone is a silicon-based polymer that works to suffocate the lice and lubricate hair so that removal of lice and eggs is made easier. It is another option that does not contain troublesome chemicals.
Even with dimethicone lice treatments for kids, follow-up treatments will still be required. As shown by the study results, some live lice and eggs may still be present days later if only one treatment is given.
Electric combs are designed to zap lice with electricity and kill or stun them. The combs emit an electrical pulse that is safe for kids, as rubber tips on the ends prevent the user from being shocked. You simply turn the comb on, comb your child’s hair in sections, and check the comb for lice each time. Lice can then be discarded in warm, soapy water.
This method involves no chemicals and can be used on dry hair, so you could treat your child’s hair from anywhere you happen to be. When you use an electric lice comb, there is no mess to clean up either!
Sometimes an electric lice comb will stun the louse, rather than killing it, so you will need to be thorough with combing. Electric lice combs don’t kill the eggs, so you may need to reuse it over a 10-day period, to cover the time it takes for nymphs to mature and lay eggs. Alternatively, you can use a stainless steel comb in addition to an electric comb to ensure all lice and eggs are completely killed and removed from the hair.
There are a few different options for getting your child back to school, and yourself back to work, without using harsh chemical lice treatments. Try a safe lice treatment for kids, which is also most likely to more effective than those chemical treatments (and without the nasty smells)!
]]>Head lice are parasites that live on the human head and feed on blood. They are spread through head to head contact and can live in any type of hair. Young children are especially susceptible to lice, as they are frequently in close contact with one another. It only takes a moment for a louse to move from one head bent over a school project or game to another.
The most common symptom of a lice infestation is itchiness, as lice bites cause an allergic reaction which causes the itch.
Other symptoms include:
Now that you know the enemy, let’s work on lice removal.
The most important step is to get them out of your child’s hair. Drugstore shelves are stocked with countless products claiming to kill and remove all lice and nits instantly. The truth is, nothing kills all lice and nits instantly. Lice removal takes time and a fair amount of patience, but you can do it safely.
Many products sold OTC contain pesticides and insecticides, which can be harmful to children and adults alike, not to mention the damage they do to the environment. When looking at shampoos, be cautious of those that list pyrethrum and piperonyl butoxide in the ingredients. These are natural insecticides, derived from the chrysanthemum plant, but have been known to cause headaches, nausea and breathing problems. The FDA has not approved items containing these for use in children under two years old.
Lindane, which has been banned in California and most of Europe, is another chemical commonly found in lice shampoos. Lindane is a neurotoxin and has possible side effects that include hives, dizziness and even seizures. It should be used with extreme caution.
The least toxic way to remove lice is by combing them out with a special lice comb. These combs are usually made of metal and have tines, or teeth, that are very close together. In young children, this is the safest method for lice removal. It may take time, so give your child a snack, pop on a favorite show and start combing.
Electric combs, like the RobiComb®, are popular and safe options for lice removal, as they kill lice while you comb. Using an electric comb will likely take about 20 minutes (depending on how wiggly your child is). Most lice will die instantly, but those that aren’t will be temporarily immobilized, which makes them easy to remove. You should check your child every day for up to 10 days to make sure all lice have been removed.
DIY remedies, such as smothering them with various oils, mayonnaise or other viscous products, can be messy, especially with young children, and may not be effective.
Preventive care will be your best friend during a lice infestation at your child’s school or daycare. You’ve already killed them once, so don’t let them back in!
If one person in the family has lice, all family members should be treated. One hug from an infected child can spread lice to siblings, or even parents. An electric comb can be used on everyone during the time your child is infected with lice, and then once a week to prevent a recurrence.
While lice cannot live long on bedding and stuffed animals, it’s still not a bad idea to wash everything in hot water (130F/55C, or higher), and dry on high heat.
Vacuum upholstery and carpets thoroughly, as even if the lice can’t survive, you want to clean up any dead bodies or nits!
Another good option for preventative care is a lice repellent spray. Spray your child’s head before school or daycare for 24 hours of protection.
Remember, lice are easy to catch, but with a bit of vigilance, you can get rid of them and prevent them from coming back (even without burning down your house!)
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Electric lice combs, like the RobiComb®, work by generating a small amount of electricity (usually supplied by a battery) which runs through the teeth of the comb. They are typically covered at the end of the tines by small, rubber pads to keep your child and their scalp safe. If the electrified part of the comb does touch bare skin, it’s no more severe than your typical winter-time or balloon-generated static shock.
Electric lice combs are simple and easy to use because it’s just like combing hair. The comb should be used on dry, untreated hair, so you’ll need to comb or brush it before you begin. For short hair, you only need to comb the hair, starting with the back near the neck and ears, where lice are most likely to be present. For longer hair, it’s best to divide the hair into sections that are about one inch in size. You can secure the sections with clips so they stay separate. With the RobiComb® logo side up, turn on the comb and hold it at a 45-degree angle. It will make a quiet humming noise to let you know it’s working.
Every time the electric lice comb encounters a louse or a nymph large enough to connect with two tines of the comb, it stops the flow of electricity and cuts off the sound. Because it comes into contact with electricity, the louse is shocked: either killed or disabled. Just brush the lice you’ve caught into some soapy water, and you and your child are golden!
It takes about a week for new eggs to hatch and for immature lice to be able to lay new eggs, so you need to repeat the combing process every day for 10 to 14 days to completely stop the reproductive cycle and prevent new lice. If there’s an outbreak at work, school or daycare, you can comb with the RobiComb® electric lice-zapping comb about once a week to help prevent an infestation from starting.
The most common lice treatments involve medicated or chemical (pesticide) shampoos. These shampoos can be dangerous and toxic, especially to young children. Some of the shampoos aren’t intended for use on children under the age of 2, or even 6! Dimethicone or oil-based treatments require slathering the head with goo, covering it in plastic, and leaving it to settle overnight. Aside from the mess and the time, it may not be wise to let a small child sleep with plastic on their head!
Traditional lice treatments are a pain in the neck with multiple steps involved, including running to the store or doctor’s office to grab the treatment, washing hair, combing out the tangles and then going through the hair with a steel or plastic lice comb before picking through their hair for the remaining nits (and gaining a new appreciation for the word “nitpicking”). Electric lice combs, like the RobiComb®, save you multiple steps and leaves you with your sanity intact (well, as intact as it can be with kids!).
Between chemical and all-natural treatments, medicated treatments, and a growing industry of professional salons whose entire job is to remove lice and nits, parents are spending an estimated 1 billion dollars every year to put an end to lice infestations. To make matters worse, chemical treatments are quickly becoming a non-option since some species of lice are becoming resistant to the chemical and medicated treatments available right now. With these growing costs, getting an electric lice comb is just a better option. You can treat the entire family with just one comb - something you can’t say about traditional, or even natural, lice treatments - saving you time and money.
Having kids is stressful enough without adding a head lice infestation. With a busy schedule, work of our own, and schools that send kids home until the lice infestation is treated and the kids are nit-free, none of us can afford to waste our time (or money for that matter) trying multiple forms of lice treatments and risking money on products that don’t work.
The RobiComb® electric lice-zapping comb is both an acute and preventive treatment that is safe for all ages, free from harmful chemicals and FAST! When you absolutely must get your kids back to school or get yourself back to work, you can’t afford to wait on chemicals or oils to do their job. Get the RobiComb® electric lice-zapping comb and get back to living an itch-free life!
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Though lice are not dangerous, getting rid of them can be a time consuming and labor intensive process. If you have a wiggly toddler, you can likely figure that many options for removing lice will take twice as long. Toddlers are not known for their patience.
Know Thy Enemy!
First, you should understand what exactly you’re up against. Here are some quick facts you may not know:
Lice Shampoos
Lice shampoos are probably the first thought that comes to most parents’ minds when they are considering how to get rid of them. Before rushing off to your local pharmacy, you should know that many lice shampoos contain pesticides and are not approved for children under the age of 2 (some are not recommended for children under the age of 6). The chemical used in many OTC lice shampoos, usually a form of the pesticide malathion, is harsh on the skin and can cause stinging, burning, and redness. Shampoos which are approved for children under 2, often use pyrethrins to kill lice.
Pyrethrins are organic compounds, derived from the chrysanthemum plant, which are commonly found in natural pesticides. Pyrethrins have been known to cause allergic reactions, especially among those with hay fever, as well as serious breathing issues. Even if approved for young children, they should not be used by anyone with asthma.
As we become more aware of the risks of pesticides to both humans and the environment, non-toxic shampoos have become available. Safe for even toddlers, they are gentle on the hair while killing the adult lice and nymphs, and helping unglue the nits.
DIY Lice Remedies
If you do a quick Google search looking for an at-home remedy, you’ll come up with page after page of “safe” DIY options to kill lice in children. Here are a few popular ones, and the cautions that one should know about:
Lice Combs
The safest non-toxic, pesticide-free option to treat lice in toddlers is by using a lice comb. Lice combs have teeth that are extremely close together to catch all the lice and nits. Some, like this one, from LiceGuard®, even come with magnifying picks to help you better identify the lice. Since combing doesn’t get all the nits, it will be necessary to comb up to 10 days in a row, until you’re certain there are no more nits.
Wet combing is exactly what it sounds like. Wetting your toddler’s hair (you can use conditioner in it, but many brands are not gentle enough for toddlers), and combing it with a lice comb. With toddlers, wet combing may be difficult, as it is often a long process and tangles could be an issue.
Electric combs, like the RobiComb®, are a fast and easy way to kill lice. Once a louse is hit with electricity, it will be stunned or killed, and the comb will remove it quickly.
Preventing Further Infestations
Since you can’t control who your child may cuddle up to at daycare, once you have eliminated the lice, your best move is to do everything you can to prevent another infestation. Lice cannot live more than 24 hours without feeding, so you don’t need to throw everything out!
Remember, your toddler having lice is nothing to stress over. It’s a common occurrence and is not due to anything you have done. With a little time and effort, combined with a healthy dose of patience, you can rid your child and house of lice in a safe, non-toxic and pesticide-free way!
]]>The good news is that as annoying as lice can be, they’re not normally a health problem. Head lice don’t spread diseases, although some people can be sensitive to their bites. Any time children are sharing brushes, combs, hair ties, clips, hats or taking selfies with their heads together, lice can jump from one head to another. Since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it’s a good idea to remind your children about head lice prevention before they run off with their new friends.
Once you or your child has been infested with head lice, finding the right natural lice treatment options can be overwhelming. The market is filled with a wide range of options, from the not-so-natural chemical treatments, to more natural alternatives, like enzyme-based lice treatments, oil-based lice treatments, home remedies and the electric lice comb.
Some types of head lice are developing a resistance to chemical treatments, so many parents are opting for natural lice treatment options.
There are some products on the market that treat head lice with specific enzymes. These enzymes break down the shell (exoskeleton) of the louse, causing it to die from dehydration. Natural lice treatment with enzyme shampoo is non-toxic, but the shampoo can be pricey. Because the enzymes only work on mature lice, it will require multiple treatments to end the infestation. Many of the natural lice treatments with enzyme shampoo require the shampoo to soak into the head for a long period of time (sometimes overnight), which may be difficult with younger children.
Silicon oil is one of the latest natural lice treatments available. Unlike chemicals (which poison lice) or enzymes (which dissolve their shells), silicon oil works by suffocating the head lice. It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, but like enzyme treatments, it’s not very effective on nits and nymphs (immature lice), so usage needs to be repeated regularly. Because the mechanism of action is suffocation, you’ll need a thick coating of oil on the hair, and it will need to sit on the hair and scalp overnight. The process will need to be repeated for about two weeks.
Some home remedies for natural lice treatment may be effective, others probably aren’t and some are downright dangerous. First, the dangerous: DO NOT use gasoline or any type of industrial solvent or flammable material to treat head lice. It is commonly advised as a home remedy for head lice, but gasoline is far from a natural lice treatment and is extremely dangerous.
Tea tree oil may be somewhat effective for natural lice treatment, although it’s probably not any more effective than coconut oil, olive oil, vegetable oil or mayonnaise. All of these substances may be effective in the same way that silicon oil is; they aim to suffocate the louse. Like silicon oil, they are messy, inconvenient and require multiple applications; however, they are a cheap option that might work for some people.
An electric lice comb is a natural lice treatment that’s easy to use, non-toxic and safe. It works by electrocuting lice as you run the comb through the hair. Since you can use the same electric lice comb for multiple family members, it’s a cost-effective option for families with multiple children who may be sharing the infestation at home.
The electric lice comb should only be used on clean, dry and tangle-free hair. Once the hair is thoroughly brushed, section the hair into one-inch sections and secure the sections with clips. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions for details on how to use your specific model.
Once the electric lice comb is on, comb through each section carefully, starting at the ears and the nape of the neck. Work your way carefully through the hair. When the teeth of the comb encounter a louse, it will shock the insect, stunning it or killing it.
An electric lice comb like the RobiComb® requires no mess and no waiting period. Depending on the thickness of the hair, it can be finished in as little as 20 minutes, and it can be reused as often as necessary. While it can remove adult lice and nymphs, it may not get the tiniest of nits, so it’s important to repeat the combing process each day for about 10 to 14 days. Because this natural lice treatment is safe and hassle-free, some families will use it as a preventative measure when there’s an active outbreak in school or daycare.
Whether your kids come home scratching their heads, or you’ve gotten that frightening phone call from the school nurse, you don’t need to panic. There are natural lice treatment options designed to suit your family’s specific needs.
]]>Unlike the flu or an ear infection, lice can’t be treated with a pill or a shot. Even medications and treatments designed for lice have been known to fail, and even effective treatments may need to be repeated for weeks to fully take care of the infestation.
An adult female head louse may lay 10 eggs every day. These eggs are cemented to the shaft of the hair near the scalp with a kind of “glue”, making them very difficult to see and remove. They may look like dandruff, so they sometimes evade detection for a time.
About a week after the nits are laid, they’ll start to hatch. These lice babies, called nymphs, are very small, about the size of a pinhead. They grow, shed their exoskeletons and grow some more, until they become adults in about a week.
Once they’re fully grown, these lice may continue living in your hair and laying eggs for about a month. Since the adults are only about the size of a sesame seed, they may remain undetected for quite some time. A single pair of adult lice could turn into an infestation of more than 100 in as little as a few weeks.
Medicated shampoos with a pediculicide can help to kill lice. These shampoos are available by prescription or over the counter, and they may contain ingredients like malathion, permethrin, or lindane.
Malathion is commonly used as an agricultural pesticide. Shampoos with malathion usually require that the chemical remains on the scalp for 8-12 hours, and malathion is flammable, so it’s not recommended for use with blow dryers or curling irons. Certain people will have sensitivity to malathion, and it can be toxic to humans and to local waterways when it is rinsed out. In the United States, this generally requires a prescription.
Permethrin is one of the safest pediculicides available to kill lice. It dissipates rapidly in the environment, and most humans can tolerate a moderate dose with few ill effects. However, some people may have an acute sensitivity to permethrin, and it may not kill the nits.
Lindane is primarily used as a second-line defense when milder medications have failed. California has banned the substance due to its environmental impact, and other states have presented bills to restrict its use to prescriptions only. It’s a neurotoxin with many reported side effects, and it’s not recommended for use in young children or pregnant women. In the United States, this chemical normally requires a prescription.
It’s important to note that chemical treatments won’t kill all lice. Lice have been reported to show resistance to chemical treatments, and most studies indicate that these chemicals are effective less than 90% of the time. Chemicals to kill lice may not be effective on treating their eggs, so these options will usually require multiple uses in order to fully treat the infestation.
Certain types of naturally occurring enzymes can be used in a medicated shampoo or spray. These enzymes are generally safer and less toxic than chemicals, and they work to kill lice by destroying the exoskeleton (shell) of the insect. While they are usually less harmful to the environment and safer for children, they often require multiple uses and are ineffective at killing the eggs.
While chemicals work by poisoning the lice, oils work through suffocation. Some traditional home remedies may call for mayonnaise or olive oil, and newer products may contain dimethicone, a silicone-based oil. They’re a safe alternative, even for young children, but they can be messy, as they require the oil to be spread thickly on the scalp and hair and left for a period of time. They can be difficult to rinse out, and they may not always be as effective on nits, so they may require multiple treatments.
Poison. Dismemberment. Suffocation. When it comes to killing lice, we’ll try almost anything! Here’s where electricity comes to the rescue.
When you run an electric lice comb through the hair, it detects and zaps the louse. Once it’s dead or stunned, the comb can be used to remove the louse from the hair. Like suffocation, electricity works on all lice, even those that are resistant to chemical treatments. It can be used even on very young children, and it doesn’t require a long period of soaking, so it can be over in as little as 20 minutes.
Electric lice combs, like the RobiComb®, are a fast way to kill lice, but they don’t always get the nits. It’s best to use the comb daily for ten days, but some families may use the comb once a week as a preventative measure for infestations. With no chemicals and little fuss, it’s easy to continue using it to prevent future infestations, especially if there’s an outbreak in your child’s school or daycare.
Goodbye, Lice!
Head lice seldom cause medical problems, but they’re incredibly annoying and highly contagious. When there’s an outbreak of lice, it’s important that you kill them FAST, before they spread, breed and infest even more people. Fortunately, there are a number of safe, effective ways to kill lice quickly.
]]>Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower and is safe and effective when used as directed. Permethrin is a synthetic version of pyrethrin and can be found over the counter in 1% lotion. Both work by disabling the nervous system of lice, but unfortunately they don’t kill unhatched eggs (nits).
In order for it to be effective, the CDC recommends using a second treatment 9 to 10 days after the first treatment to kill any newly hatched lice before they can produce new eggs. The only problem is that some lice have become resistant to pyrethrin and permethrin.
Home Remedies
Whatever your pantry weapon of choice, most of the below options work by clogging breathing holes and suffocating the louse. But since lice can survive without breathing for hours, be sure to apply overnight and cover with plastic wrap or a shower cap.
A study in 2004 found that a number of essential oils are actually more effective in killing lice than phenothrin and pyrethrum (active ingredients found in OTC lice treatments). Of the 54 oils tested (including eucalyptus, marjoram, pennyroyal and rosemary) the two deemed safest and most effective are tea tree and lavender oil.
According to the Mayo Clinic, tea tree oil is a natural insecticide and antibacterial that can help treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites. When used in combination with lavender oil, the two can kill lice in the nymph and adult stages of life. Tea tree oil treatments also reduced the number of lice eggs that hatched. A 10:1 olive oil to essential oil ratio was found to be even more effective than commercial treatment and helped eliminate 97% of lice.
Vinegar & Vodka
Some people believe that vinegar or vodka can help remove nits by breaking down the bond between the egg and hair shaft. The acetic acid in vinegar can also help to remove excess oil after smothering the scalp overnight. While there’s no known evidence of vinegar having a clinical benefit, many people recommend using white vinegar—straight up or diluted with water—to remove lice eggs.
Similar to vinegar, the alcohol in vodka is believed to kill lice eggs by breaking down their shells. It’s recommended that you use at least 80 proof liquor for it to really work. To use, fill a spray bottle with vodka and a few drops of cinnamon leaf essential oil, then spray directly on the hair and scalp while you comb for nits.
Remember to use a hair dryer only on freshly washed hair. Some chemical lice treatment products are highly flammable, and the extra heat can be dangerous.
Lice Combs
For an added punch, use an electric comb like the RobiComb® Lice Zapping Comb to quickly kill lice and eggs. The RobiComb® uses MicroCharge technology to zap lice on contact with a safe electric pulse that kills lice but doesn’t hurt kids. Simply run the RobiComb® through clean, dry hair. If you listen closely, you’ll actually be able to hear lice being eliminated on contact. Best of all, it’s clinically-proven to work and is completely safe.
]]>Depending on how stubborn a child’s lice has become, doctors may suggest any number of over-the-counter or prescription medications. Some of these over-the-counter solutions will promise an end to lice with a product that needs just 15-30 minutes. Studies suggest a far longer time is needed to truly be effective. According to the British National Formulary – Britain’s Department of Health, “a contact time of 8–12 hours or overnight treatment is recommended for lotions and liquids.” Lice can live up to 50 days during which time the female can lay up to 300 eggs. All of which explains why one third of school children under 16 had an average 3.6 head lice infestations over the last year.
Making a quick decision on which treatment to use can be completely confusing. Common over-the-counter and prescription lice treatments often contain chemicals that are both questionable in their efficacy and inherently dangerous if used incorrectly. Accidentally applying too much of these treatments, or leaving them on too long, could have dangerous effects. To make a smart decision, it helps to have a little knowledge upfront of all the options out there.
Medicated shampoos and lotions: There are several brands of over-the-counter and prescription treatments, however most of these brands likely use harsh chemicals to kill lice. These treatments require not only precision usage for safety, but have proven less than effective at getting rid of lice for good. The chemicals used in these treatments can have dangerous side effects and, if used incorrectly, some can even prove fatal. Even in the best cases, parents must often reapply chemical treatments in 7-10 days to kill newly hatched lice from eggs left behind. Chemicals to watch out for in over-the-counter treatments include:
Permethrin: Classified as a likely carcinogen by the EPA, permethrin kills nit bugs by attacking their central nervous system. Though the chemical’s potential side effects might be considered relatively minor to children, in rare cases, causing skin irritation and burning, used too much or too often and these medications have the potential of causing everything from nausea and headaches to seizures.
Lindane: This chemical contains neurotoxins that the EPA recently ruled as "one of the most toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative pesticides ever registered," banning it from pet products and all US agricultural use, yet leaving it still approved for limited use in treatment of head lice on children. Lindane, if absorbed through the skin, can affect the nervous system, liver or kidneys.
Other, less common or toxic chemicals include Carylderm, or Carbaryl, Ovide or Malathion and the pill Stromectal, which can be prescribed when other methods have failed.
Non-toxic chemical treatments: Some over-the-counter topical solutions work to suffocate lice physically, but can be messy, complicated, require repeated treatments and have limited proof as to their efficacy. Solutions using non-toxic chemicals like dimeticone or cyclomethicone coat lice in order to suffocate or disrupt their water balance.
Alternative treatments: Parents have been known to use various alternative, home-made treatments in efforts to keep toxic chemicals from their child’s head. These treatments work similarly to suffocate lice but are limited in their efficacy and are ineffective in particularly resistant strains of lice. Household products used in these treatments can range from vinegar and petroleum jelly, to mayonnaise, or olive oil and call for wet combing these products into your child’s hair for a period of time.
Each of these treatments may require you to go through the messy, smelly process of applying the solution and keeping your children cooped up with shower caps on their heads waiting in hopes of killing the nits and eggs that are embedded in their heads multiple times over the course of days.
The RobiComb offer you a 100% safe, proven way to essentially comb-and-kill lice at their root using minute electrical pulses to kill lice on contact. While it zaps, it leaves your child completely protected by the comb’s specially-treated prong-tips. To ensure you get all the nits and eggs out of your child’s hair, you will most likely want to repeat this process of combing every night for two weeks and pick the larger eggs, nits or lice out by hand. This is the only clinically-proven option that enables you to reuse the comb, on other family members, whenever you need it.
No matter which treatment you decide on, the important thing is that you are not alone! There’s no need to panic and make a quick decision that will leave you uneasy or elbows-deep in a messy, smelly situation you aren’t certain will offer a solution.
]]>There is a faster and safer over-the-counter solution, and that is to use LiceGuard®’s Lice & Egg Shampoo or LiceGuard®’s RobiComb®, which zaps and kills lice and eggs on contact. You can also use LiceGuard®’s Lice Repellent Hair Spray to proactively prevent lice infestations when your child is heading into a situation where lice may be a risk, such as a sleepover party, summer camp, a lice outbreak at your child’s school, etc. All of these products can be used at home easily, quickly, 100% safely and without a mess.
If you’re online looking for an at-home lice treatment, you’ll run across many articles and blog posts dispensing advice about using everyday products found around the home to combat lice. Do these home remedies work? Are they as powerful and effective as LiceGuard®’s Shampoo or RobiComb®? Should we all simply be reaching into the refrigerator for mayonnaise to scoop onto our children’s heads?
Some of the advice you’ll find online is useful and can be trusted, but much of it is simply inaccurate and could lead to many more days of lice infestations, itchy heads around your home and the misery of repeated applications and frustrated family members (not to mention the never-ending loads of laundry and the repeated house cleanings).
Let’s examine some of the purported at-home solutions using everyday products, and explore the underlying truth (as well as falsehoods) of these options.
Mayonnaise
One of the most common recommendations you’ll find online for at-home lice treatments using everyday items around the home is mayonnaise. The common advice is to massage mayonnaise into the hair and then cover it with a shower cap prior to going to bed. It’s then instructed to wash out the mayonnaise in the morning, prior to combing out any dead eggs, and then repeat the process days later.
One of the challenges with using mayonnaise is the mess that it creates. Another issue is the smell. Especially when dealing with children, using mayonnaise can be a challenge.
Also, and most importantly, according to the Mayo Clinic, there's little to no evidence of the effectiveness of mayonnaise in treating lice.
Vinegar
Household vinegar is proposed as an option for lice treatment by certain individuals and websites online. While vinegar can help in eliminating nits (head lice eggs) and possibly in killing nymphs (young lice that cannot yet lay eggs), vinegar actually does not kill adult head lice.
The acetic acid in vinegar is not strong enough to dissolve the protective exoskeleton of nits and therefore will not kill them. However, it will help to loosen the glue holding the nits to the hair follicle so that they will be easier to remove with the proper lice comb.
If you try to use vinegar as your sole solution at home for lice treatment, you very well may be disappointed.
Coconut Oil
Although some people online espouse coconut oil as a lice treatment solution, it is often not effective. Also, as with mayonnaise, coconut oil is a solution that relies on smothering rather than immediately killing lice. As lice can hold their breath for up to eight hours, you’ll need to rely on a shower cap as you sleep with the oil in your hair for the night. As the nits won’t die from suffocation, you’ll have to comb them out, and repeat the process after a few days.
Essential Oils
Similar to coconut oil, you can try smothering the lice with essential oils, such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, clove oil or cinnamon leaf oil. Sometimes coating a comb rather than the hair works better than oiling up one’s hair. As with coconut oil, you’ll want to keep a thick coating of the oil in the hair and add a shower cap for sleeping through the night, and then repeat the process a few days later. Also, test a small drop of the oil on the back of your child’s hand prior to application to the hair, as some children may have an allergic reaction to certain oils.
Smothering Techniques
Using a smothering technique as described above, along with sleeping with a shower cap for the night, can indeed suffocate lice. It does not, however, kill the eggs.
For the treatment to work you still need to go through the hair with a nit comb and remove all of the eggs. Then repeat the process a few days later, and possibly again and again until absolutely no eggs are uncovered. If you miss any of the eggs in the process, it’s possible for them to hatch and re-infest the head. This is why it’s critical to repeat the process until all signs of eggs have been completely eliminated.
Epsom Salt
Using an Epsom salt solution with water can help to get rid of lice. But be careful, as you’ll want to avoid eye contact with the salt. This can be tricky when dealing with children. Also, be aware that table salt does not work, and sea salt and kosher salt may not dissolve sufficiently.
Hair Dye
While hair dye can be effective at killing head lice, it does not kill nits. It’s also not advisable to subject children to the application of hair dye, so this is generally not a good solution for lice treatment at home.
As you can see, looking at everyday products for a DIY lice treatment solution at home, although certainly safer for your child than products containing brain toxins, are not a panacea. They are often messy, time-consuming, not kid-friendly and only partially effective.
Instead, if you really want a powerful lice treatment at home, head to your local Walgreens, CVS or Walmart and grab one of LiceGuard®’s lice treatment offerings, which are fast, effective, and 100% safe for children. The RobiComb® electric lice “zapping” comb kills all lice and eggs on contact. It’s non-toxic, as it uses uses MicroCharge technology to zap lice on contact with an electric pulse that kills lice but is safe and does not hurt kids. One treatment and you’re done. No more emptying jars of mayonnaise on your child’s head and no more days and possibly weeks of repeated treatments!
]]>Toxic vs. Non-Toxic Lice Shampoos
The Center for Disease Control estimates that 6 to 12 million children in the U.S. will be affected by head lice this year. That’s a serious problem that requires serious attention. However, some of the available lice shampoo treatments use toxic chemicals that have no business on your child’s scalp where skin tends to be thinner. And keep in mind, that while all approved drugs manufactured for sale must meet a criterion for safety, safety does not mean zero risk.
WARNING: Are you using a product with one of these chemicals?
Lindane
An ingredient in several prescription-strength treatments, lindane is an organochlorine insecticide that can cause serious side effects in humans. Studies show that lindane can be toxic to brain cells. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that it can no longer be used in the U.S. on crops or cattle (and it’s been banned in 52 countries). Yet, it remains on the market in lice shampoo treatments.
Permethrin
Permethrin is commonly found in pesticides, and affects the nervous system. It works well to control insects, causing muscle spasms, paralysis and death. In humans, it is know to cause skin irritation and burning. If applied excessively, children may become nauseous, have headaches, muscle weakness, shortness of breath or, in some cases, seizures. The EPA says it is “safe” in low doses, but also classifies Permethrin as a likely carcinogen. And if you have a cat at home, know that it is especially dangerous to felines.
Carylderm/Carbaryl
A moderately hazardous pesticide, carbaryl has been shown to have mutagenic effects in laboratory rats. This means that it negatively affects how a body’s cells function. According to researchers at the EPA, carbaryl brings a host of health concerns, and is a suspected carcinogen. They say that even short-term exposure can cause central nervous system impairment, nausea, vomiting, bronchoconstriction, blurred vision, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure. You don’t want carbaryl or carylderm in your family’s medicine cabinet.
A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
While the risk of serious illness or death from exposure to pesticides found in toxic lice shampoos is low, there is always the outlier. It could be that parents have used a higher dosage, left the shampoo on longer than directed or treated their child more often than the product was designed for. But for one family, just a single treatment of a lindane shampoo was enough to cause irreversible harm and lifelong grief.
This is a case well known to head-lice treatment professionals, but one that not enough parents have heard about: a young boy named Jesse who was diagnosed with acute lymphobastic leukemia two months after being treated with a commonly prescribed lindane shampoo. Sadly, no connection was made at the time between the application of the shampoo and his illness. Fortunately, he responded well to cancer treatment and remained in remission after his chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, after another lice outbreak at his school the following year, his mother again used the same lindane-laced shampoo, only to see Jesse suffer a relapse. His final relapse occurred after a bone marrow transplant, which researchers say was extremely unusual. At this point, doctors suspected an environmental cause -- and the only commonality was the shampoo used shortly before each bout of leukemia.
Jesse’s story is just one of many. Yet sadly, products with lindane are still being prescribed by well-meaning doctors.
A Safer Way to Eliminate Lice
You’ve probably heard of natural remedies to get rid of lice, everything from mayonnaise to olive oil. And while both are non-toxic, they can be messy and far less than 100% effective. Combing can also be effective, but lice and eggs form such a tough bond with hair that they can be very difficult to remove.
For a safer, more effective solution use non-toxic lice shampoo treatments that can kill the insects without any adverse side effects, or make it easier to remove lice. Avoid products with these ingredients: lindane, malathion, permethrin and pyrethrin. If the product, whether natural or chemically-derived, has warnings or noxious odors, reconsider using on yourself or your child. Know that you can remove 100% of your child’s lice and eggs safely by combing if you first use a non-toxic lice shampoo that breaks down the bonds between lice, their eggs and hair. Alternatively, you can utilize the RobiComb electric lice comb for a fast and effective at-home or on-the-go treatment.
Saying Goodbye to Lice
While lice can be incredibly frustrating to deal with, it’s something that you can treat at home safely and effectively. New lice shampoo treatments make it easier than ever to remove 100% of lice and eggs. And in all likelihood, you should never have to use shampoos with harmful insecticides or home-made remedies that are at best inconvenient, and at worst allow lice to continue breeding in your child’s hair.
So if you get a call from the school nurse, there’s no need to panic. Just tackle the problem quickly, and always know what’s in your lice shampoo treatment.
Lice by the Numbers
6-12 million
Young children in the U.S. get lice each year.
10 per day
Number of eggs an adult female louse can lay each day
9-12 days
Time newly hatched lice begin laying their own eggs
]]>Between fighting off lice from head and home, treatment doesn’t just wreak havoc on families—those missed days are also quite costly. In the same study, lice accounted for costing the nation roughly $315 million in lost productivity and another $30 million in treatment products.
Time to stay home? Not so fast.
The notion that children should be pulled from school once diagnosed with lice is losing popularity. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that students do not need to be sent home early from school. They can start treatment after school and return the next day. Quick and successful treatment will help kill any crawling lice and prevent nits (eggs) from hatching.
Unfortunately, many products today are not as effective at eradicating head lice as you might think. Studies suggest that up to 75% of all existing lice strains have developed resistance to common pesticides. Not only are traditional products dangerous, but they don't even work well anymore. Some over-the-counter medicines kill lice, but not eggs, and some require retreatment in order to kill any eggs that may hatch a week later. Families can take extra steps such as washing and drying bedsheets, clothing and towels in hot water, but the hunt to completely eradicate lice is exhausting and miserable.
What’s a louse-ridden family to do?
Beyond dousing children with messy, smelly, toxic chemicals, parents can use a fine-toothed lice comb to search for any remaining nits. The problem is that nits are very hard to see and can be easily confused with dandruff, scabs or even hair products. What’s even more frustrating is that even nits that are a fraction of an inch away from the scalp might already be hatched and leave behind an empty casing.
Grab a comb and nitpick.
If you’re careful and consistent, a good, high-quality lice comb can be very effective at removing nits. Look for fine metal teeth that are very close together. This will help pull nits out of hair (or at the very least, crush them). Depending on how long the affected hair is, you can use a lice comb with either short or long tines. As for plastic combs, don’t even bother. Most don’t have the grit necessary to pull nits directly from the hair shaft and can easily skip over them.
Lice hatch about eight days after their eggs are laid, so it’s a good idea to comb every day until you’ve gone at least eight days without seeing any nits or live lice.
The quick & easy solution
Medicated treatment and a good comb are the best defense for fighting off lice. But as many busy parents know, there’s rarely enough time in the day to work, take care of the home, and then spend hours picking nits from your child’s scalp. Fortunately, there’s a safer, simpler option that’s already used by parents and school nurses for over 20 years—the RobiComb® Lice Zapping Comb.
The RobiComb® uses MicroCharge technology to zap lice on contact with an electric pulse that kills lice but is safe and doesn’t hurt kids. Simply run the RobiComb® through clean, dry hair. If you listen closely, you’ll actually be able to hear lice being ZAPPED and eliminated on contact. Best of all, it’s clinically proven to work and is completely safe. A single RobiComb® can treat the entire family!
Life after lice
There’s no silver bullet for dealing with a lice infestation. Traditional lice products use pesticides like Permethrin & Pyrethrum that are known to be harmful. There are thousands of reports of neurological damage associated with these chemicals, and the FDA has investigated a number of deaths allegedly caused by the overuse of these agents.
Obviously, non-toxic remedies are a preferred choice over pesticides whenever possible. Just be diligent about which products you choose—many ‘natural’ products and remedies aren’t tested for efficacy or human safety. Instead, try a safe and effective alternative to traditional pesticide shampoos such as LiceGuard®'s Lice & Egg Shampoo (included in its Lice & Egg Elimination Kit). Its non-toxic solution breaks down the bonds between lice eggs and hair, making it easy to comb out all the lice, eggs, and nits. Paired with the RobiComb®, you’ll pack a hefty one-two punch against lice!
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