Lice Expert Advice: Avoid Using OTC Lice Treatment Products

Suppose you’ve confirmed that you, your child, or someone else has head lice. What do you do now? How do you get rid of the lice? What products should you buy? There are a lot of questions that come up at this point, and this post is dedicated to answering them and setting you on the right treatment path!

Doing It Yourself Using Over-the-Counter Lice Treatment Products

The biggest debate in treatment is: do you do it yourself, or do you hire a professional? While hiring a Certified Head Lice Expert can be expensive, there are hidden risks and costs to treating lice yourself. Waiting too long to get professional treatment can end up costing you more than twice what you’d pay a professional. When contacting a doctor or scouring the internet for advice, you are likely to receive recommendations for medications that will kill some lice but not nits or for over-the-counter (OTC) pesticide treatments.

The Ineffectiveness of OTC Treatments

Pesticides such as Permethrin were once effective in treating head lice, but studies show that over the years, the lice adapted and developed a resistance to these toxins, rendering them useless. Today, these pesticide treatments only work around 20-30% of the time. These resistant lice have been dubbed "Super Lice." In addition to being relatively ineffective, Permethrin, Lindane (anti-parasite neurotoxins), and Malathion have been proven to be toxic and hazardous. Continue reading for why we recommend to avoid using OTC lice treatment products.

The Risks of OTC Treatments

1. Permethrin: A synthetic chemical used to kill insects and parasites, Permethrin is carcinogenic and may cause side effects like a runny or stuffy nose, difficulty breathing, skin and scalp irritation, coughing, and allergic reactions.

2. Lindane: This harmful chemical attacks the nervous system and is carcinogenic. Absorbed through the scalp, Lindane has been banned for use on animals in the US and is classified by the World Health Organization as “known to cause human cancer.” Side effects include rashes, burning skin, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, seizures, allergic reactions, and brain damage.

3. Malathion: A highly flammable nerve agent used in insect control, Malathion is linked to cancer and can cause asthma, hormonal disruption, nausea, and dizziness. Despite these risks, it is still used in head lice treatment.

You can learn more about these chemicals in our blog post, The Hidden Dangers of Over-the-Counter Lice Treatments.

The Complexity of Self-Treatment

Head lice treatment requires skill that comes from experience. Even if you find a product that kills head lice, you still need to remove the nits. The most effective way to do this is by using the “Nit Free Terminator” lice comb to comb the hair meticulously in sections, from the roots to the tips, until all lice and nits are removed. This can be time-consuming and, if you miss a nit, it can lead to reinfestation within a few days or weeks.

The Hidden Costs of DIY Treatment

The hours, days, and sometimes months you spend fighting lice, and the emotional toll it takes, can be a source of significant stress. Your kids may cry every time you comb their hair, and you may spend large amounts of money on lice treatment products as well as on washing, drying, and home cleaning (bedding, towels, coats, hairbrushes, combs, and other hair items).

The Benefits of Professional Treatment

Given all of this, do-it-yourself treatment clearly isn’t worth the cost. On the other hand, by hiring a Larger Than Lice Certified Lice Expert, you can say goodbye to lice and nits with our six-week guarantee. Book a screening today and a professional will provide a meticulous screening from the privacy of your own New York City home.