Over-the-counter lice treatment all reviews to English. Container disposal: If treatnent - nonrefillable container. After four minutes, add water and work into a lather, then rinse. Sold by: Morning Finds ltd.

Over-the-counter lice treatment -

For example, if your lice are resistant to OTC treatment, you may need a prescription product. Alternatively, you may want a more natural treatment. Knowing a little information about the available lice treatments can go a long way in helping you to make an informed choice.

The typical first-line treatment for lice is an OTC shampoo, such as Rid or Nix. Both of these products contain chemicals from a class of chemical compounds called pyrethrins. Chemicals in this class occur naturally, but they can also be man-made. These and similar OTC products may also include gels and cream rinses that help you comb the lice out of your hair after treatment.

You can use Rid for people who are 2 years of age and older. To treat lice, apply the Rid shampoo to dry hair and leave on for 10 minutes. After that time, add some warm water and rub your head to form a lather. Then rinse your hair with water. You may use a fine-toothed comb to remove lice and eggs from the hair after treatment.

In seven to 10 days, you need to repeat this process to kill any lice that have hatched since the first treatment. The active ingredient in Rid is an insecticide called pyrethrum extract.

Rid also contains an ingredient called piperonyl butoxide. This helps the pyrethrum extract work better because it prevents lice from breaking the pyrethrum extract down. The Environmental Protection Agency EPA classifies piperonyl butoxide as a possible human cancer-causing agent.

However, the strength of this chemical in Rid is only 4 percent, which is considered safe for limited periods of exposure. Nix can be used for people who are 2 months and older.

To treat lice, apply Nix to freshly shampooed hair, but be sure not to use conditioner. Use enough Nix to fully cover all your hair and your scalp.

Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse it out with warm water. You can also use a fine-tooth comb to remove lice and eggs from the hair afterwards. Nix contains permethrin, which is in the same chemical class as pyrethrum extract.

Permethrin is supposed to leave a residue on the hair which may help to kill lice that hatch after the first treatment. Some additives to the shampoo may limit this residue effect. With either Nix or Rid, it is important to check for new live lice over the 7 to 10 days after treatment and retreat if any new live lice are found.

Unlike Rid, Nix does not contain piperonyl butoxide. Prescription treatments include: malathion Ovide , lindane Kwell , benzyl alcohol Ulesfia , ivermectin Sklice , and spinosad Natroba. Your pharmacy may not have your specific prescription product, so make sure to call in advance.

The costs among these products vary, but they are all much more expensive than OTC treatments. Lindane is typically the least expensive, and ivermectin is the most expensive. Insurance coverage of these treatments also varies. Some companies may require a prior authorization from your doctor.

This is to make sure that you have tried OTC therapies first or that the lice in your case are resistant to OTC treatment. Malathion is available as a lotion. It kills lice by affecting a chemical in their nervous system.

To treat lice, apply malathion to dry hair, using enough to make it wet. Then, without covering your hair, allow the hair to dry naturally. After eight to 12 hours, wash the hair with regular shampoo and rinse it with water.

Use a fine-tooth comb to remove dead lice and eggs. One treatment should be enough to get rid of the infestation. Malathion is only for use in people who are older than 6 years old.

Side effects of malathion can include scalp and skin irritation. Inhaling vapors of malathion may cause wheezing or shortness of breath in some people, particularly those with asthma.

Wait at least one hour after washing hair, bathing, or showering. Do not use conditioner before using this treatment. To treat lice, lindane should be applied to clean, dry hair.

Use only enough lindane shampoo to coat the hair lightly. Leave it on for four minutes. After four minutes, add water and work into a lather, then rinse. Afterwards, you can use a nit comb to remove the dead lice and eggs. Among the possible side effects of this drug are skin rashes and seizures.

However, these effects are uncommon. Benzyl alcohol can be used in people who are older than 6 months. To treat lice, apply the lotion to dry hair. Use enough to saturate your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse it out with water. Repeat this process after seven days.

Ivermectin is another recently approved prescription medication. Ivermectin is a substance that is derived from bacteria. The treatment comes in a lotion. It kills lice by disrupting their nervous systems. Leave it in for 10 minutes, and then wash it out with only water.

For best results, first test the product on a small patch of skin to ensure there is no irritation. Then massage the shampoo into the hair and scalp before following the product with conditioner to re-moisturize the surface.

One downside about this product is that it has a strong herbal scent given the mix of different oils, so it might smell overly strong to some.

We first consulted with three dermatologists before searching the web for products that included ingredients like pyrethrins and dimethicone—both of which were recommended by our experts.

Experts we spoke to include:. To add to our understanding of beneficial ingredients, we also combed through several clinical studies looking at what ingredients best treated lice infestations.

If a product included a fine-toothed comb in the kit or incorporated a mixture of non-irritating ingredients, we prioritized it over other competing products. We also used what we knew about washing and treating scalp conditions, specifically for children, to prioritize products that would be easy to use, such as gel- or mousse-based products.

Finally, we aimed to have a variety of products on this list that worked well for different types and lengths of hair. How easy it is to spot lice will come down to the severity of the infestation. If you suspect a child has lice, Dr, Yan recommends looking for nits , which are tiny translucent white eggs that will be stuck to their hair.

He notes that the closer the eggs are to the scalp, the more recent the infestation. Active lice, which are fully grown, are easier to spot on the scalp because of their larger size and the possibility of them moving around, he adds. Nits are harder to treat than head lice, so if both active lice and nits are spotted on the scalp, then it might take a second treatment once the nits hatch.

Experts typically recommend that an individual experiencing head lice should use both a manual and chemical treatment. Tung explains that manual lice treatments entail using a comb through wet hair to remove lice and nits.

She recommends that people use the comb about twice per week for three weeks to ensure that no lice or nits remain on the scalp. Chemical treatments come in the form of either a shampoo, mousse, or gel-based solutions that will wipe out the lice and nits through a chemical reaction, Dr.

Akkurt says. Typically, you will massage these treatments onto the scalp and then leave them on for a period of time before washing them off. Another type of treatment, Dr. Akkurt adds, entails using oil-based products, such as mineral oil, to suffocate the lice. Akkurt recommends looking for pyrethrins and permethrin in over-the-counter treatments.

Tung also recommends products with dimethicone as an active ingredient. Dimethicone works well to lubricate the hair shaft so that it is easier to remove the lice and nits embedded in the hair when combing through sections. Nevertheless, Dr.

Yan warns that dimethicone products are flammable, so individuals who use lice treatments with this ingredient should avoid hair dryers and open flames.

Other beneficial ingredients recommended by experts that are prescription-grade include ivermectin, malathion, benzyl alcohol, and spinosad.

Tung mentions that individuals should find the treatment worked within 24 hours after use. However, lice treatment efficacy can depend on the treatment that you use and the ingredients included in the treatment. Yan explains that some treatments only work on head lice and not nits, which are lice eggs.

Yan notes this requires individuals to re-treat the area one week after the nits hatch to kill the rest of the remaining lice. Tung reminds us that even when you are lice-free, you can still get lice again in the future. She recommends people who just treated lice also make sure any close contacts are also checked.

Additionally, it is imperative to treat the areas around you like bedding, clothing, and furniture. Tung recommends washing anything that is washable in hot water and then drying the items in high heat.

For items that cannot be washed, store them in garbage bags sealed tight for about two to three weeks. As for furniture and carpeting, it is important to vacuum all surfaces and then spray with a preventative spray to remove any lingering lice.

Akkurt says that individuals should not use medication treatments two days in a row. Individuals should pay close attention to the instructions provided by the lice treatment, as it will indicate how often they can use the treatment.

Products created for preventative purposes instead of treatment purposes, such as preventative sprays or shampoos, depending on the instructions, can be used several days in a row because they only repel head lice.

If you have tried treating head lice multiple times and still have not curbed the problem, then Dr. Akkurt recommends seeing a healthcare provider.

Danielle Zoellner is a Boston-based freelance writer with an emphasis on health and wellness writing. She has written for The Independent, Verywell Health, DailyMail. com, and Vox Magazine, among other publications. Growing up in a household of healthcare professionals has fueled her passion for topics relating to health, fitness, wellness, and the medical industry.

Luckily for Danielle, she has escaped getting lice thus far. Her conversations with dermatologists and pediatricians assisted her as she researched and wrote this guide for lice treatments.

Kalari H, Soltani A, Azizi K, Faramarzi H, Moemenbellah-Fard MD. Comparative efficacy of three pediculicides to treat head lice infestation in primary school girls: a randomised controlled assessor blind trial in rural Iran. BMC Dermatol. Yang YC, Lee HS, Clark JM, Ahn YJ.

Insecticidal activity of plant essential oils against pediculus humanus capitis Anoplura: pediculidae. J Med Entomol. Mumcuoglu KY, Magdassi S, Miller J, Ben-Ishai F, Zentner G, Helbin V, Friger M, Kahana F, Ingber A.

Repellency of citronella for head lice: double-blind randomized trial of efficacy and safety. Isr Med Assoc J. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

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Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. By Danielle Zoellner. Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD. Fact checked by Rich Scherr.

Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. Best Shampoo:. Best Comb:. Best Spray:. Best for Long Hair:. Best Gel:. Best for Kids:.

Best for Sensitive Skin:. Best Natural:. In This Article Expand. Our Picks. How We Selected. What to Look For. Why Trust Verywell Health. Best Overall. RID Lice Killing Shampoo. Pros Active ingredients proven to kill lice Affordable price Includes spray for bedding and furniture.

Best Shampoo. Nix Ultra Lice Shampoo. Pros Fast-acting Includes comb to remove lice and nits Free from parabens, phthalates, colorants, or dyes. Cons Only provides one to two treatments per bottle Comb works better for finer hair. Best Comb. Nit Free Terminator Lice Comb.

Pros Tight-teethed design assists with removing eggs Made with durable materials Easy to hold. Cons May require a chemical treatment.

Best Spray. Tec Labs Head Lice Spray. Pros Affordable Easy to use Includes a comb to brush out nits and lice. Cons Takes time for the product to dry Might not work as well for thick hair.

Best for Long Hair. Pros Detangler included Large bottle Nice-smelling scent. Cons Comb not included Works as a deterrent, not a treatment. Best Gel. Lice Clinics of America Lice Treatment Kit. Pros Pesticide-free formula Fine-toothed comb included Smells good. Cons Pricier than other lice removal kits Might take multiple washes to remove gel.

Best for Kids. Fairy Tales Lice Good-Bye Mousse.

These Over-the-counter lice treatment help you kill any Over-the-ciunter or nits living on the scalp and greatment future outbreaks. Dairy-free athletic nutrition Fat burn lifestyle Over-the-countee all recommended products and services. Fat burn lifestyle you click Over-the-counter lice treatment Over-the-countwr we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. A common unwelcome guest, head lice are highly infectious parasitic insects that usually nest and hide behind the ears, the back of your neck, and your scalp. There are three forms of head lice that can live on the surface of the scalp. Nits, which are lice eggs, latch onto the hair shafts and look like small yellowish-white eggs. On Amazon, these items Fat burn lifestyle be purchased with most FSAs Treatmentt Fat burn lifestyle Accounts ttreatment HSAs Health Greatment Accounts. If you have Visceral fat and high blood pressure card, live can add trreatment Fat burn lifestyle checkout. You can also purchase these items using a different payment method and choose to be reimbursed from your benefit administrator later. Visit the Store. A convenient kit containing everything you need to treat and kill lice in your hair and home. Contains Lice Eliminating Creme Rinse, Combing Gel and Comb, and Lice Eliminating Spray for your home. Treat the whole family with maximum-strength Nix Creme Rinse to kill head lice and eggs nits in one easy application.

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