Natural Lice Removal Products vs. Chemicals – Who Wins The Battle?

Combing out head lice using a special nit comb is the best and safest way to remove head lice. However, it isn’t the only way. Professional lice removal technicians recommend using pesticide free lice removal products, which are effective not only for removing head lice easily but preventing further infestations.

Yet on the first sign of head lice, parents rush off to their local pharmacy and grab bottles of OTC lice removal shampoos and lotions. They think quick and effective lice removal is possible only with these chemical laden products, which actually do more harm than good.

You might think using such products is safe for children, after all our parents followed the same lice removal treatment. Yet in a battle between pesticide free lice removal products and OTC shampoos, chemicals and insecticides for lice removal aren’t in the top.

Dangers of Using OTC Lice Removal Shampoos and Treatments

Do you know what is in the bottle that you just lathered over your only child’s head? Many parents don’t realize how many toxic and harmful chemicals are present in one bottle of Nix, the most popular lice removal product. It’s the same story for other OTC lice removal treatment options such as Rid, A-200 and Pronto or even Ovide and Kwell which are prescription based products.

Pyrethrin, Permethrin and Increased Cases of Mutant Lice

While these OTC lice removal treatments are ‘deemed relatively safe’ by regulatory bodies, we cannot forget a couple of facts regarding chemicals present in these products. Pyrethrin and permethrin are two primary substances used in retail sold head lice products.

Pyrethrin: Natural extract derived from a type of Chrysanthemum flower

Permethrin: A lab made (synthetic) version of the chemical Pyrethrin.

There is reason to believe (as well as a lot of supporting evidence) that head lice are increasingly becoming resistant to OTC lice removal products containing the above two chemicals. In fact, 99% of head lice in the U.S. cannot be killed by these products, according to a 2014 Journal of Medical Entomology study. In addition, overusing these products can also place children at risk of developing serious to moderate health issues and conditions.

Some less common health issues are:

• Infection or skin rash
• Sudden attacks of sneezing
• Skin irritation (not present before product use)
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Wheezing or difficulty in breathing

6-12 million children in the United States get hair lice, every year. Some parents take the so-called easy way of using OTC lice removal shampoos and products, knowing they’d have to remove nits by their hand anyway. Others look for more natural solutions, like using the nit comb which does a very good job at removing head lice, nymphs and nits!

Best of all, there are professional lice removal companies that conduct this job, in one sitting! So, talk to a Lice Buster’s technician in Miami today and get a 10% discount on your first lice removal appointment.