Side Effects of Lice Shampoo

Head lice are a common problem among school-going kids and some adults too. A lice shampoo is said to be most effective in removing lice, but it also contains several strong chemicals that can have side effects on your hair and skin.

Lice shampoo can be harmful to hair

What Are Lice?

Lice are tiny parasitic insects that feed and grow on human blood. They thrive in humid conditions and grow and multiply rapidly in human hair, attaching their eggs to each strand of hair and living near the scalp behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. Removal of lice is tedious since even one can cause a rapid infestation in hair.

How to Remove Lice?

There are several brands of lice shampoo available that claim to remove lice and nits completely. But it is very important to be persistent in treating head lice so that they are removed completely and permanently. Lice combs are fine tooth combs that remove nits effectively since they cannot be removed with shampoo. Nits are white eggs that are visible easily in dark colored hair.

Ingredients in Lice Shampoo

Lice shampoos can be thought of as pesticides to remove lice from the hair. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved over-the-counter and prescription medication to help in removing lice. Lice shampoo contains one or more of the following ingredients:

Pyrethins: These are extracts from the chrysanthemum flower and can be combined with piperonyl butoxide. Pyrethins kill live lice and do not have any effect on nits. Since it is a natural ingredient, there are no major side effects, except minor itching to sensitive skin.

Permethrin: This is a synthetic chemical that resembles pyrethins and is FDA-approved. Permethrin is considered safe to use when directions are followed accurately.

Ingredients in Prescription Lice Shampoos

Some lice shampoos that have high synthetic or chemical content have to be prescribed by your doctor. Ingredients in such shampoos include:

Malathion: This chemical kills both live lice and lice eggs. Since it is a prescription medication and is high in chemical content, it is used on kids 6 years and older. Side effects of malathion include stinging of the scalp in areas that are sore from scratching, irritation if product gets in the eye and high flammability. Malathion should not be used near electric appliances.

Toxic Chemicals

Lindane shampoo 1 percent is the most toxic lice shampoo that can be bought only by prescription. It is approved by the FDA but is used only as last resort. It can be very harmful to the brain if swallowed accidentally. Using high amounts of lindane can also negatively affect the nervous system.

It is especially not recommended for young children and elderly people who cannot tolerate highly concentrated medication and treatment.

References

• Treating Head Lice
• Head Lice Treatment

Resources

• Head Lice