Shampoo for Getting Rid of Lice

Lice are insects that live on your body and feed on your blood. Head lice in particular can spread easily from person-to-person. You can buy over-the-counter shampoo or prescription drugs to get rid of lice.

Symptoms

Lice may be found in several locations on your body. Head lice live on your scalp but may be found behind your ears as well. Body lice feed on your blood but may live on your clothes, in seams or folds. Pubic lice infect areas where you have pubic hair. A major symptom for any type of lice infection is itching. You may also see little red bumps, or white or whitish gray specks that are the eggs of lice.

Basics

Shampoos to fight lice essentially are insecticides. Over-the-counter products that get rid of lice typically contain either pyrethrin or permethrin. Some products combine pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide. All shampoos for lice are designed to kill both the lice and the eggs, or nits. Nits are white and look like dandruff.

Treatments

Popular over-the-counter treatments include Nix, RID and LiceMD. Rid contains both pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. The key ingredient in LiceMD is dimethicone, which isn't a pesticide. Nix contains permethrin. It is important to follow the directions regardless of the product you choose.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Head Lice
• Medline Plus: Pyrethrin and Piperonyl Butoxide
• Mayo Clinic: Treatments and drugs
• LiceMD: How LiceMD Works

Resources

• Kids Health: Head Lice