How Does Cetaphil Work to Treat Head Lice?
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The study that started it all
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In 2004, a study by Dale Lawrence Pearlman in the "Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics" announced a new, effective way to treat head lice. Instead of using toxic products readily available in drugstores to poison lice, a dry-on, suffocation-based pediculicide, or DSP, was applied to the scalps of children who had head lice. The results were remarkable: 96 percent of cases were cured. This compares to an 85 to 97 percent cure rate in traditional lice poisons.
How a nontoxic lotion can compete with poison
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So how does it work? Cetaphil is a skin cleanser that contains ingredients that essentially suffocate a louse. However, it is not as simple as applying the cleanser and then rinsing it out. Parents must apply Cetaphil thoroughly to their child's head, and then completely blow dry their hair. Dr. Pearlman describes this process as "shrink wrapping" the live louse. Covering the entire pest with this film causes it to suffocate and die, meaning it cannot lay any more eggs. The process of suffocation can take up to eight hours, during which you should not rinse your child's hair. But what about the eggs left behind?
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Why reapplication is necessary
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Head lice reach maturity in about two weeks, after which they can lay eggs and continue the infestation. While applying Cetaphil and blowing it dry kills all of the live lice, it does nothing to harm the nits, which are the lice eggs. Once these hatch, your child will have live lice roaming in his hair again. This is why Dr. Pearlman's method involves two to three additional applications of Cetaphil. The first application takes care of the mature lice. The second application, performed in exactly the same way about a week later, kills the newly hatched lice. A third application after another week, while not always necessary, kills any lice that hatched after the second application of Cetaphil. Because the newly hatched lice do not have enough time to mature between applications, they cannot lay new eggs and the cycle is broken.
Is using Cetaphil enough?
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Don't think that simply applying Cetaphil and washing it out will take care of your child's lice infestation. This process only works when performed as prescribed and only works with the skin cleaner. Cetaphil lotion, while bearing the same brand name, is not effective in killing lice. Rinsing out the cleanser before the lice suffocate may allow them to live and continue to lay eggs. Also, if additional applications are not done as directed, nits can escape unharmed and hatch into lice, which mature and lay more eggs. Additionally, linens, toys and combs should be washed thoroughly to destroy any mature lice that might have migrated from your child's head. Using Cetaphil is an effective, nontoxic way to treat lice in your household, but only when used correctly.
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