Nix Head Lice Treatment
Nix head lice treatment is one topical medication approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for the effective removal of lice. If Nix is used according to the medication's instructions, this treatment poses little danger to adults and children. However, when using Nix, certain precautions must be taken, as indicated by the FDA.
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About Nix
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Nix head lice treatment (Nix shampoo) is approved by the Mayo Clinic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in patients older than 2. The active ingredient in Nix is permethrin, which has the requisite "pesticide" properties needed to kill head lice. Nix, which contains 1 percent permethrin, is approved for application on the scalp and no other area of the body. It should not be applied to the eyebrows, inside the nose or around the genitals, and it should never be ingested.
How to Use Nix
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To get effective results using Nix head lice treatment, hair should be shampooed without using a conditioner and towel-dried until just damp. After shaking the bottle of Nix well, the treatment is applied to the scalp and all of the hair, starting with the area behind the ears and back of the neck, where head lice are typically most dense. The person being treated with Nix should keep a damp washcloth over the eyes at all times. Nix only needs to be left on for 10 minutes, after which it is washed out with warm water.
An extremely important component of the Nix head lice treatment is subsequent combing. A fine-toothed comb is sold along with Nix which is used to remove the dead lice and the nits (louse eggs) that cling to the hair shaft close to the scalp. Hair should be parted into sections for more thorough removal. Comb out small portions of hair no more than one to two inches in width. If the hair dries, dampen it with water. This is a time-consuming process, and long hair can take up to two hours to comb.
After the hair is wet-combed and the head examined for the presence of nits, the comb should be disinfected and stored in a plastic bag until it is used again. Hair should be wet-combed daily until no more nits remain.
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Precautions
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According to the CDC, in most cases a second application of Nix is required nine to 10 days after the first treatment to prevent a re-infestation caused by newly hatched lice.
Nix isn't an appropriate head lice treatment for everyone. Those with ragweed allergies might find that Nix causes an asthmatic reaction, so they need to get a doctor's permission first. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should also seek a doctor's counsel before using Nix. According to the Mayo Clinic, the first-line treatment to address head lice in children younger than 2 is wet combing alone.
When using Nix, the eyes should always be closed and protected with a damp cloth or towel. If any of the product gets into the eyes, they should be rinsed immediately with water. And itchy or red scalp may occur as a side effect of Nix, but if the irritation continues or the skin becomes infected, medical consultation is needed. The product should be discontinued if difficulty breathing or extreme eye irritation is noted.
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