Best Head Lice Treatment For Long Thick Hair
The FDA has approved permethrin lotion 1% for the treatment of head lice. When used as instructed, permethrin is both safe and efficient. Live lice are killed by permethrin, but unhatched eggs are not. After treatment, permethrin may continue to kill freshly emerged lice for a few days.
Long, thick hair makes finding the best head lice treatment for long thick hair challenging. Using a comb to get through your hair may be difficult and may not catch all lice. In these cases, dividing your hair into sections will allow you to catch all the lice. Benzyl alcohol, Dimethicone, Spinosad, and other topical solutions are available. Weigh your options and choose the best one for your hair type.
Shrinkwrap method
The Shrinkwrap method for head lice treatment is a new way to treat the problem without using plastic wrap. Instead of covering the hair with plastic wrap, you apply a non-toxic product to the scalp. Then you use a blow dryer to shrink the lotion over your scalp, leaving it on for eight hours. When you remove the lotion, you can wash and style your hair as usual. There is a ninety percent cure rate with this method.
When choosing a lice treatment method, consider your hair type. For example, hair with thick tresses is more challenging to treat than thin and curly hair. Because thick hair is more difficult to comb through, you will need to treat it at specific times. For example, when nits are first hatching, you should comb it on days one, two, six, and nine. Once you remove the lice, use a hair spray or a serum to prevent them from hatching.
The Shrinkwrap method for head lice treatment is also an effective way to prevent future infestations of head lice. The treatment is effective for long-haired people with thin or medium-thick hair. To prevent this method from recurring, ensure you wash your hair at least once weekly. You don’t want to spread the infection to other house areas. Also, ensure you don’t share your hats or hair accessories with others.
Luckily, there are several natural treatments for head lice. Most are simple and effective and do not use neurotoxins or toxic chemicals. However, the effectiveness of over-the-counter products is low, and lice have evolved to resist many chemicals in them. Applying a natural solution to the head is best because it physically suffocates live bugs. Unfortunately, most natural remedies don’t have the properties to kill all live lice.
Benzyl alcohol
While benzyl alcohol is an effective head lice treatment, it comes with its problems. For one, it has many undesirable side effects, such as itching and burns. Another side effect is that it can be harsh on hair. Therefore, if you are prone to lice outbreaks, you should avoid using benzyl alcohol as a head lice treatment. Fortunately, many other options will work effectively without these adverse side effects.
The most effective head lice treatment for long thick hair should address eggs left in the hair. For this reason, lice-infested people must comb out eggs from their hair before using Benzyl alcohol. Also, after using this treatment, they must repeat it regularly on set days to ensure that the lice are not returning. You must also comb out the eggs of live baby bugs after they hatch.
Another head lice treatment for long and thick hair is Benzyl alcohol. This treatment is available only on prescription and has various side effects, including rashes and a burning sensation. Although it is safe to use on children, it may cause dry, damaged, and brittle hair. And because it kills adult lice, it will not kill the eggs or nits, so you will still need to use another treatment to get rid of the rest.
Benzyl alcohol as a head louse treatment for long thick hair can be effective for adults and nymphs. Adult head lice can survive in water for several hours. In addition, chlorine does not kill lice, so it is unlikely to spread in a swimming pool. However, this does not mean that you can’t get an infestation.
Dimethicone
The efficacy of Dimethicone as a head-lice-treatment product depends mainly on how it kills the pests. The chemical is flammable but only when it comes in contact with an external ignition source. The product used in the study is 4% dimethicone lotion. The researchers noted that the treatment leaves the scalp feeling dry and desiccated.
The study results also showed that the test product had a higher cure rate than the reference product, with a wash-out time of 11.0 min compared to 17.5 minutes. The test product was much quicker to wash out, but the participants reported it was time-consuming. However, the results showed that the product could kill the lice. In the meantime, the dimethicone reference product was able to kill the lice in just one use.
While most people choose dimethicone-based products for long-haired people, the latter can be effective without a prescription. For example, dimethicone-based products like LiceMD and Rapunzel’s Lice Neutralizer can be used on non-combable hair, killing the pests by suffocating. These products are available online and at some pharmacies.
Dimethicone shampoo is also effective against head lice but is not an insecticide. Lice are tiny insects that live on hair and feed by sucking blood from the scalp. They are pale gray before feeding and reddish brown after feeding. No wonder they’re a common problem, not caused by bad hygiene. This product is available for long thick hair, and it’s safe for children.
Spinosad
A Spinosad head lice treatment for medium and long hair is safe for use in children and adults. It is a pediculicide, meaning it kills the mites that cause head lice and scabies. This product is available in a topical suspension. To apply it, ensure it covers the entire hair and scalp area. Then, rinse it off with warm water. Next, rinse the product out with a damp cloth. Repeat treatment if lice remain after the first application.
Spinosad has been tested in two randomized, active-controlled studies of children with head lice and adults. The results show a high success rate in treating the lice entirely eliminated by 28 days of treatment. The medication must have caused a complete cure in microscopic and dermatoscopic examinations for full effectiveness. The product costs $100 or more per bottle and should only be used by children with close supervision.
To treat hair:
- Apply Spinosad Suspension to the entire scalp and hair.
- Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
- Follow up with another treatment if the lice are still present seven days after the first application. It would help to keep your eyes closed when applying the Spinosad Topical Suspension.
If you still detect live lice, a second application will be necessary seven days after the first treatment.
Although the Spinosad Topical Suspension does not appear to cause adverse effects on infants, it is not recommended for children or pregnant women. Although Benzyl alcohol is safe for children, pregnant or lactating women should consult a health professional before using it. This product can be used to treat long hair. It is recommended for long, thick hair. And because it has low toxicity, it is a safe choice for adults.
Ivermectin
Ivermectin, a prescription-only head lice treatment, is a safe and effective way to kill head lice. It kills the lice on contact and their eggs. You can use this treatment on kids as young as six months old, and three-quarters of patients reported lice-free hair after a single treatment. However, it can cause a small number of side effects, including skin and eye irritation. For this reason, you should wash your comb and brushes with hot water. In addition, you should dry pillowcases and hats in a dryer for 15 minutes. You should also place non-washable items in an airtight plastic bag for several days to avoid lice infestation.
Although ivermectin has some side effects, they are milder than those associated with other head lice treatments. You will need to repeat the treatment after nine to ten days. In addition, ivermectin is toxic for some dogs and cats, so you will need to keep it away from pets. To remove the treatment, use a fine-toothed comb to thoroughly de-nit hair. You can also purchase a nit comb specifically designed for this purpose. Make sure you apply the treatment only on the scalp, not any other body hair, such as your face or body.
Although the presence of head lice is difficult to detect, the most common symptom is itching on the scalp. The most common sign of an infestation is an itching sensation caused by a reaction to the louse’s saliva. Some people are susceptible to the bites of head lice, while others develop a tolerance. If you do not experience itching, the lice infestation is probably due to a different type of infection.