There are numerous products available to us today both over-the-counter and by prescription that claim to kill head lice and /or to kill the nits. The truth is, none of them are 100% effective. This results in parents using too much of the chemical treatments or using the chemical treatments too often. That is why the method of removing lice manually by the use of a nit comb is the safest and most effective method available.
All treatments can pose some health risks to children, especially those children with pre-existing health conditions. Environmental sprays claiming to kill head lice and their eggs should also never be used in the homes. Vacuuming is your safest alternative method.
Whichever treatment you choose or decide not to choose, you still have to get all the nits out. If you do not get all of the nits out, you will begin the lice cycle all over again. Combing is the most logical place to start.
If you decide that a prescription treatment is an option for you or your child, there are few newer options which are available today. These newer options, are a bit less toxic, and we get asked quite a bit of questions about them and their differences.
One of the newer prescription treatments available today is a product called Ulesfia.
Ulesfia is a benzyl alcohol lotion, topical treatment for head lice. It is to be used on patients 6 months and older. It does not have ovicidal activity which means that it does not kill the eggs. It works by suffocating the lice. The active ingredient stuns the breathing holes of the lice and the other ingredients clog the holes of the lice which kill them.
Natroba is the first FDA approved prescription head lice treatment for patients 4 years and up claiming to not require nit combing in clinical trials. It is a topical suspension lotion that is a pediculide. It contains some benzyl alcohol and spinosad- which is derived from a naturally occurring bacterium saccharopolysprora spinosa.
Sklice is a topical treatment of ivermectin lotion that can be used in patients 6 months and older. Ivermectin is an anti parasitic dervived from a soil bacterium. While Sklice and Natroba are prescriptions that are supposed to require “no nit combing”, a nit comb may be used to remove dead lice and nits since no treatment is 100% effective.
As always, we are here to help you get rid of lice with out the stress and answer all of your questions and help you have a de-liceful day 🙂
All the best,
Lauren Salzberg
Potomac Lice Lady
