Is Lice Shampoo Safe for Kids?

Is Lice Shampoo Safe for Kids?

After discovering that their child has lice, many parents immediately become concerned about the safety of lice treatment products. This concern turns to distress at such times as the announcement by the Food and Drug Administration that Lindane, an ingredient once commonly found in lice treatment products, has been linked to nerve damage.

While it can feel overwhelming for parents, they are determined to find the most effective lice treatment for their child that will not expose them to any adverse side effects. At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our goal is to uncover what health risks these popular treatments pose, and to offer a safer alternative.

How Lindane Works

Long thought of as the most effective lice treatment available, Lindane is in a class of medications called scabicides and pediculicides that are used to treat lice.  Lindane works by damaging the nervous system of the louse. Once the nervous system shuts down, the insect becomes permanently paralyzed and dies as a result of not being able to feed.

Treatment Risks

The problem is, Lindane makes no distinction between the nervous system of a louse and the nervous system of a child. According to medlineplus.gov, once the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream, a child may experience headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, uncontrolled bodily shaking, or seizures. The FDA recommends that Lindane be used only with extreme caution in anyone weighing less than 110 pounds, which would include most school-aged children.

Still Available by Prescription

After the FDA warnings, Lindane is still available, although only now by prescription. It is considered to be a last line of defense by doctors, who prescribe it to treat persistent cases.

Lice Shampoos Today

As Lindane became available only by prescription, other treatments took its place in stores. The most commonly found ingredients in lice shampoos today are Pyrethrum and Permethrin. Pyrethrum is a botanical insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum plant. Permethrin is a man-made or artificial version of Pyrethrum. While they are purported to be safer than Lindane, they still present a risk as they still function by attacking the nervous system of the louse.

Fresh Heads Lice Removal, A Safer Solution

Not only are there identified dangers of using OTC Lice Shampoo, they simply are ineffective at treating lice and killing nits since the advent of Super Lice. At Fresh Heads, we have a safe and effective approach to lice treatment. We stop lice in their tracks using AirAllé®, a completely safe FDA cleared medical device, so that we can help your child return to life as normal as quickly as possible.

AirAllé® kills lice and lice eggs through dehydration, and a single one-hour treatment kills head lice and 99.2% of lice eggs. Because the AirAllé® device is so effective at killing lice eggs, which are difficult for traditional lice products to kill, the chances of your child needing a follow-up treatment is very small. Most importantly, it is entirely safe for your child.

At Fresh Heads, we pride ourselves on being a lice service that your family can rely on to help you safely diagnose, treat, or prevent a full-blown lice infestation. We are committed to safely and quickly removing head lice.

We can identify eggs or lice at any stage of infestation. We help you select the most effective lice treatment option for your child so that we can help get your child the relief they need at an affordable price. To learn more about our list of services and featured products, contact us today!

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