In This Article:
- Why Pesticides Are Bad For Treating Lice and Bad For Your Kids
- What is in Over-The-Counter and Prescription Head Lice Treatment Products?
- What Are Pyrethrins?
- What Is Permethrin?
- What Is Lindane?
- Head Lice Prevention
- What Are Super Lice?
- The Lice Choice Difference
Why Pesticides Are Bad For Treating Lice and Bad For Your Kids!
If you're a mom or dad, we're sure you know how sensitive your kids' skin can be. It's likely that you read the labels of all products checking for chemicals, additives, and other ingredients that could potentially be harmful to your children. So it would seem obvious that what you use outside in your garden to kill bugs and insects isn't something you want anywhere near your child's body.
Admittedly, the regular garden pesticides aren’t going to contain the same ingredients as over-the-counter and prescription head lice treatment kits. However, the same pesticides found in these lice products are also used on crops and livestock. These are serious insecticides that have a hearty list of possible dangerous side effects. These hazardous chemicals are not something you want stocked in your family's bathroom! And yet, medical doctors recommend and write prescriptions for these lice treatment products on a regular basis. This is because doctors don’t specialize in lice and they don’t know there is a safe, effective alternative.
When head lice make an appearance in your home, we know it feels like a disaster. It's easy to run to the nearest pharmacy or drug store and snatch up the closest head lice treatment product. The problem is, these products not only contain potentially hazardous ingredients, but they are actually no longer effective, as Super Lice are taking the country by storm. Lice is a problem that affects 6 million to 12 million school kids every year. That means there are millions of moms and dads out there who need a product that effectively and safely eliminates lice and Super Lice!
What Is In Over-The-Counter and Prescription Head Lice Treatment Products?
Over-the-counter and prescription head lice treatment products mostly contain the same ingredients; the only difference is that the prescription products will have a higher percentage of active ingredients - namely, pyrethrins and permethrin. When it comes to prescription products, there's also an ingredient used that is extremely hazardous - lindane. Again, don't forget that these products do not work against Super Lice.
Young children have thinner skin than adults. This means they are highly susceptible to absorbing these harmful chemicals through their skin and scalp. They are also more susceptible to any and all side effects these over-the-counter and prescription lice treatment products may cause. Since traditional drugstore treatments don't kill lice eggs (nits) , this means that multiple applications are required. More applications mean even more chemicals are absorbed into your child's body.
What Are Pyrethrins?
Pyrethrins are an ingredient that naturally occurs in chrysanthemums. However, pyrethrins can cause an allergic reaction if someone has an allergy to these flowers or ragweed. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, as many as 23 million people in the USA alone suffer from ragweed allergies. Given that statistic, it's nerve-wracking to imagine applying pyrethrins to a young child's scalp not knowing if he or she has an allergy to ragweed. Not only would you be dealing with a lice infestation, but you could soon be dealing with an allergic reaction on top of it. In addition, pyrethrins do not have any effect against Super Lice. So, pyrethrins might not even solve your lice problem.
Moreover, the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) says that pyrethrins are a blend of six chemicals that are toxic to insects. Pyrethrins are not just used to kill lice; they are also used to control mosquitoes, fleas, flies, moths, and ants.
The NPIC also states that:
Children who have gotten lice shampoo containing pyrethrins in their eyes have experienced irritation, tearing, burns, scratches to the eye, and blurred vision. When inhaled, irritation of the respiratory passages, runny nose, coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea have been reported. - National Pesticide Information Center (2014)What Is Permethrin?
Permethrin is a synthetic chemical treatment that is used to treat lice. However, it has some scary side effects, which include mild burning, stinging, tingling, and numbness. Moreover, WebMD states that scalp irritation, itching, swelling, or redness may temporarily worsen after treatment with permethrin.
The National Pesticide Information Center expertly covered what the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) thought about permethrin. The IARC decided that permethrin was "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans" back in 1991. Yet, in 2014, the IARC published another report with new finding regarding permethrin, saying:
"Permethrin was previously reviewed by IARC in 1991 (Volume 53), when it was assigned to Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans). An increased risk of multiple myeloma has been reported in the NCI Agricultural Health Study. Increased risks of liver tumours in mice and rats have been observed. At high doses, permethrin can induce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and genotoxicity in bone marrow, and disruption of the immune system. - International Agency for Research on Cancer (2014)That tells us that although in 1991 the IARC could not tell whether permethrin caused cancer or not, it has since found that it can cause cancer and is more dangerous than previously thought.
The chemical structure of Permethrin, a common ingredient in lice treatment products which is very dangerous according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Pesticides are very dangerous for humans in all forms and places, but especially for treating lice! This is because pesticides such as pyrethrin, permethrin, and lindane all come into contact with your skin during treatment.
What Is Lindane?
It's worth noting that besides utilizing a higher percentage of pyrethrins and permethrin, some prescription products also contain Lindane. Lindane has been classified as neurotoxic and carcinogenic. That means that this chemical has been linked to causing cancer and permanent brain damage. One study from the Journal of Pediatric Dermatology which reviewed...
67 cases of adverse reactions and deaths associated with the medical use of lindane. Many of the most serious events and fatalities occurred in pediatric and geriatric populations. We concede that toxicity frequently arises from misuse, but labeled usage of lindane caused 43% of the serious adverse reactions of this review. - The Journal of Pediatric Dermatology (2011)There have even been reports of seizures and deaths. RX-List asserts that Lindane Shampoo should be used with caution in infants, children, the elderly, and those who weigh less than 110 lbs (50 kg), as they may be at risk of serious neurotoxicity.
Lindane is a prescription-grade head lice treatment product; when people can't get rid of lice, they turn to this product.
Despite the danger associated with Lindane, families still seek it out as a way to get rid of lice. We're here to tell you that there is a better way, a safer way — the Lice Choice way.
Let's Talk About Head Lice Prevention
Given the potentially hazardous nature of over-the-counter and prescription insecticides, these head lice treatment products cannot be used preventatively. Doctors do not recommend using any of these products unless necessary, as there are side effects that can occur with repeated use.
However, what are parents to do when they get an email notifying them that lice have been found on other students in the classroom? Some children experience no symptoms, while other children develop symptoms four to six weeks after the infestation of lice occurs. This delay is due to the time it can take to develop a reaction to lice saliva.
With over-the-counter and prescription pesticides, you cannot begin treatment unless there is a clear diagnosis of head lice. You can always go through the time-consuming process of checking every one-inch section of your child's hair and scalp, but even if you are diligently checking your child’s head for signs of lice, you may not see anything until they have had it for a few weeks. This is due to the fact that when you are separating the hair to look, the bugs quickly run away to hide on the other side of the head. And the nits (eggs) are clear when they are first laid and are so small they can be almost impossible to see. You do have another option. You can turn to a trusted preventative head lice treatment product: Lice Choice.
Our products are effective yet also gentle enough for precautionary use. As Lice Choice is chemical-free, organic enzymes, and non-toxic, it offers safe support on a daily basis. To use Lice Choice as a daily lice preventative, please refer to our instructions for maximum effectiveness. Whenever you feel an itch or the urge to prevent lice and Super Lice , Lice Choice is there for you.
Wait, What Are Super Lice?
Super Lice are lice that have genetically mutated to be resistant to the active ingredients found in over-the-counter and prescription head lice treatment products. Since these products have been out for decades, lice have naturally evolved to be resistant to these pesticides. Super Lice appear to be the same as regular lice; they look and act the same. They even cause the exact same symptoms. The only difference - and it's a big one - is that traditional drugstore products are completely ineffective in eradicating these pesky parasites.
In fact, some studies have revealed that between 65%-75% of all lice are Super Lice. Another recent study from the Oxford Journal of Medical Entomology found that 95% of lice are now Super Lice!
Since Super Lice are more likely to make an appearance in your home than regular lice, why buy a product that is less than 50% likely to work? If you turn to a normal over-the-counter or prescription product, you could actually be prolonging suffering rather than alleviating it. It will take between 7-10 days to know if the product has begun the process of eliminating the lice. And if it hasn't, then you have to start from square one again with an alternative product. Why waste time when Lice Choice is 100% effective against both lice and Super Lice? Your first line of defense against both head lice and Super Lice is Lice Choice.
If you want to find out more about Super Lice, read our article about them by clicking here.
The Lice Choice Difference
Lice Choice is non-toxic, pesticide-free, and enzyme based. By enzyme-based, we mean that we have created a formula that uses lice's own bodies and life cycle against them. When Lice Choice is applied to Super Lice, lice, and nymphs, it stimulates the shedding of their exoskeleton, which drastically expedites their life-cycle down to a few minutes. This means that lice and Super Lice are quickly eradicated without the use of harmful chemicals or Super-Lice resistant pesticides.
Since Lice Choice is derived from organic enzymes and free of chemicals, it's safe to use on infants and pregnant women. Lice Choice products won't even damage hair or irritate the skin. Unlike other traditional treatments, Lice Choice is free of hazardous chemicals, which range from neurotoxic to potentially carcinogenic. Lice Choice will not harm you and your family. Safe on children as young as two months old, our products are gentle enough to use on absolutely everyone, no matter their age, skin type, or skin sensitivity.
Better yet, our products have a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. They are made in the USA and were formulated with you in mind. We strive to keep you and your family lice and Super Lice free while not causing, or even potentially causing, any detrimental effects to your health.
Our Lice Choice Head Lice Treatment Spray comes in a 32oz (750ml) bottle, which is large enough for up to ten treatments. This means there is enough formula for your whole family. Since it can be used preventatively, when there is the slightest hint that lice may be making their way into your home, grab your bottle of Lice Choice and rest assured— Lice Choice is the right choice.