Lice Resistant To Common OTC Treatments
When you hear someone utter the phrase, "Your child has head lice" shivers run down your back, your mind races at a million miles an hour and you just want to go into panic mode. Head lice is hard to tackle and your first instinct might be to run down to the corner pharmacy, pick up generic head lice treatment and get to work. However, that over-the-counter lice treatment could be useless as new research has found that head lice are now resistant to OTC treatments in 25 states!
According to a publication from the American Chemical Society, scientists have reported that these gross bugs have developed a resistance to OTC treatments. Making matters worse, the school year is just around the corner which means new classes, new friends and higher chances of getting head lice! In fact, the CDC estimates that 6 to 12 million infestations happen each year among children aged 3 to 11 years old. So what can you do if your child comes home with head lice and the OTC treatment is no longer an option? Try natural head lice treatment because researchers say that lice can still be eliminated with certain ingredients.
One of the researchers a part of the study, Dr. Kyong Yoon, Ph.D., started testing the pests and the most common insecticide pyrethroids that’s used for combating them. He found a trio of genetic mutations in the lice called kdr, which is an acronym for 'knock-down resistance'. What's interesting is that kdr mutations were first found in house flies during the late '70s when farmers started using pyrethroids instead of DDT and other severe insecticides. The kdr mutation found in lice affects its nervous system and makes it resistant to pyrethroids which is an ingredient found in OTC lice treatments.
However, parents can breathe a sigh of relief because there are other products out there that can help in the event a lice infestation occurs. Some products are prescription-based but these might be too harsh for a child's scalp and hair. There are nontoxic and pesticide-free alternatives that don't require a prescription which rids the scalp of head lice. Parents can try the entire line of Bye-Bye Lice® products that are formulated with natural ingredients that can eradicate lice for good.
Since the school year is quickly approaching (and already starting for some), parents will need to take some precautionary measures each day their child comes home from school. As soon as they walk in the door from a long day at school, inspect their scalp for lice and don't forget to check their eyebrows and eyelashes as these areas can also become infested.
By examining your child for lice, you significantly reduce the risk of a whole household becoming infested! Keep in mind that lice cannot fly or hop, which means they spread by direct contact. They can latch to clothing, backpacks and personal items like combs – so be sure if an infestation occurs that all items they came home with are immediately washed and sanitized.
