The EPA is responsible for testing and making sure most pesticide head lice treatments destined for use on US children are safe.  However, Pediculicides (lice killing pesticides) are regulated by the FDA which causes confusion:  “If the FDA approved it, it must be safe?”  This leads many parents to believe (including those who prescribe and sell these medications) that these toxic pesticide products (like roach spray and weed killers) are harmless.

"Preparations like Rid and Kwell ... are definitely toxic to people," says Dr. Andrew Weil, MD. These products contain pediculicides, which are potent pesticides and insecticides designed to poison lice.  These products can be absorbed directly into your child’s system through the scalp. 

Discussed are some commonly used lice treatments, RID, Kwell and Nix:

Lindane: Used in Kwell prescription-only lice shampoo, lindane is a neurotoxin that is absorbed through the skin.   Ann Heil, a senior engineer with the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, "Lindane belongs to the same family of chemicals as DDT and PCBs, which have been banned in the United States."  This chemical, which is absorbed through the skin, has been in use since the 1950s.  It is created by mixing chlorine gas with benzene and filtering out the particulate solids that result. Chlorine gas is a poison and benzene is a well-known carcinogen. Lindane has been consistently listed in the top chemicals of concern by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. According to the Centennial Edition of the Merck Index, poisoning with lindane may occur by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption—all of which are possible with treatment with head lice shampoos. Possible symptoms of lindane poisoning include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, weakness, convulsions, difficulty breathing, low blood oxygen levels, and circulatory collapse. Case-controlled research shows a significant association between the incidences of brain tumors in children with the use of lindane-containing lice shampoos  Lindane, has been banned in more than 50 countries and in California, but is still available in the United States.

Malathion: This toxic pesticide belongs to the class known as organophosphates.  It is used in the prescription-only lice remedy “Ovide”. Malathion is a chemical that was developed by the Swiss chemical giant Ciba-Geigy back in the 1950s as an agricultural crop insecticide and for pest control in homes and gardens. Very quickly thereafter, problems began occurring. It turns out that children are especially susceptible to the effects of Malathion. Studies have shown links between regular exposure to Malathion and various human maladies, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, childhood leukemia, anemia, chromosome damage, and weakened immune systems. It has also been known to cause flu like symptoms and allergic reactions in children and adults alike. Malathion exposure can occur through inhalation or absorption through the skin. According to the EPA, this chemical can over stimulate the nervous system and cause nausea, dizziness, confusion, and, at very high exposures (such as those from major spills or accidents), respiratory paralysis and death.

Pyrethrums and Pyrethoids: Pyrethrum is derived from the chrysanthemum flower, yet pyrethrins, used in Nix and Rid lice shampoos, are pesticides that have been deemed dangerous enough to be banned from agricultural use in food production. They may cause pneumonia, muscle paralysis, vomiting, asthma, and death due to respiratory failure. Pyrethroids, the synthetic chemical counterparts used in RID lice treatments may have similar effects.  Another common side effect is severe allergic reaction.

The Shepherd Method™ is a safe, non-toxic, strand-by-strand method of nit removal developed by Katie Shepherd. Shepherd founded Lice Solutions RN, Inc. as a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 tax exempt organization whose mission is to provide community awareness, individual and group screenings and complete nit removal.

There is no shortcut. Tedious, time consuming nitpicking and checking everyone who has been in contact with an infestation is the first step toward eliminating head lice. A good comb (when used properly) can eliminate up to 85 percent of the problem. Even when you think you have done the job right, don't let your guard down. The life cycle of lice is three weeks, so keep checking during that time period.

Start treating your child as swiftly as possible. The sooner treatment begins, the less the chance of it escalating or spreading to others. Check family members to make sure the lice haven’t yet spread. Contact the appropriate person at the school and their teacher, your child’s friends’ parents and others he or she has been in close contact with. Don’t be embarrassed!  Move quickly in an effort to stop the cycle.

If one family member has a cold, do you give medicine to everyone? No, you cannot treat in advance.  Be aware, check, comb, and only if necessary, treat.

Get a good lice comb. Look for safe, nontoxic products. Products will not eradicate head lice. They are a means of complimenting the tedious task of nit removal.

Mayonnaise, Vaseline, olive oil and other remedies are messy alternatives for treating head lice. The goal of these treatments is to drown the lice. Because lice can survive for hours without breathing, these treatments are not very effective.  Because mayonnaise needs refrigeration, it is likely it will spoil and could become toxic.  One of the above treatments may kill some of the live lice, but none of the products remove the NITS, which eventually become live louses and the cycle continues.

Many products available today have been on the market for about thirty years. Because of the span of time they’ve been used and overused, lice have built up a resistance to them.