26 years
What shampoo (any brand name?) can I use to treat pubic lice and can I find them in supermarkets or only pharmacies?
Oct 2, 2014
To treat pubic ("crab") lice, we usually resort first to lice-killing lotions (based on 1% permethrin) or mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. These products are available over-the-counter in pharmacies and do not require a medical prescription. These medications have proven to be safe and effective when used exactly according to the instructions in the insert or on the label.
Lindane shampoo is another optionto treat pubic lice; this is a prescription medication that can destroy both lice and lice eggs. However, lindane has an unattractive safety profile and thus is not recommended as a first-line therapy. Lindane can be toxic to the brain and other parts of the nervous system; its use should be restricted to patients who have failed to respond to treatment with or cannot tolerate other medications that are less risky. Lindane should not be used to treat individuals with a seizure disorder, people with sensitive or very irritated skin or sores where the lindane will be applied, and persons whose weight is below 50 Kg.
The proper steps to treat pubic lice, as recommended by the center for disease control and prevention (CDC), are:
1. Wash the infested area; towel dry.
2. Carefully follow the instructions in the package or on the label. Thoroughly saturate the pubic hair and other infested areas with lice medication. Leave medication on hair for the time recommended in the instructions. After waiting the recommended time, remove the medication by following carefully the instructions on the label or in the box.
3. Following treatment, most nits will still be attached to hair shafts. Nits may be removed with fingernails or by using a fine-toothed comb.
4. Put on clean underwear and clothing after treatment.
5. To kill any lice or nits remaining on clothing, towels, or bedding, machine-wash and machine-dry those items that the infested person used during the 2–3 days before treatment. Use hot water (around 55 degrees Celcius) and the machine dryer.
6. Items that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned or stored in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.
7. All sex partners from within the previous month should be informed that they are at risk for infestation and should be treated.
8. Persons should avoid sexual contact with their sex partner(s) until both they and their partners have been successfully treated and reevaluated to rule out persistent infestation.
9. Repeat treatment in 9–10 days if live lice are still found.
10. Persons with pubic lice should be evaluated for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Lindane shampoo is another optionto treat pubic lice; this is a prescription medication that can destroy both lice and lice eggs. However, lindane has an unattractive safety profile and thus is not recommended as a first-line therapy. Lindane can be toxic to the brain and other parts of the nervous system; its use should be restricted to patients who have failed to respond to treatment with or cannot tolerate other medications that are less risky. Lindane should not be used to treat individuals with a seizure disorder, people with sensitive or very irritated skin or sores where the lindane will be applied, and persons whose weight is below 50 Kg.
The proper steps to treat pubic lice, as recommended by the center for disease control and prevention (CDC), are:
1. Wash the infested area; towel dry.
2. Carefully follow the instructions in the package or on the label. Thoroughly saturate the pubic hair and other infested areas with lice medication. Leave medication on hair for the time recommended in the instructions. After waiting the recommended time, remove the medication by following carefully the instructions on the label or in the box.
3. Following treatment, most nits will still be attached to hair shafts. Nits may be removed with fingernails or by using a fine-toothed comb.
4. Put on clean underwear and clothing after treatment.
5. To kill any lice or nits remaining on clothing, towels, or bedding, machine-wash and machine-dry those items that the infested person used during the 2–3 days before treatment. Use hot water (around 55 degrees Celcius) and the machine dryer.
6. Items that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned or stored in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.
7. All sex partners from within the previous month should be informed that they are at risk for infestation and should be treated.
8. Persons should avoid sexual contact with their sex partner(s) until both they and their partners have been successfully treated and reevaluated to rule out persistent infestation.
9. Repeat treatment in 9–10 days if live lice are still found.
10. Persons with pubic lice should be evaluated for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
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