Lice infestation What to do?

How to manage a lice infestation: 3 questions for Marie Mori, Doctor of Pharmacy

Despite medical progress and the many solutions available, lice, these small parasites that sometimes invade the daily lives of children and their families, remain a real headache. These blood-sucking creatures, capable of surviving in specific conditions, cling firmly to their hosts, causing significant itching and notable discomfort. Faced with their impressive capacity for proliferation, it is essential to understand how they work, how they are transmitted and how to get rid of them. In this article, Marie Mori, Doctor of Pharmacy, guides you step by step to better understand these undesirables, learn how to avoid them and discover the latest innovations in treatment.

What is pediculosis?

The head louse, scientifically named Pediculus humanis capitis, is responsible for a human infection called pediculosis of the scalp.

These little creatures, both male and female, feed exclusively on blood. Our scalp provides them with the ideal environment: a temperature of 28 to 33 °C, a humidity level of 70 to 80% and an abundant network of blood vessels! When a louse feeds, it injects anticoagulant molecules into its saliva that facilitate the extraction of blood. It is this saliva that triggers a defense mechanism in humans, causing itching and lesions due to scratching.

A louse can live up to 40 days on our head. Very resistant, it breathes through orifices that it can close at will, which allows it to survive by holding its breath underwater! Its life cycle has several stages:

The female lays her eggs, called nits, at night at the base of the hair.
The nits are firmly attached to the hair by a white sheath, the cement, which protects them perfectly from the outside world by means of a small waterproof cap.
Then come 3 larval stages before reaching adulthood. At each stage, the louse feeds abundantly on human blood: 3 meals per day of 30 minutes each, consuming about 2.5 mg of blood per day.

In short, it is a voracious little creature that is quietly developing... in the heads of our children!

What to do in case of infestation?

In the event of an infestation, you must act quickly, very quickly, because lice develop quickly. A female can lay up to 10 nits per day and more than a hundred in her lifetime. To eradicate them in less than 24 hours, it is imperative to treat not only the infested child, but also the brothers and sisters (and possibly the parents) as a preventative measure. Also remember to wash at a high temperature (60 °C) anything that may have come into contact with the child's hair: hair bands, scarves, hats, coats, etc.

Discover our Anti-lice Sulfur Shampoo >>

Which anti-lice treatments should you choose?

In France, two main categories of anti-lice treatments are available: asphyxiating products and crystallizing products.

Asphyxiants

This category includes silicones, natural vegetable oils (such as coconut oil), and some essential oils. Their mechanism is simple: they suffocate the louse by blocking its breathing holes. They can also have a dehydrating effect on the cuticle, making the louse more vulnerable.

However, regardless of the product used, the application time is often restrictive and rinsing the hair sometimes becomes chaotic, leaving greasy residue... much to the despair of parents! In addition, it is necessary to remove the remaining nits using a comb. Finally, the real effectiveness of these physical ingredients is sometimes difficult to prove on children's heads.

Be careful with essential oils, which can be sensitizing and cause skin or scalp irritation. They are not suitable for all children, especially in cases of contraindications (epilepsy) or precautions for use (asthma).

Crystallizing products

These new generation treatments offer an effective alternative to conventional solutions thanks to their natural mechanical action. They act by crystallizing the shell of lice and nits, destroying them quickly. They also act on nits, thus limiting the need to use a comb to remove remaining eggs.

A major advance in this category is the Crystalisine, a plant resin from the tree Protium heptaphyllum. Naturally secreted by the tree when it is injured, this resin has the unique property of hardening on contact with humidity. By forming a rigid film on the parasites, it cracks their protective shell, leading to their elimination.

Already used in cosmetics as a tightening and film-forming agent, this resin has been integrated into a new lotion combining plant extracts. Thanks to extensive research, this innovative formula effectively destroys lice and inhibits egg hatching.

These products are also appreciated for their practicality: they rinse easily, without leaving any greasy residue, respect the scalp and offer a quick and comfortable solution for parents faced with lice infestations.

A difficult battle, but not impossible!

Getting rid of lice in our children's hair is a difficult task. Rigor and patience are the key words! It is also essential to remain vigilant and regularly check the scalp and clothes of our little ones. But do not despair: thanks to this new lotion based on Crystalisine, you may well have found the infallible weapon to say goodbye to these blood-sucking parasites. Ready to give it a try?