For individuals suffering a lice infestation, there are a number of available treatments that have varying amounts of success. Treatment for head lice should never begin without a proper diagnosis and instruction by a doctor or dermatologist, because many of them have potentially serious side effects. A dermatologist will be able to provide the best Austin skin care option for individual treatment from the provided list below.
Medications
The doctor may recommend the use of a medicated shampoo, lotion, or cream rinse for killing the lice. These treatments usually kill the lice and nuts, but may not stop the itching immediately. Insecticides are mainly the medications used, which include lindane, malathion, and invermectin. It is extremely important that all instructions are read thoroughly before using these products. Applying too much for too long can significantly increase risk to the individual. Follow the directions exactly to ensure the best treatment results. If treatment is still unsuccessful, visit an Austin dermatologist at Four Points Dermatology for guidance in choosing the next path of action.
Combing
For this treatment method, a special fine-toothed comb is used to pick out the lice and nits. First, wet the hair and comb through it with an ordinary comb to relieve tangles to avoid pain. Apply hair conditioner throughout the length in order to ease the process of combing. Then, comb through every piece of hair, from the scalp all the way to the hair ends. Examine and rinse the comb often. It can be beneficial to use an old toothbrush to clean out the eggs from the comb and flush them down the sink. Once the hair has been combed through at least twice, rinse the conditioner out. It is suggested to comb the hair for at least an hour, depending upon the length of the hair, daily until lice are not present for two treatments in a row.
Heated Air
Devices that blow heated air onto the infected individual’s scalp have been proven to kill 98 percent of eggs and 80 percent of hatched eggs. The heated air causes the lice to lose body moisture and die. The LouseBuster is an FDA approved device that is effective with a single use. Also, a standard hair dryer can be useful for killing 96.7 percent of lice if used properly. The dryer must be used every one to seven days until the life cycle of the lice is over in four weeks.
In order to receive high quality Austin lice treatment, contact Four Points Dermatology. Their staff of expert dermatologists will ensure the right treatment method to get rid of lice for good.
Image: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/headlice/
