The Dangers of Using Nix for Headlice

Head lice are a pesky and unpleasant affliction common among children. This is largely owed to the three primary factors that contribute to lice:

• Dirty hands that are often in hair or on the head
• Environments that pose close physical proximity among people
• Frequent sharing of items like hats, blankets, pillows and hair brushes

No concrete method exists for preventing head lice. With children in particular, it is simply a condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated. Parents can take comfort, however, in knowing that head lice poses no health danger; lice themselves do not carry infection and the most prominent feature of this affliction is its annoyance.

Commercial Products to Treat Head Lice

One of the most well-known commercial products used to treat head lice is Nix. As a result of its high chemical content, however, new studies have emerged that indicate Nix is more dangerous than the lice themselves. This is essentially because of the most active ingredient in Nix, which is a pesticide known as permethrin. According to Marion Moses, MD, There is absolutely no need to expose children to any pesticide to treat head lice. Nix is extremely dangerous because it is applied directly to the scalp. This area contains many blood vessels that exist close to the skin. Thus, the permethrin found in Nix can be readily absorbed right into the blood stream. To intensify this danger, children have less mature immune systems than adults. They therefore are without the means to detoxify of the harsh effects of permethrin. This pesticide is a synthetic imitation of that made naturally by flowers. Chemicals are added to permethrin to increase its insect killing power. However, scientists caution that any substance intended to kill cannot be fully trusted. Theo Colborn, Ph.D. and author, counsels, Never assume a pesticide is safe. Anything designed to disrupt a living organism plant or animal  may also prove harmful to humans or other animals in unexpected ways.

Hidden Dangers of NIX

One danger of pesticides is that of an allergic reaction. This is particularly true in persons with pre-existing chemical sensitivities, allergies and asthma. Dr. Moses further suggests that pesticides can attack the nervous system and brain. This is in addition to their ability to aggravate the skin, throat, nose and eyes. As a known synthetic pyrethroid (synthesized derivative), Nix is also an endocrine disrupter. When mixed with other substances, these disrupters upset natural life balances and can cause grave harm to the body. What this means for parents is that the combined use of such lice medications as Nix and Lindane can actually encourage cancerous growth. In the United States, documented cases of children's leukemia and commercial head lice treatments exist. Moreover, adults who have undergone these treatments have also reported leukemia diagnoses. Concerns also exist with the potential of permethrin to cause pneumonia, asthma, vomiting, muscle paralysis and death from respiratory failure. Health complications commonly arise soon after the application of Nix. Some adults have reported feeling ill just hours after washing their hair with Nix, while others have complained of breathing and nerve disorders occurring the following day.

Alternatives to Dangerous Chemicals

Using a chemical-laden treatment is not the answer to eliminating lice. Studies reveal that many lice have even developed immunity to traditional chemicals. Thus, natural alternatives that effectively work are more viable options. Several non-medicated therapies include olive oil, mayonnaise and petroleum jelly. Although messy, these treatments may eradicate lice. They work by simply suffocating adult lice and eggs. Children and adults are encouraged to massage one of these elements into the hair, don a shower cap and let it sit overnight. In the morning, hair should be thoroughly washed with a regular shampoo. Another alternative is pesticide-free shampoos. These are natural alternatives to the dangerous treatments commonly recommended by pharmacists and doctors when treating lice.

Sources:

http://www.licebgone.com/dangers.html

http://www.getipm.com/articles/jesse.htm

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T082500.asp

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