A Better Lice Treatment: University Team Tests Show HairClean 1-2-3 Outperforms Nix.Health/Medical Writers LOS ANGELES--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 12, 2000 HairClean 1-2-3 Lice Remover was more effective than permethrin-based Nix, according to the recently released results of a school/community-based program conducted by research professor, Terri Meinking, of the University of Miami This article is about the university in Coral Gables, Florida. For the university in Oxford, Ohio, see Miami University. The University of Miami (also known as Miami of Florida,[2] UM,[3] or just The U School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology. Lice-infested schoolchildren schoolchildren school npl → écoliers mpl; (at secondary school) → collégiens mpl; lycéens mpl schoolchildren school in Key Largo and Homestead, Fla. were tested over a two-week period. HairClean 1-2-3 and Nix were applied to dry hair for 15 minutes. The process was repeated a week later. HairClean 1-2-3 was 98 percent effective at killing the lice (http://www.quantumhealth.com), while Nix was 89 percent effective. Meinking did not follow the directions on Nix's package requiring a 10-minute application on damp hair because she believes that lice have shown resistance to the directed treatment. "HairClean 1-2-3 has proven to be one of the best of the new non-pesticide products I've studied," Meinking concluded. As products become ineffective due to resistance, frustrated parents will try anything to get rid of head lice head lice Pediculosis capitis Public health A louse transmitted in crowded conditions–eg, day care centers, homeless shelters Treatment Topical insecticides–permethrin, synergized pymethrin, malathion. See Crabs. and get their children back in school. Meinking undertook the study, she said, because, "It's important to help people understand which treatments work and are safe." HairClean 1-2-3 is one of a new wave of head lice treatments that rely on natural ingredients and not chemical pesticides. Its mechanism of action is quite different from the neurotoxic neurotoxic pertaining to or emanating from a neurotoxin. neurotoxic state a case of poisoning by a neurotoxin. neurotoxic adjective pesticides. The patent-pending formula was developed in Israel in response to a growing resistance among head lice to pyrethrin pyrethrin (pīrē`thrĭn): see insecticide. and permethrin-based products. HairClean was studied for five years before being released in the United States where head lice have become a fact of life for millions of school children, especially those in the 3- to 11-year-old age group. A Harvard University study published in November of 1999 underscored the resistance problem. More than 1,000 students were screened and 53 children were eligible. Each participant was treated with Nix or HairClean 1-2-3 and shampooed with a baby shampoo after the indicated time. Nix is a product whose active ingredient is permethrin permethrin /per·meth·rin/ (per-meth´rin) a topical insecticide used in the treatment of infestations by Pediculus humanus capitis, Sarcoptes scabiei, or any of various ticks; also applied to objects such as furniture and bedding. and HairClean 1-2-3 is a natural product whose ingredients are essential oils, anise anise (ăn`ĭs), annual plant (Pimpinella anisum) of the family Umbelliferae (parsley family), native to the Mediterranean region but long cultivated elsewhere for its aromatic and medicinal qualities. oil, coconut oil, ylang ylang oil and isopropyl alcohol isopropyl alcohol: see isopropanol. . Both products are available in major drug retailers. For information call 877/LICE-877. Note to editors: Meinking is available for interviews. Studies, comprehensive write-ups and additional lice stories/resources available. |
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