Dimeticone 4% liquid gel found to kill all lice and eggs with a single 15 minute application.
BACKGROUND
Dimeticone 4% lotion is an effective and widely accepted treatment for head louse infestation. However, it is a highly mobile fluid that some people find difficult to apply and is mainly left on the hair for 8 hours or overnight. User preference is for a more manageable and viscous product that can be used with a short application time.


RESULTS
This proof of concept study in 41 people investigated dimeticone 4% liquid gel, a product that is easier to apply than the lotion, applied for 15 minutes on two occasions a week apart. We found that head lice were eliminated from all participants following the first application of product. We did not find lice of any stage on any participant during four post treatment assessments and particularly, unlike other treatments, no young nymphs on days 1 and 6 prior to the second treatment, indicating ovicidal as well as pediculicidal activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Dimeticone 4% liquid gel has demonstrated efficacy greater than other similar products and the evidence obtained indicates elimination of head louse infestation with a single 15 minute application.


BACKGROUND
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN59227204.
Medical Entomology Centre, Insect Research & Development Limited, Stow-cum-Quy, Cambridge, UK. ian@insectresearch.com.
Ian F
IF
Burgess
Nazma A
NA
Burgess
BMC Pharmacol. 2009 Feb 20;9:3
19232080
PLoS One. 2007 Nov 07;2(11):e1127
17987114
BMC Public Health. 2009 Dec 01;9:441
19951427
BMJ. 2005 Jun 18;330(7505):1423
15951310
BMC Infect Dis. 2008 Sep 10;8:115
18783606
Pediatr Dermatol. 1986 Sep;3(4):344-8
2430269