RESEARCH ARTICLE
Dimeticone-Based Pediculicides: A Physical Approach to Eradicate Head Lice
Jorg Heukelbach*, 1, 2, Fabiola A. Oliveira2, 3, Joachim Richter4, Dieter Haussinger4
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2010Volume: 4
First Page: 77
Last Page: 81
Publisher ID: TODJ-4-77
DOI: 10.2174/1874372201004010077
Article History:
Received Date: 29/03/2010Revision Received Date: 10/04/2010
Acceptance Date: 10/04/2010
Electronic publication date: 14/7/2010
Collection year: 2010
open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Resistance of head lice to insecticides with a neurotoxic mode of action, such as permethrin and malathion, is increasing in incidence and geographic extent. As a consequence, physically acting pediculicidal products have emerged. Dimeticones are synthetic silicone oils of low surface tension and can therefore coat most surfaces, thus also killing head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) by physical means. Considering this mode of action, the development of head lice resistance in the future is very unlikely. In this review, ex vivo and clinical evidence on the efficacy of dimeticones against head lice is presented. Besides the high adulticidal and excellent ovicidal ex vivo efficacy, clinical efficacy of high concentrated dimeticone has been shown. We conclude that dimeticone-based products are a safe and effective option for those patients who prefer not to use pediculicides with a neurotoxic mode of action, especially in areas where resistances of head lice against permethrin and malathion-based products have been reported, or are suspected.
