Getting rid of lice safely

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Americans spent $130 million on treatments for head lice last year. Lice is a problem that affects as many as 12 million school children annually. Frantic families often turn to popular over-the-counter treatments like RID, that contains pyrethrum, or Nix, that contains permethrin. But Consumer Reports says that based on mounting evidence, including a recently published study, these chemicals are not the best choices.

Those active ingredients tend not to work anymore because the lice have become resistant to them. Besides getting rid of lice you need to get rid of their eggs. Nix claims to do both.

There's a study that shows that its active ingredient, permethrin, does kill some eggs, but actually not very many. Nix's lawyer says the basis for its egg-killing claim "is considered proprietary and confidential," and it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Your child's doctor may recommend a prescription treatment to get rid of lice. Consumer Reports says Lindane can have serious risks and should not be used. Studies show that spinosad, a newer prescription drug sold as Natroba, could be effective, but its long-term safety is unknown, and it's very expensive. It can cost as much as $280 for four ounces.

So what gets rid of lice? Consumer Reports' experts say the safest most effective method is to comb them out using a lubricant, like conditioner, and a fine-toothed metal comb. And if you're wondering about other pesticide-free treatments, studies show those that contain low-levels of dimethicone also known as dimeticone, may be somewhat effective at killing the bugs, but you still need to comb out the eggs.