8 Best Head Lice Treatments in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Dermatologist

Maria Elinor Grace "Meg" Sison, MD, MPM, FPDS, is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in the Philippines and sees both medical and cosmetic dermatological cases on the skin, hair, and nails.

For more skincare tips, you can read her blog, or you can like and follow her on Instagram and Facebook!

Choosing a head lice treatment at one point or another should really make you scratch your head. For your convenience, we made a list of the best head lice treatment products to put an end to your lice problems. 

Disclaimer: These products are recommendations made by our team at mybest Philippines. Our expert, Dr. Maria Elinor Grace Sison, MD, MPM, FPDS, is not affiliated with, nor is she endorsing any of the brands we mention below.

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

By word of mouth, several myths about lice have haunted children for many years. In this section, we have cited head lice facts from Consumer Reports to debunk the misconceptions we might have had about head lice. 

First, dirty hair does not make an automatic breeding ground for head lice, contrary to beliefs that they thrive in unhygienic hair. Lice don't care where they breedーclean or unclean hair. The Filipino household's go-to retort, "Kapag di pa nawala 'yang kuto mo, lilipad ka na talaga" is so untrue because lice do not have wingsーthey cannot take you with them on their flights.

Lice crawl from an infested head's shoulder to the shoulder or hair on another yet to be infested. Also, contrary to popular belief, those critters can be killed only by using over-the-counter pesticides. Advocates of the wet-combing technique have attested to be effective in removing loose, especially for younger patients with sensitive scalps who might find the treatment uncomfortable. 

When either you, your children, or anyone else in the family has their head infested with lice, there's no need to panic. Thankfully, you can contain the spread of head lice in more ways than one. 

When choosing, look for these generic names in head lice treatments as their potency reveals what lice type or forms they are most effective for. These components, technically known as pesticides, are typically found in over-the-counter head lice treatments. Also, take note of the ages of children these pesticides are approved for use. 

This compound is extracted from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethrin acts as a defense mechanism for protection against pests and insects, exuding a toxic effect lethal to the insect's nervous system. Fortunately, pyrethrin makes for a highly effective lice treatment, especially for kids ages 2 and above. 

However, this is most effective for killing live lice and not lice eggs. Extra precaution should be taken by people allergic to chrysanthemum as it will aggravate the allergies in the treatment process. This means that you need a second treatment to kill the eggs which have hatched.

Similar to pyrethrin, this permethrin is ideal even for younger patients – babies as young as 2 months old. The selling point to this ingredient has to be its potency in killing both live lice and nits or lice eggs. As permethrin leaves a residue on the hair or scalp, it kills the freshly hatched eggs which were not killed during the initial treatment process.

Permethrin is milder compared to other over-the-counter head lice treatments, so you might want to do a second treatment as instructed, normally 9 to 10 days after the first application. 

Unlike the first two ingredients, benzyl alcohol lotions are available only by prescription. For those who have had used it prior, it would be a gentle reminder not to use this on toddlers less than 6 months old. It has been found to be safe to use for adults not older than 60. 

It also tends to kill only live lice and not the eggs. As a white topical lotion, this compound can be irritating on the scalp and has to be left on the head for 10 minutes before combing out the lice and eggs. On the good side, though, this has an aromatic scent.

In its tablet form, ivermectin is highly effective and safe against head lice. However, if you are pregnant or your child weighs less than 15 kilograms, the oral dose is not recommended. It is still best that you consult with your health care provider.

Ivermectin lotions, on the other hand, are FDA-approved for use on children 6 months of age and above. Like the previously mentioned medications, it also is more efficient in killing hatched lice and not the lice eggs. This can be applied to the patient's dry hair even without thorough lice combing.

If you prefer a more instantaneous result in lice treatments, look for lice treatments with this compound. Like the two preceding medications, this also requires a prescription. Known to actively remove live lice and nits, malathion is recommended for use on children 6 years of age and above. 

Ideal for application on wet hair, applying this lotion must be with adult supervision making sure to keep a distance for smoke or heating appliances, such as flat irons and hair dryers. Its potency has the adverse effect of irritating the scalp so you shouldn't overdo the application. 

Along with combing, essential oils have proved to be a natural alternative to most lice pesticides. The most common oil components of non-medical formulations are coconut, tea tree, and olive oil, to mention a few. 

Petroleum jelly and mayonnaise users also claim to have noticed a lice-smothering feature, allowing for an easier combing while alleviating the itch and irritation caused by the insects. 

Children and adults with sensitive scalps are easy prey to itching when using a lice treatment on their hair. Besides rinsing the solution thoroughly, opt for treatments that are fragrance-free or marketed with natural ingredients. Also, always use the potent compounds appropriate for your and your child's age. 

With or without a scalp lotion lice treatment, a lice comb can already help you get rid of those nits and lice from your kid's hair. This secondary tool has its own set of variables to consider when you want a head lice treatment to work double-time for your kid or you. 

Lice combs with metal teeth are the best choice as they are more sturdy than plastic or wooden ones. Make sure that you select those with longer teeth, closely knit and riveted. Guaranteed long-lasting, it makes for easy removal of lice and nits. Preferably, you'll want a lice comb to remove the lice and their eggs even without slathering lice treatment on the hair.

When using a lotion or other solutions on the head, combing through the hair may be slippery for you. To keep your grip as you comb, get ones with thick handles for added support. It allows for more room to readjust your handling of the comb itself as you brush through the hair. 

Removing head lice from our hair, particularly, and our lives, in general, takes a complete overhaul of daily personal items. The American Academy of Dermatology Association has a few words on maintaining a lice-free head and home. 

• Isolate the combs and brushes of the patient. Soak it in how water, no longer than 10 minutes.
• Change the linens used by the patient, especially the pillowcases, blankets, and others, used by the person during the past two days. Toss it in the washing machine while using hot water for washing. 
• When drying, use the hottest setting for machine-washed items. 
• Suppose your kid carries his or her favorite cuddly little stuffed toy, time to part with it for washing. Place the toy in the hot dryer, running it over the item for about 30 minutes. 
• For personal items, try sealing the objects in plastic bags. This goes for headphones, helmets, and hair accessories. Place the bags in the freezer, keeping them sealed for two weeks. 
• For your home floors, carpets, and other furniture, pick up fallen hair from there, as you may be unlike to discern which hair stands came from the person with head lice. 

Time to put a stop to that kuto and itch! Read more below as Dr. Meg Sison answers some of the most asked questions about head lice treatments.

Head lice do not go away on their own. It is best to treat the child right away to avoid complications such as secondary bacterial infection of the scalp.

It is advised to repeat the treatment of head lice after 1 week for the reasons stated above. It is also recommended to treat all the children in school who have head lice to avoid reinfestation.

Pediculosis can also occur in other body parts, and this is called body louse or pediculosis corporis. This is caused by a different species of lice called Pediculosis humanus. Pediculosis can also affect the mustache, beard, underarm hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, and pubic area. This is caused by the crab louse or Pediculosis pubis.

If over-the-counter treatments do not help treat your child's head lice, it's always best to consult a board-certified dermatologist.

Just because lice do not necessarily thrive in dirty hair does not mean kids have the license to be unhygienic and sour-smelling. Load up on these items for items so your kids can enjoy the summer quarantine smelling and feeling fresh!

Kuto has been a headache for schoolchildren and their families. Failure to contain the head lice infestation places the family at risk of getting their own heads filled with lice, besides making the child vulnerable to bullying. Gladly because of recent developments in medicine, lice will have seen better days.

Author: A. Ugay

Reviewed by: Dermatologist, Dr. Meg Sison

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