Harvard Study Proving Lice Resistance No Surprise to School & Public Health Nurses

Newly developed products already in use are doing the job the brand names once did.

October 14, 1999:
Nix, Rid and other top-selling products purported to treat head lice may not be effective, investigators reported in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

The study shows a 90% survival rate among a population of 209 lice plucked from the heads of American school children and exposed to Permethrin, the active ingredient in Nix.

"It is evident that lice infesting U.S. children are less susceptible (to Nix)," according to Dr. Richard Pollack, the author of the study. "The frequency of resistance seems to have increased."

Health Departments and School nurses agree. Health Departments have seen the increase in resistant lice for over a year, going to great lengths to find a solution to their head lice problems. And in a survey taken at the 1998 meeting of the National Association of School Nurses more than 80% of respondents reported an increase in the failure of chemical lice treatments. In another 1998 survey from the National PTA, school principals named head lice as the number one problem.

As the most recognized brands, these Permethrin products command 50% of the $170 million anti-lice marketplace. With so many people using products that are not effective enough, it is no wonder that parents of infested children are angry and frustrated. Even as national media outlets are reporting the study, the companies are promoting their lice products with television ads claiming great effectiveness.

University of Miami lice researcher Terri Meinking, in the May issue of the peer reviewed medical journal Current Problems in Dermatology, reported that HairClean 1-2-3 Lice Remover was a 98% treatment success, superior to the Nix success rate. "New natural products, which have been clinically tested and found to be effective, could be a very positive step in the control of lice." Says Meinking. "This may prevent the already rapid development of resistance." Health professionals took this message to heart and tried the alternative natural approach.

"Over the last 3 years, the increase in head lice initiated absences, has had a dramatic effect on Los Angeles Unified Schools." states Sue Rue, CDC District Nurse for the LAUSD. Ms. Rue suggested to a Healthy Start program in their system, that they give HairClean a try. They did and the results were favorably dramatic.

Health Departments and independent agencies across the Nation have spread the word of this natural solution as well. "Frustrated with the failure rate we were experiencing, we tried HairClean 1-2-3 and found it to be a complete solution that really worked, even on chronic, heavily infested families that RID and Nix couldn't touch." Reports Sandy Higgs of the Rural Health Network, Monroe County Florida, Inc. "In only 15 minutes, we saw head lice drop off like flies, and the product made the hair soft and easy for the parents to remove the nits properly. We've been searching for a safe way to reduce the lice problems in our community and provide education to the families affected. HairClean offered just that."

Pollack cautioned parents for whom lice products have been ineffective against using stronger doses of Permethrin. If lower doses didn't work, a stronger dose is "not likely to be effective," according to Pollack.

Clinically tested and proven, parents can rest assured that HairClean 1-2-3 Lice Remover will remove head lice from their lives, safely and effectively.

For more information on the successful HairClean Lice Removal program, that health professionals recommend, call Quantum toll free, at 1-877-LICE-877.

View products now - HairClean 1-2-3 Lice Remover and MagiComb.