‘Super lice’ are becoming more resistant to chemical shampoos. What to use instead – GLOBAL
April 26, 2024
Creepy crawly head lice are troublesome enough, but a highly resistant strain spreading across Canada is adding to the headache.
These so-called super lice, fortified with increased resistance to traditional treatments, are proving a challenge for those seeking to rid themselves of the persistent pests, health experts warn.
The genetic mutations in super lice have rendered them resistant to numerous over-the-counter and prescription medicated shampoos containing chemicals like pyrethrins and permethrin. This resistance, which has been growing for decades, has spurred new methods of controlling lice.
“Head lice are becoming resistant to the commonly used chemicals that have been around forever that have been used to eradicate them,” said Sherry Torkos, an Ontario-based pharmacist and health author. “Just like how bacteria have become resistant to some antibiotics, the same thing is happening with head lice: they have developed a genetic mutation.”
Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/10447193/super-lice-resistant-chemical-shampoo-treatment/
