Lice use their thumb-shaped claws to stay attached to human hair. Combing alone isn't sufficient to get rid of the lice
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
Fighting nature with nature
Lice don’t have wings, nor can they jump like fleas. Once they have found their way onto someone’s head, they must be fought there. But for a long time, that was exactly the difficulty, says Dauché. Large amounts of insecticides can’t be used, especially not on children. But low-risk insecticides became less and less effective, says Dauché, because “the lice became resistant and can today withstand remedies that used to be effective.” Because this limits the possibilities of combating lice with chemical means, Merck decided to take a different approach in France. The result is “Poux Apaisyl,” a shampoo compound based on coconut oil. It uses purely physical means to fight the parasites, by preventing them from breathing.
The new shampoo is part of the Apaisyl range of skincare products, which is very well known in France, where it was introduced in the 1970s. The reason why Poux Apaisyl is so successful is that it exploits the structure of the louse’s body, which has seven spiracles along each side, through which it breathes. The eggs that are attached to the hair shafts are also supplied with oxygen through respiratory openings in the nits’ lids. The oil of the shampoo seeps into all of these breathing channels, creating an airtight seal that kills off the lice. The product comes with a fine-toothed metal comb that helps users find the lice and nits and remove them after they have been successfully combated.
Lice don’t have wings, nor can they jump like fleas. Once they have found their way onto someone’s head, they must be fought there. But for a long time, that was exactly the difficulty, says Dauché. Large amounts of insecticides can’t be used, especially not on children. But low-risk insecticides became less and less effective, says Dauché, because “the lice became resistant and can today withstand remedies that used to be effective.” Because this limits the possibilities of combating lice with chemical means, Merck decided to take a different approach in France. The result is “Poux Apaisyl,” a shampoo compound based on coconut oil. It uses purely physical means to fight the parasites, by preventing them from breathing.
The new shampoo is part of the Apaisyl range of skincare products, which is very well known in France, where it was introduced in the 1970s. The reason why Poux Apaisyl is so successful is that it exploits the structure of the louse’s body, which has seven spiracles along each side, through which it breathes. The eggs that are attached to the hair shafts are also supplied with oxygen through respiratory openings in the nits’ lids. The oil of the shampoo seeps into all of these breathing channels, creating an airtight seal that kills off the lice. The product comes with a fine-toothed metal comb that helps users find the lice and nits and remove them after they have been successfully combated.
Apaisyl works by taking advantage of the louse's anatomy. The shampoo contains oils that seep into the parasite's 14 breathing channels, blocking them in the process
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
If this treatment is repeated on the seventh and 14th day after the product is first used, the parasite will be reliably eliminated, says Dauché. This repetition of the treatment is also necessary if users want to protect themselves against further infestations with a repellent. Such repellents make people unappetizing for insects and arachnids, whether ticks, horse flies, lice, or mosquitoes. Merck offers a repellent known as IR3535®, which is also a very effective alternative to insecticides. IR3535®, which the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends as an insect repellent, is based on the naturally occurring amino acid β-alanine.
Using physical principles to eradicate lice has big advantages. On the one hand, people can be sure that the product contains no insecticides. This is very important because a majority of those who suffer from lice are children, and the number of cases peaks in Germany and in France when students return to school after vacation. Another big advantage is that lice will never be able to become resistant to the product by adapting their metabolism.
That’s a good thing to know. European health authorities have been trying for a long time to drive the head louse from the continent, as had previously been done with the body louse. However, major campaigns have so far failed to achieve this goal. That’s because the head louse is a very tough creature, and has been so for millions of years. But it can be defeated quickly and without risk if the right knowledge is combined with a comb and coconut oil. If parents keep this in mind, lice will still be annoying but humans will definitely prevail in the struggle against the insect.
Using physical principles to eradicate lice has big advantages. On the one hand, people can be sure that the product contains no insecticides. This is very important because a majority of those who suffer from lice are children, and the number of cases peaks in Germany and in France when students return to school after vacation. Another big advantage is that lice will never be able to become resistant to the product by adapting their metabolism.
That’s a good thing to know. European health authorities have been trying for a long time to drive the head louse from the continent, as had previously been done with the body louse. However, major campaigns have so far failed to achieve this goal. That’s because the head louse is a very tough creature, and has been so for millions of years. But it can be defeated quickly and without risk if the right knowledge is combined with a comb and coconut oil. If parents keep this in mind, lice will still be annoying but humans will definitely prevail in the struggle against the insect.
