
BANLICE® Mousse for head
lice - from the makers of
COMBANTRIN®
Facts about head lice
- Actual photographs of head lice & their eggs (nits), plus factual information to correct some common myths & misconceptions surrounding head lice.
What do they look like?
- We've included some enlarged pictures of actual lice & nits, so you know what you're looking for:
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Head lice are usually white to grey in colour, with a dark stripe down the centre of their body.They are about the size of a sesame seed (approx. 2mm), with six legs & two "spiracles", orantennae, on their head. As they can run away, they are usually harder to find than nits.
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Nits are the eggs of head lice. They are usually oval-shaped, little bigger than a pinhead (approx. 1mm) & cream to coffee in colour. "Fresh" or newly laid nits are found next to the scalp at the base of the hair shaft.
Images reproduced with permission of National Pediculosis Association.
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Now that we know what we're looking for, let's get rid of some commo "myths & misconceptions: surrounding head lice:
Having head lice is a sign of poor hygiene!
Head lice aren't that fussy. Clean, dirty, short, straight, curly - all they want is blood! In fact, if you think about it logically, it is probably easier for head lice to move around in clean hair - without bits of dirt/dandruff to climb over!
You can catch head lice from birds & other animals!
Human head lice are "host specific" - they feed off the blood beneath the human scalp alone!
Lice can jump & fly from head to head!
Lice have no wings (so they can't fly) & they can't jump, either. They spread by "scurrying" from head to head, or affected item to head (e.g. brushes, hair clips, hats etc).
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How to use BANLICE® Mousse
- Information on why BANLICE® Mousse is good choice to treat head lice, how to use it for the best results, and plans to help prevent reinfestation.
There are many head lice products on the market. So why should you choose BANLICE® Mousse?
How to Use BANLICE® Mousse
- BANLICE® Mousse contains Natural Pyrethrins
Pyrethrins come from chrysanthemum flowers & are widely recognised to be amongst the least toxic, yet effective, insecticides available for human use
- BANLICE® Mousse is Your No Mess / No Fuss Head lice Treatment
Because you can control the mousse, Banlice reduces the risk of nasty drips & spills
- BANLICE® Mousse Does Not Have an Unpleasant Smell
- BANLICE® Mousse is Suitable For Use From 2 Years Of Age
If a child under two has head lice, or if you are pregnant & wish to treat yourself, we recommend you first consult your local GP for advice
- Shake can thoroughly before use
- Apply BANLICE® Mousse to DRY hair
- Massage into the scalp & hair for 2 - 3 minutes, until thoroughly wet
- Leave in hair for 10 minutes, then wash thoroughly with your normal shampoo
- Remove dead lice & nits (eggs)
- Inspect & re-treat in 8 - 10 days if necessary
- BANLICE® Mousse contains Natural Pyrethrins
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Tips to help prevent reinfestation
- - Inspect ALL family members - including Mum & Dad - & treat if necessary
- - Wash all brushes/combs/hairclips, linen & clothing worn in the last 48 hours, in hot water.
- - Suspect items that cannot be washed (eg. hats, teddy bears, bike helmets) can be isolated in a sealed plastic bag for 8 - 10 days. If there are any lice on these items, they will complete their life cycle in the bag
- - Keeping long hair securely tied back (plait/bun) will assist in minimising reinfestation whilst head lice are about
- - Notify your friends & the school that you have found a case of head lice. This will help control the extent of the outbreak
Why is this happening? Is it healthy?
- Information on how BANLICE® Mousse works to treat head lice & their nits (eggs) with one application.
- BANLICE® Mousse contains natural pyrethrins, which are insecticides that come from chrysanthemum flowers. Naturals pyrethrins are generlly recognised to be amongst the least toxic insecticides available for human use.
- BANLICE® Mousse also contains piperonyl butoxide to provide a synergistic effect - that is, to help the pyrethrins work more effectively.
- The pyrethrins in BANLICE® Mousse work by over-stimulating the nervous system of lice. Put simply, the lice die from exhaustion.
- Because of its unique formulation, the pyrethrins in BANLICE® Mousse also penetrate the shell of the nits (eggs) & act on the unhatched lice.
- It is very important to apply BANLICE® Mousse to totally dry hair. This is important for two reasons:
- Applying to dry hair allows the full concentration of insecticide to act on lice and nits; i.e. it is not first diluted by water
- Wetting that hair gives a warning signal to lice and nits to "batten down the hatches", making it harder for an insecticide applied to wet hair, to do its job properly.
- All you need is 10 minutes contact time with the lice and nits for BANLICE Mousse to take effect. You do not need to leave it on any longer. Do not be alarmed if lice are still moving immediately after treatment - they are in the process of dying.
- BANLICE washes clean away under the shower - you cn even use your normal shampoo.
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- Dead lice should also wash away under the shower but unfortunately, the nits won't. Because nits are firmly glued to the hair shaft, you will need to comb / pull them off yourself.
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IMPORTANT: BANLICE® Mousse is approved for use on children from 2 years of age. If a child under 2 years has head lice, or if you are pregnant & wish to treat yourself, we recommend you first consult your local GP for advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my children have head lice?
The tell-tale signs to look for are an itching scalp, the lice themselves, whitish specks near the root of the hair (nits) or a fine black powder on pillows. In case you're confused, lice move around on the scalp and hair, while nits, which are the eggs containing unborn lice, are affixed to the hair close to the root.
If my child has head lice, is poor personal hygiene the cause?
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No. Head lice can't tell if hair is clean or dirty. And they don't care if it's brown or blonde, long or short, straight or curly.
Is the person with head lice the only one who needs treatment?
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Maybe. All members of the family should be inspected to make sure no lice or nits are present. If there is any evidence of headlice, that person should also be treated with a product like BANLICE®Mousse. And it's only fair to notify your child's teacher and the parents of friends... alert anyone he or she has been in contact with during the two weeks prior to discovering the outbreak.
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Are head lice contagious?
Yes, definitely. But they can't jump from head to head and they can't fly. The only way they can be transmitted is by direct contact (heads touching) or indirect contact (a hat passed around which has been worn by a person with head lice).
Is there anything else I should do?
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Yes. Wash all items that have touched your child's head in very hot water. That means sheets, pillowcases, brushes, combs, scrunchies and hair ribbons. Any hats or clothes that are not washable should be wrapped securely in a plastic bag and left sealed for about two weeks.
Will the nits fall out after treatment?
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No such luck. A special protein virtually 'glues' the nits to the hair follicles and there's no product that can dislodge them. To get rid of them, use a fine-toothed comb or your fingernails. It's difficult, but must be done!
- THE SOLUTION - BANLICE MOUSSE
- BANLICE® Mousse is one of the best products for children because as a mousse, it's easy to use and control. So it minimises the chance of excess liquid dripping in their eyes. Unlike some other head lice products, BANLICE® Mousse has a pleasant smell and leaves no residue when it's washed off. BANLICE® Mousse is a clinically proven, effective and easy solution to troublesome head lice and nits.