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Svetlana Tarasova
Hairdresser-stylist with more than 8 years of experience, expert in the field of haircuts, styling, hair care, coloring.
Benzyl benzoate is a popular antiparasitic agent that helps fight lice and scabies. When used externally, the medication enters only the upper layers of the skin, without penetrating into the bloodstream. Now doctors rarely prescribe this drug, but, being effective and inexpensive at the same time, it remains popular.
Benzyl benzoate for lice - what is it, its composition and does it help against lice?
The active substance in the antiparasitic drug is benzyl benzoate. There are also additional components that differ depending on the release form. The product has a destructive effect on parasites. Its active component penetrates the chitinous layer of lice and accumulates in their body in concentrations incompatible with life.
Benzyl benzoate helps in the treatment of head lice, helping to destroy all types of parasites. It is capable of destroying both adults and larvae, but does not affect insect eggs.
The composition quickly penetrates the skin and begins to act, destroying parasites. When used topically, it is completely safe as it is not absorbed by the skin and does not penetrate the bloodstream.
REFERENCE. In addition to lice, the drug is effective against almost all mites, including those that cause scabies.
Larvae and adult lice die 2-5 hours after using the drug.
Contraindications
Some patients are not prescribed due to the risk of dangerous complications during use. If the patient has hypersensitivity to the substances included in the dosage form, the drug is not prescribed. The drug is never prescribed to infants due to the likelihood of suffocation and death.
Appointed by a specialist
Other contraindications:
- Age up to three years.
- Carrying a child.
- Purulent inflammation of the skin.
- Open skin lesions in the area of application.
- Breastfeeding period.
The ointment or emulsion should not get inside, into the area of the eyes and mucous membranes. Only local (skin) use to eliminate the risk of absorption of the active component into the bloodstream.
Release forms and how to use against lice and nits
The drug is available in two forms - emulsion and ointment for external use.
Emulsion
The emulsion is a homogeneous white liquid, packaged in bottles of 50, 100 and 200 ml.
Compound
The active substance in the emulsion is benzyl benzoate. As additional components, it contains purified water, emulsion wax, and laundry soap.
Instructions for use
Antiparasitic emulsion is used as follows:
- You need to shake the bottle well.
- Take a cotton swab and soak it in the emulsion.
- Apply the composition to the scalp and treat clean, dry hair.
- Cover your head with polyethylene and insulate it with a scarf or warm towel.
- Leave the product on your head for half an hour.
- Rinse your hair with acidified water, diluting a tablespoon of vinegar. The acid will help separate the nits from the hair.
- Wrap the head again and leave the acid for about an hour.
- Wash your hair with shampoo.
- Comb out lice and nits with a fine-toothed comb.
To eliminate lice and larvae, it is enough to use the product once. But it does not affect parasite eggs, so repeated treatment may be necessary.
Cost and where to buy
You can purchase the emulsion in pharmacies. It is quite cheap - the cost is about 50 rubles.
Shelf life and storage conditions
The drug must be stored in a dark place at a temperature less than 20 degrees . The shelf life is three years. Opened suspension can be stored for up to one week at room temperature.
Contraindications, possible side effects and safety precautions
The drug has a number of contraindications:
- children under three years of age;
- hypersensitivity to the components of the product;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- pustular skin diseases.
The medication may cause an allergic reaction.
If it gets into the eyes, a strong burning sensation occurs. Often the product provokes irritation of the facial skin. IMPORTANT! If the emulsion gets into the eyes, nose and mouth, they should be thoroughly rinsed with water. If it gets into the stomach, you need to wash it with a 1-2% solution of sodium bicarbonate, a mixture of activated carbon and burnt magnesia.
Ointment
The ointment for external use is white and is sold in aluminum tubes or glass jars.
Compound
The active component in the ointment is similar - benzyl benzoate . The drug also includes propylene glycol, fatty fractions, cetostearyl alcohol, cetylpyridinium chloride, purified water,
Instructions for use
The ointment is applied to clean hair and rubbed into the scalp with gentle movements . If it is used for a child, it must be diluted with warm water in equal proportions. After application, you need to wrap your head in polyethylene and insulate it. The composition remains on the hair for a period of 30 minutes to 2 hours.
ATTENTION! If the ointment burns strongly, it should be washed off immediately.
The medication is first washed off with acidified warm water, then washed thoroughly using shampoo. The hair is then combed out with a fine-tooth comb to remove dead lice and larvae. Benzyl benzoate nits do not die, and they also need to be removed manually.
Cost and where to buy
The ointment can be bought at any pharmacy. Its average price is about 30 rubles.
Shelf life and storage conditions
The ointment has a shelf life of three years. It should be stored in a place protected from light, at a temperature of 18-20 degrees.
Contraindications, possible side effects and safety precautions
The ointment is contraindicated for children under three years of age, pregnant and lactating women, and persons with hypersensitivity to the active component. Also, it cannot be used for mechanical damage and pustular inflammation on the skin.
Side effects include contact dermatitis, redness, burning and itching of the skin.
As in the case of the emulsion, the product must not be allowed to get inside or onto the mucous membranes . If the ointment is used for children under 5 years of age, it must be diluted with water in equal proportions. The water temperature should be no more than 35 degrees. The result should be a mixture of sour cream consistency.
It is recommended to apply the product using rubber gloves. In case of direct contact of the skin of your hands with the drug, you should thoroughly wash them with laundry soap, and also wash and iron all personal items.
special instructions
Before starting treatment, it is advisable for the patient to take a hot shower to mechanically remove mites from the surface of the skin, as well as loosen the surface layer of the epidermis (to facilitate penetration of the drug).
Treatment of patients identified in one outbreak, as well as contact persons, should be carried out simultaneously to avoid re-infection. The persistence of itching after treatment is not an indication for prescribing an additional course of specific therapy. Itching is the body’s reaction to a killed tick and its waste products and disappears when antihistamines and ointments with glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. After treatment, medical supervision is required for 2 weeks, and in the presence of complications, for a longer time.
All items that have come into contact with contaminated skin must be thoroughly treated. Bedding and linen, towels are boiled in a solution of washing powder for 5 - 10 minutes. Outerwear is ironed on both sides with a hot iron. Items that cannot be heat treated are hung out in the open air for 3 days. Shoes, toys and other items are excluded from use for 5 days and placed in a plastic bag. Mattresses, pillows, blankets are also excluded from use for 5 days or are subjected to chamber disinfection. Upholstered furniture can be treated with disinsection preparations. The apartment must be cleaned, the floors washed with detergents or the addition of disinfectants.
It is necessary to avoid getting the drug on the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasal cavity, oral cavity, and genitals. In case of contact, rinse the mucous membranes thoroughly with warm water or 1% - 2% sodium bicarbonate solution (baking soda). If the drug gets into the stomach, you must rinse it with 1% - 2% sodium bicarbonate solution and drink a glass of water with activated carbon (stir 2 tablespoons of activated carbon in a glass of water).
The drug does not have a negative effect on the performance of potentially hazardous activities that require special attention and quick reactions (driving a car, etc.).
Pros and cons of benzyl benzoate
Benzyl benzoate has a number of obvious advantages over other agents:
- A proven formula, known to specialists at the beginning of the last century.
- Low price.
- Ability to penetrate deep layers of skin.
However, there are disadvantages. The drug has not been improved for a long time, so it acts more slowly than many new medications. It also has a sharp, specific odor and in some cases provokes adverse reactions. But, given the effectiveness and low cost of the drug, it still remains popular.
Reviews
Source: otzovik.com
Alternative remedies for head lice
In addition to benzyl benzoate, there are other means aimed at combating head lice.
Spray
Lice sprays, such as Full Marks, Bars, Nyuda, Pediculen and others, have a number of advantages. They act quickly and are easy to use. They are applied along the entire length of the hair from roots to ends and gently rubbed into the scalp, wait for the time specified in the instructions and rinse with warm water. After washing, you need to comb out the insects using a special comb.
Pills
Anti-lice tablets, such as Butadione, Albendazole, Levamisole and others, are usually prescribed if there are contraindications to topical agents (for skin diseases, wounds, scratches). To destroy parasites, you need to take them in a course of about 15 days . Medicines have a number of contraindications, so they should only be prescribed by a doctor.
Shampoo
At the pharmacy you can buy special shampoos such as Nyx, Hygia, Paranit and others. They can be used for both treatment and prevention of head lice. The products are applied to the hair and left under polyethylene for the period specified in the instructions, then washed thoroughly . After this, the hair is combed and washed using regular shampoo.
Will you trust Benzyl benzoate?
Not really
Folk remedies
Many people prefer to use time-tested folk remedies for head lice. A vinegar solution is often used to help kill parasites. Another popular option is lathering with tar soap, which remains on the hair for half an hour. Kerosene is also used - in this case, caution is needed, since it is an aggressive product that, if the rules of use are not followed, can cause scalp burns and hair loss.
Despite the appearance in pharmacies of numerous new drugs for head lice, benzyl benzoate remains a popular remedy . This is due to its effectiveness and very low price. To get the maximum result from using the medication and prevent side effects, you need to follow the instructions and take precautions.
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Instructions for use
Before applying the medicine, you need to take a hot shower to remove lice from the skin and soften the upper layer of the epidermis.
Be sure to thoroughly disinfect clothing, bedding, and hats. The ointment is applied to the surface of the body except the face and mucous membranes.
After application is complete, do not wash your hands for three hours. Sometimes, after the product has dried, it is recommended to apply it again.
In most cases, one use of the medicinal composition is sufficient. But in some cases, the course of treatment can be extended for a week.
It should be reapplied if new living representatives of scabies appear. This is due to the fact that itching and all other symptoms of the disease often persist for several weeks.
For benzyl benzoate in the form of an emulsion to work, the application against lice must be as follows:
- the medicine is applied in a circular motion to the surface of the scalp;
- after this, the head is wrapped in a towel;
- keep the composition for half an hour, after which the head is washed and rinsed with a five percent vinegar solution;
- The hair is dried a little and combed out with a fine-toothed comb.
Before using the product to treat a child under five years of age, the ointment is first diluted in warm boiled water in a one to one ratio. The mixture is thoroughly mixed to obtain a homogeneous mass. It is used in the same way as for treating adults.
You can buy the medicine in pharmacies or on the Internet. Its cost is about 30 rubles.
