Dimethicone

Dimeticone is the active ingredient in many head lice treatments, such as Hedrin, and it works by covering and drowning the lice to prevent them from moving. Unlike other forms of head lice treatments, dimeticone does not poison the lice, so they cannot become immune to it. This stops them in their tracks, preventing them from spreading. 

No, dimethicone is not bad for your hair. Dimethicone is silicone-based, meaning it prevents all of the ingredients in your hair care products from separating, in addition to giving it a silky smooth texture. It locks in hydration, making your hair appear shiny, healthy and frizz-free.

Head lice are tiny wingless insects, up to 3mm long, and nits are their eggs or empty egg cases.

They live among human hairs and feed on blood from the scalp, and while they are harmless, they can be very irritating.

The symptoms include visible white or grey-brown marks in the hair, itchiness or a tickling feeling, and small red bumps or sores from scratching.

Head lice and nits are very common amongst young children and they can cause unpleasant itchiness.

To treat head lice, start by washing your hair with regular shampoo and applying lots of conditioner, then comb the whole head of hair while it’s wet with a detection comb.

If that doesn’t work after a couple of weeks, your pharmacist may recommend a medicated lotion or spray to kill the headlice within a day.