Dimeticone
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
Dimeticone topical solution is a recently approved, safe and effective second-line treatment option for Pediculus humanus capitis (human head lice). The evidence available, although limited, supports statistically significant improvements in cure rates and similar safety profiles compared to permethrin. Of note, permethrin, synergised pyrethrin and malathion were deemed equally effective in the most recent Cochrane Collaboration Review of interventions for treating head lice which met the inclusion criteria (two placebo-controlled studies and one comparative clinical field study). Unlike permethrin and pyrethrin which have become resistant in some countries, the greatest advantage for dimeticone, is that it has reduced potential for resistance since it irreversibly blocks the respiratory mechanism of the louse leading to suffocation and death. Due to a lack of available evidence, dimeticone is not suitable for pregnant or nursing women, or children less than two years of age.
References:
Burgess IF, Burgess NA. Dimeticone 4% liquid gel found to kill all lice and eggs with a single 15 minute application. BMC Res Notes 2011; 4:15.
Burgess IF, Lee PN, Matlock G. Randomised, controlled, assessor blind trial comparing 4% dimeticone lotion with 0.5% malathion liquid for head louse infestation. PLoS One 2007; 2(11):e1127.
Burgess IF, Brown CM, Lee PN. Treatment of head louse infestation with 4% dimeticone lotion: randomised controlled equivalence trial. BMJ 2005; 330(7505):1423.
Dodd CS. Interventions for treating headlice (Cochrane review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;3:CD001165.
Finlay J, MacDonald NE. Head lice infestations: a clinical update. Paediatr Child Health 2008; 13(8):692-704.
G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG. 2012. NYDA Product Monograph. Hohenlockstedt, Germany: Pediapharm Licensing Inc.
Gallardo A, Mougabure-Cueto G, Vassena C, Picollo MI, Toloza AC. Comparative efficacy of new commercial pediculicides against adults and eggs of Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice). Parasitol Res 2012; 110(5): 1601-6.
Heukelbach J, Sonnberg S, Becher H, Melo I, Speare R, Oliveira FA. Ovicidal efficacy of high concentration dimeticone: a new era of head lice treatment. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011; 64(4):e61-2.
Heukelbach J, Asenov A, Liesenfeld O, Mirmohammadsadegh A, Oliveira FA. A new two-phase dimeticone pediculicide shows high efficacy in a comparative bioassay. BMC Dermatol 2009; 9:12.
Heukelbach J, Pilger D, Oliveira FA, Khakban A, Ariza L, Feldmeier H. A highly efficacious pediculicide based on dimeticone: randomized observer blinded comparative trial. BMC Infect Dis 2008; 8:115-25.
Kurt O, Balcioglu IC, Burgess IF, Limoncu ME, Girginkardesler N, Tabak T, Muslu H, Ermis O, Sahin MT, Bilac C, Kavur H, Ozbel Y. Treatment of head lice with dimeticone 4% lotion: comparison of two formulations in a randomised controlled trial in rural Turkey. BMC Public Health 2009; 9:441.
Mac-Mary S, Messikh R, Jeudy A, Lihoreau T, Sainthillier JM, Gabard B, Schneider C, Auderset P, Humbert P. Assessment of the efficacy and safety of a new treatment for head lice. ISRN Dermatol 2012; 2012:460467-73.
Dimeticone topical solution is a recently approved, safe and effective second-line treatment option for Pediculus humanus capitis (human head lice). The evidence available, although limited, supports statistically significant improvements in cure rates and similar safety profiles compared to permethrin. Of note, permethrin, synergised pyrethrin and malathion were deemed equally effective in the most recent Cochrane Collaboration Review of interventions for treating head lice which met the inclusion criteria (two placebo-controlled studies and one comparative clinical field study). Unlike permethrin and pyrethrin which have become resistant in some countries, the greatest advantage for dimeticone, is that it has reduced potential for resistance since it irreversibly blocks the respiratory mechanism of the louse leading to suffocation and death. Due to a lack of available evidence, dimeticone is not suitable for pregnant or nursing women, or children less than two years of age.
References:
Burgess IF, Burgess NA. Dimeticone 4% liquid gel found to kill all lice and eggs with a single 15 minute application. BMC Res Notes 2011; 4:15.
Burgess IF, Lee PN, Matlock G. Randomised, controlled, assessor blind trial comparing 4% dimeticone lotion with 0.5% malathion liquid for head louse infestation. PLoS One 2007; 2(11):e1127.
Burgess IF, Brown CM, Lee PN. Treatment of head louse infestation with 4% dimeticone lotion: randomised controlled equivalence trial. BMJ 2005; 330(7505):1423.
Dodd CS. Interventions for treating headlice (Cochrane review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;3:CD001165.
Finlay J, MacDonald NE. Head lice infestations: a clinical update. Paediatr Child Health 2008; 13(8):692-704.
G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG. 2012. NYDA Product Monograph. Hohenlockstedt, Germany: Pediapharm Licensing Inc.
Gallardo A, Mougabure-Cueto G, Vassena C, Picollo MI, Toloza AC. Comparative efficacy of new commercial pediculicides against adults and eggs of Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice). Parasitol Res 2012; 110(5): 1601-6.
Heukelbach J, Sonnberg S, Becher H, Melo I, Speare R, Oliveira FA. Ovicidal efficacy of high concentration dimeticone: a new era of head lice treatment. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011; 64(4):e61-2.
Heukelbach J, Asenov A, Liesenfeld O, Mirmohammadsadegh A, Oliveira FA. A new two-phase dimeticone pediculicide shows high efficacy in a comparative bioassay. BMC Dermatol 2009; 9:12.
Heukelbach J, Pilger D, Oliveira FA, Khakban A, Ariza L, Feldmeier H. A highly efficacious pediculicide based on dimeticone: randomized observer blinded comparative trial. BMC Infect Dis 2008; 8:115-25.
Kurt O, Balcioglu IC, Burgess IF, Limoncu ME, Girginkardesler N, Tabak T, Muslu H, Ermis O, Sahin MT, Bilac C, Kavur H, Ozbel Y. Treatment of head lice with dimeticone 4% lotion: comparison of two formulations in a randomised controlled trial in rural Turkey. BMC Public Health 2009; 9:441.
Mac-Mary S, Messikh R, Jeudy A, Lihoreau T, Sainthillier JM, Gabard B, Schneider C, Auderset P, Humbert P. Assessment of the efficacy and safety of a new treatment for head lice. ISRN Dermatol 2012; 2012:460467-73.