Print Print
CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.

Head lice - Management
Isopropyl myristate and cyclomethicone (Full Marks Solution®)

Age from 2 years onwards
Isopropyl myristate and cyclomethicone: 2 applications 7 days apart
Cyclomethicone 50% / Isopropyl myristate 50% solution
Apply to dry hair and scalp. Leave on for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, comb out dead lice with the detection comb provided. Wash out using shampoo when combing completed. Repeat after 7 days.
Supply 100 ml.
Age: from 2 years onwards
NHS cost: £3.42
OTC cost: £6.23
Licensed use: no - misc item available on the NHS
Black triangle
Patient information: Apply to dry hair so that the scalp and roots of the hair are saturated. Leave on the hair for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, comb through the hair with an ordinary comb to remove tangles. Then, use the detection comb provided in the pack to remove dead lice. To ensure a thorough job, divide the hair into four quarters and comb each separately. The divide the first quarter into smaller sections to make combing easier. Place the teeth of the comb as close as you can to the scalp and comb downward away from the head to the tips of the hair. After each stroke, rinse out the comb to remove any hair and lice and wipe with a tissue. Once the whole head has been combed, wash out the product using ordinary shampoo. Repeat treatment after 7 days. Use detection combing 2-3 days after final treatment, and again 9-10 days after the final treatment to check that treatment has been successful. All infested contacts must be treated at the same time to prevent reinfestation.

© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement