Carbaryl for treatment of lice

Carbaryl, used to eliminate head and pubic lice, comes in lotion or shampoo form. Carbaryl is used primarily in the United Kingdom as a secondary treatment for lice when other treatments (such as malathion) are not effective.^{1, 2}

Carbaryl cures lice infestations almost 100% of the time. However, carbaryl may cause cancer in humans.¹

Carbaryl has not been released for human use in the United States or Canada.

Citations

1. Dawes M, et al. (1999). Evidence-based case report: Treatment for head lice. BMJ, 318: 385–386.

2. Downs AMR, et al. (1999). Evidence for double resistance to permethrin and malathion in head lice. British Association of Dermatologists, 141: 508–511.