Well, there is the controversy among some parents about vaccines, other parents are opposed to Ritalin for ADHD, and there are continued debates over co-sleeping, spanking, Dr. Ferber, and a few other issues...
But there haven't been many new controversies in Pediatrics, at least not until Dr. Dale Pearlman recently stated that his non-toxic head lice cure was simply an over-the-counter skin cleanser that he repackaged and sold for $285 per treatment.
Dr. Perlman, a California Dermatologist, made headlines last year when his Nuvo lotion was featured in the journal Pediatrics as an effective treatment for 'head lice without neurotoxins, nit removal, or extensive house cleaning.'1
This was welcome news to Pediatricians and parents who are increasingly having to deal with head lice that are seeming to become resistant to the usual head lice shampoos, including Rid and Nix.
He now admits that 'the lotion I used in my research as a "dry-on pediculicide" head-lice treatment was actually Cetaphil cleanser.'2
Cetaphil Cleanser Head Lice Cure
Although Dr. Pearlman was quite sneaky in how he presented his head lice treatment, the question is whether it really works. The studies showed that it does, so even if it is just Cetaphil and not some super-expensive, specially made lotion, the important issue will be if it is safe and effective.Hopefully some independent and trusted researcher will study the Nuvo Method that Dr. Pearlman describes to see if applying 8 to 12 ounces of Cetaphil lotion to soak your child's hair, combing out the excess, using a hair dryer to dry your child's hair, and leaving it all on for at least 8 hours before you wash it out, really suffocates head lice.3
Most parents will wonder how this Nuvo Method compares to other head lice home remedies, such as smothering head lice with real mayonnaise, olive oil, and vaseline. These also are usually left on overnight, often under a shower cap, and then washed out the next day.
References
1Pearlman DL. A simple treatment for head lice: dry-on, suffocation-based pediculicide. Pediatrics. 2004;114 (3).2Pearlman DL. Cetaphil Cleanser (Nuvo Lotion) Cures Head Lice. Pediatrics 2005; 116: 1612.
3The Nuvo Method for Head Lice Using Cetaphil Cleanser
