Permethrin 1% Lotion: Use and Precautions
Permethrin 1% lotion guidance for head lice, with 10-minute contact time and repeat treatment after 7 days.
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Guide category
Drugs for external use and antiseptics
Safety boundary
Educational medicine information, not personal medical advice.
Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.
Therapeutic action
Pediculicide (pyrethroid insecticide).
Indications
Head pediculosis (lice).
Forms and strengths
1% lotion.
Use
Child 2 months and over and adult: apply lotion to scalp and entire length of the hair shaft, paying particular attention to the areas behind the ears and around the nape of the neck.
Leave on hair for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water.
Repeat the application after 7 days.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Use with caution and under medical supervision in children under 6 months.
- May cause scalp irritation, pruritus, skin rash and redness, and rarely oedema or hypersensitivity reactions.
- Avoid contact with eyes. In case of accidental contact, flush immediately with plenty of water.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: prefer dimeticone.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.
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