Silcap+. Smart head lice treatment
Novel insecticide-free head lice treatment in foam form.
Filling a market niche
- Head lice infestation is experiencing a global resurgence.(1,2)
- Several countries have reported emerging resistance to topical treatment with chemical insecticides (malathion, carbaryl, lindane, permethrin, phenothrin).(1,2)
- Parents prefer non-toxic treatment options such as wet combing. Only limited evidence suggests that wet combing is effective as single treatment: cure rates are variable.(2)
- In view of the increasing resistance, research groups have explored non-toxic so-called 'suffocation based' topical treatments with impressive success rates up to 73-96%.(2-4) Dimethicone is a 'suffocation based' substance, recently licensed for the eradication of head lice infestation.
- Putatively repellent botanicals (such as essential oils and/or oil preparations from tea tree, lavender, peppermint, coconut, neem, citronella, rosemary) are irritating to skin, especially children's skin.(1)
- Silcap+ represents a superior application form of dimethicone, this innovative product contains the non-toxic dimethicone within a mineral oil spreading agent
References
1. Canyon DV, Speare R. A comparison of botanical and synthetic substances commonly used to prevent head lice (Pediculus humanus var. capitis) infestation. Int J Dermatol 2007; 46(4):422-6.
2. Tebruegge M, Runnacles J. Is wet combing effective in children with pediculosis capitis infestation? Arch Dis Child 2007; 92(9):818-20.
3. Burgess IF, Brown CM, Lee PN. Treatment of head louse infestation with 4% dimeticone lotion: randomised controlled equivalence trial. BMJ 2005; 330(7505):1423.
4. Pearlman DL. A simple treatment for head lice: dry-on, suffocation-based pediculicide. Pediatrics 2004; 114(3):e275-9.
Silcap+: proof, not promises
Free of insecticides & essentials oils:
mechanical mode of action, no risk of lice becoming resistant.
Lice breath through spiracles that are located in the centre of a raised circular structure. Silcap+ penetrates the spiracles and covers the 'honey comb'-like structures: oxygen diffusion stops within minutes and lice suffocate.
Very effective and rapid action:
in vitro kill-off within 5 minutes
Recent test data show an improved in vitro kill-off of lice with dimethicone formulated as Silcap + foam (dimethicone within a mineral oil distillate) in comparison with existing dimethicone lotion ( dimethicone within volatile cyclomethicone).
Silcap+ eradicates 98% of lice within 5 minutes (in vitro test results)
Clinically proven
In an open label randomized study, the safety and efficacy of Silcap+ was compared against Nix Cream.
Thirty subjects (3 - 75 years) with an active head lice infestation participated in and completed this study. Subjects were randomized to receive two treatments of a US-marketed 1% permethrin cream rinse (N = 15) or Silcap+ (N =15), with each treatment being separated by a 7-9 day interval. Safety and efficacy assessments were performed immediately after the initial treatment, prior to the second treatment on Day 7- 9, and on Day 14 or 15. Safety was determined through solicited and unsolicited collection of adverse events. Lice removal efficacy was determined by the cure rate on Day 14 or 15.
Details and results of this trial will be published shortly in a peer-reviewed journal. Contact us for details.
Nano X-ray tomography video of head lice
Watch lice (P. capitis) treated with Silcap+ up close. Oystershell made this nano-X-ray tomography video in cooperation with the UGCT of the University of Ghent. To our knowledge these are the first X-ray CT-images of this kind.
user-friendly: Silcap+ is an unstable foam that disperses in contact with hair
Silcap+ is directly applicable on dry hair.
- makes nit combing easier
- completely odourless
Silcap+: extra advantages
- EU regulatory approval as medical device (class I)
- dermatological and ocular safety trials: no contact irritation and absence of any eye irritation potential
- Highest quality manufacturing (GMP)
- PCT patent applied for
Download Silcap+ onepager [218 KB - PDF]
