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A non-pesticide head lice treatment containing 4% dimeticone. It coats head lice and stops them working, so lice cannot become resistant to it. Suitable for adults and children aged 6 months and over, and supplied after a short online consultation with our UK pharmacy team.
Order before 3pm — same-day dispatch (MON - FRI)
~5 min consultation
Secure & confidential · Reviewed by a UK prescriber
Suitable age
6 months +
Max per order
3 bottles
Consultation
Yes — free online
Hedrin 4% Lotion is a pharmacy medicine used to treat head lice. Its active ingredient, dimeticone, is a silicone that coats the lice and stops them getting rid of water, so they die. Because it works physically rather than as a poison, head lice cannot become resistant to it.
It is recommended by NHS formularies as a first choice for head lice. It can be used by adults and children aged 6 months and over, and there is no evidence that it is harmful in pregnancy.
You apply it to dry hair, leave it on for at least 8 hours or overnight, then wash it out with your usual shampoo. A second treatment 7 days later deals with any lice that have hatched since. Before we supply Hedrin, you complete a short online consultation so our UK pharmacy team can check it is right for you or your child.
| Active ingredient | Dimeticone 4% w/w |
| Form | Lotion (cutaneous solution) for use on the hair and scalp |
| Pack size | 150ml bottle |
| Used to treat | Head lice |
| Suitable from | 6 months of age |
| How often | Apply once, then repeat after 7 days |
| Legal category | Pharmacy medicine (P) |
| Manufacturer | Thornton & Ross Ltd (PL 00240/0345) |
Before you start, check everyone in your household with a fine-toothed detection comb. Only treat people who have live lice, and treat them all on the same day.
Make sure the hair is dry. Apply enough lotion to cover the whole scalp and work it through from the roots to the tips.
2. Let the hair dry naturally. Do not use a hairdryer.
3. Leave the lotion on for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
4. Wash the hair with your usual shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Combing through with a nit comb afterwards helps remove dead lice and eggs.
5. Repeat the treatment 7 days later.
Keep the lotion away from the eyes. If it gets into the eyes, rinse well with water. Keep treated hair away from naked flames, cigarettes and other sources of heat until it has been washed.
Hedrin 4% Lotion is a pharmacy medicine for treating head lice. It contains dimeticone, a silicone that coats the lice and stops them controlling their water balance, so they die. Because it works physically rather than as an insecticide, head lice cannot become resistant to it. That is why NHS formularies recommend dimeticone as a first choice for head lice.
Apply the lotion to dry hair, making sure the whole scalp is covered and the lotion reaches from the roots to the tips. Let the hair dry naturally and leave the lotion on for at least 8 hours, or overnight. Then wash the hair with your usual shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Repeat the treatment 7 days later to deal with any lice that have hatched since. Check everyone in the household and treat anyone with live lice on the same day.
Yes. Hedrin 4% Lotion is a pharmacy medicine, so you can buy it from Access Doctor after a short, free online consultation. A 150ml bottle costs £14.99. Our UK pharmacy team reviews your answers to make sure it is suitable before your order is dispatched in discreet packaging.
Hedrin can be used by adults and children aged 6 months and over. Babies younger than 6 months should only be treated under medical supervision. There is no evidence that Hedrin is harmful in pregnancy, and it is often suggested when a non-insecticide option is preferred. If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding, tell us during your consultation so our pharmacy team can advise you.
Yes, while it is on the hair. Treated hair can catch fire easily, so keep away from naked flames, lit cigarettes, gas hobs and other sources of ignition, and let the hair dry naturally rather than using a hairdryer. Once the lotion has been washed out, the risk has gone.
Side effects are uncommon. Some people notice an itchy or flaky scalp, skin irritation, or eye irritation if the lotion gets into the eyes. Hair loss has been reported rarely. If you develop a rash, hives or difficulty breathing, stop using Hedrin and get medical help straight away.
Both treat head lice and both need a second application after 7 days. Hedrin works physically, so lice cannot become resistant to it, and it is usually the first choice. Derbac-M contains malathion, an insecticide, and is generally used if a physical treatment like Hedrin has not worked. Derbac-M is water-based and is not flammable, while Hedrin must be kept away from flames until it is washed out. Our pharmacy team can help you decide during your consultation.
Hedrin is less effective against eggs than against live lice, which is why the second treatment after 7 days is so important. It kills lice that have hatched from eggs since the first application. Dead eggs and empty egg cases (nits) stay stuck to the hair, so combing through wet hair with a fine-toothed nit comb is the best way to remove them.
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