Composition for treatment and prevention of lice

Abstract

A composition and method for treating lice and removing nits from human hair, the composition including an alcohol; an inorganic salt in an amount less than 10 wt %; one or more essential oils and/or plant essences; and purified water. The composition may optionally include a surfactant to reduce separation of the ingredients of the composition and increase the appearance of homogeneity within the composition. The method may include applying the composition to human hair and the scalp and combing the hair to remove the lice and nits.

1 . A composition for treatment of lice and nits comprising:
 a. an alcohol;   b. an inorganic salt in an amount less than 10 wt %;   c. one or more essential oils and/or plant essences; and   d. purified water present in an amount of about 50 wt % or greater; wherein the composition is adapted to weaken or break a glue-like bond between nits and human hair so that the nits can be removed from the hair.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition includes a surfactant adapted to reduce separation of the ingredients of the composition and increase appearance of homogeneity. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the surfactant is a poloxamer. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is a primary alcohol, benzyl alcohol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic salt is sodium chloride. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more essential oils and/or plant essences include peppermint oil in an amount of about 1 wt % or greater. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition includes a plant essence, and wherein the plant essence is aloe vera oil. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is present in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic salt is present in an amount of about 3 wt % or greater. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the inorganic salt is present in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has sufficient viscosity that it is a liquid solution that is able to be sprayed via a spray nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises:
 a. the alcohol in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %;   b. the inorganic salt in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %;   c. peppermint oil in an amount of greater than 0 wt % and about 3 wt % or less;   d. a poloxamer in an amount of greater than 0 wt % and about 1 wt % or less; and   e. purified water.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , comprising aloe vera oil in an amount of about 7 wt % or less. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the alcohol is a primary alcohol, benzyl alcohol, or a combination thereof, and wherein the inorganic salt is sodium chloride. 
     
     
         15 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the composition has a viscosity of about 100 cps or less at room temperature. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the composition comprises:
 a. benzyl alcohol in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %;   b. sodium chloride in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %;   c. peppermint oil in an amount of greater than 0 wt % up to about 3 wt %;   d. a poloxamer in an amount of greater than 0 wt % up to about 1 wt %; and   e. purified water.   
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition consists essentially of:
 a. benzyl alcohol in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %;   b. sodium chloride in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 5 wt %;   c. peppermint oil in an amount of greater than 0 wt % up to about 3 wt %;   d. a poloxamer in an amount of greater than 0 wt % up to about 1 wt %; and   e. purified water.   
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the composition is adapted to be applied to dry human hair without lathering. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is adapted to be applied to dry human hair without lathering. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition cannot be worked into a lather.