Substances/pediculicides
Today, insecticides used for the treatment of head lice include organochlorines (lindane), organophosphates (malathion), carbamates (carbaryl), pyrethrins (pyrethrum), pyrethroids (permethrin, phenothrin, bio-allethrin), and spinosad (spinosyn A and spinosyn D).
(As of several years ago) the only agents approved by the FDA for treatment of pediculosis are lindane and malathion.
Tea Tree Oil is one of the few natural ingredients that have been proven to be effective in laboratory tests. Other home remedies such as putting vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, olive oil, mayonnaise, or melted butter under a shower cap have been disproven. Similarly, the CDC claims that swimming has no effect on treating lice, and can in fact harm the treatment by commercial products.
Read more about this topic: Treatment Of Human Head Lice