The global lice treatment market size was valued at USD 989.90 million in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 1,730.08 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.40% during the forecast period (2023-2031).
Lice feed exclusively on human blood and can be found on the scalp, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck. Head lice can be transmitted quickly and easily from one person to another by close physical contact, and they are particularly common in children. Between the ages of 3 and 17, head lice affect the vast majority of school-aged children. An infection of the hair and scalp by Pediculus humanus capitis (the head louse) is known as pediculosis capitis. The sickness may have a reduced fatality rate, but it still causes stress for parents, carers, and teachers.
When a cross-sectional survey was conducted in February May 2019, the prevalence of Pediculosis capitis with demographic data and behavioral practices was investigated among 751 approximate participants in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, according to a study published in June 2021 with the title "Prevalence of head lice infestation among schools' workers in the Eastern Region, i.e., Saudi Arabia." The study's results revealed that children under 20 had excellent lice infestation rates, and illiterate individuals mainly needed more understanding regarding lice infestation.
According to a May 2021 study titled "Head Lice at School: Traditional Medicine and Community Engagement," Brazil's rates of head lice incidence in urban slums and impoverished rural communities are thought to be between 28% and 43%, respectively. Although 36.43% of the homes that took part in the study had previously had a head lice infestation, the data reveals that the frequency at various schools in Norway ranged from 0% to 7.14%.
The use of insecticides with various formulations of lotions and shampoos is the most popular method of controlling head lice and treating Pediculosis, according to a June 2021 article titled "The Effect of Educational Intervention on Efficacy of 1% Permethrin Shampoo and 4% Dimethicone Lotion to Treat Head Lice Infestation Using Propensity Score Matching (PSM)". However, there is occasionally a chance of a return, leading to treatment failure due to a lack of awareness and improper use of pediculicides.
According to a February 2019 WHO article, "Countries Are Spending More on Health, governments fund 51% of national health spending, with more than 35% coming from individual costs. Due to this, over 100 million people are forced into abject poverty each year. They cannot receive treatment for lice and other illnesses because they live in impoverished nations.
A lotion to treat head lice received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in October 2020 for nonprescription, or over-the-counter (OTC), usage through a prescription (Rx)-to-OTC transfer. In February 2012, the FDA initially authorized Arbor Pharmaceuticals' Sklice (ivermectin) 0.5% lotion for treating head lice infestation in patients six months and older. Ivermectin lotion, 0.5% (marketed in the US as Sklice Lotion, 0.5%) for treating head lice, a parasitic infectious disease, was developed and commercialized in Japan under a licensing deal was finalized in February 2019 by Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd and Arbor Pharmaceuticals LLC.
The number of lice-treating solutions on the market has increased dramatically across various product categories and distribution methods. OTC or prescription medications are used to cure lice, although resistance to these medications is also increasing. The demand for new products is rising due to the lice's growing opposition to various medicines, which is anticipated to fuel the market's expansion.
| Study Period | 2019-2031 | CAGR | 6.40% |
| Historical Period | 2019-2021 | Forecast Period | 2023-2031 |
| Base Year | 2022 | Base Year Market Size | USD 989.90 Million |
| Forecast Year | 2031 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 1730.08 Million |
| Largest Market | North America | Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
North America Dominates the Global Market
The global lice treatment market share is bifurcated into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
North America is the major revenue contributor and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.80% during the forecast period. Preschool and primary school-aged children and their family members and caregivers are most likely to contract head lice. As per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, head-to-head contact with an already infected person, wearing clothing worn by that person, using infected combs, brushes, or towels/lying on a bed, pillow, couch, /carpet that has recently been in contact with an infected person is the most common ways to contract head lice. According to the (FDA) Food and Drug Administration, a head lice infestation is a year-round issue, with incidence spiking in the fall when kids return to school.
Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.80% during the forecast period. A significant portion of the Asia-Pacific area is China. The region's lice treatment industry is anticipated to increase due to the nation's enormous population. According to reports, children in kindergartens and schools are the most frequently infested with lice among the general population. Thus, the nation's extensive infestation pool is to blame for the region's increasing lice infestation prevalence. In March 2021, Phthirus pubis infestation of the eyelids was first observed in China. Demodex shared the P. pubis infestation with it. Moxifloxacin eye ointment, fluorometholone eye drops, and 25% tea tree oil were used to treat the illness.
In Germany, the market for lice treatment is expanding due to the availability of technologically improved treatments, and it is a highly targeted market for most manufacturers. Growth factors like significant government investment and increased product releases have also driven the market under study. In August 2020, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) and gesund.bund.de, a state health portal, estimated that 1% to 3% of all children between the ages of 3 and 12 had head lice infestations. In its article on head lice, updated in July 2021, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany) demonstrated that health insurers reimburse most treatments for head lice infestation if they are prescribed for children under the age of 12 years.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman are the six nations that make up the GCC region. The GCC nations share social and economic backgrounds, health problems, and nearly identical health systems and regulations. With a robust healthcare infrastructure and the largest per capita drug spending in the Middle East and Africa, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are two of the most developed markets in the area. As a result, there is a tremendous possibility for expanding numerous drug development-related research activities. In February 2020, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health published an article on head lice that included treatment, management, and preventative advice.
We can customize every report - free of charge - including purchasing stand-alone sections or country-level reports
The global lice treatment market is segmented by product type and distribution channel.
Based on product type, the global lice treatment market is bifurcated into OTC Medication, Prescription Medication, and Others.
The prescription medication segment is the major contributor to the market and is estimated to increase at a CAGR of 6.60% during the forecast period. OTC or nonprescription medications are other names for over-the-counter drugs. These phrases all refer to medications that are available over the counter. They are safe and effective when used according to the instructions on the label and those given by your healthcare provider. Acetaminophen is frequently prescribed to alleviate mild aches and pains like headaches or lower fevers.
Scabies is treated with permethrin in adults and children older than two months. Lice (tiny insects that attach themselves to the skin on the head) are treated with over-the-counter permethrin in adults and children two months of age and older. The drug permethrin belongs to the drugs known as scabicides and pediculicides. It eliminates lice and mites to work. Permethrin 1% creme rinse (Nix) was tested as a treatment for Pediculus humanus var capitis (head lice) in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized study, according to the survey "Permethrin 1% Creme Rinse for the Treatment of Pediculus Humanus Var Capitis Infestation" published in the Journal "Pediatr Dermatol" in September 2019. The third research arm contained nonrandomized, investigator-blinded treatment with 1% lindane shampoo as a positive control (Kwell).
Natural pyrethroid extracts from the chrysanthemum flower are known as pyrethrins. When used as instructed, it is both secure and efficient. Pyrethrins can kill only living lice; unhatched eggs cannot (nits). After the first one, a second treatment should be administered for nine to ten days to eliminate any newly hatched lice before they can lay new eggs. Most over-the-counter head lice remedies, including A-200 Pyrinate, Barc, Lice-Enz, Licetrol, Pronto, R and C, RID, Visit, Visit Blue, and Triple X, include the active ingredient pyrethrin.
Based on distribution channels, the global lice treatment market is bifurcated into hospitals and clinics, retail pharmacies, and other distribution channels.
The retail pharmacies segment is the major contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.35% during the forecast period. When a pharmacy sells medications to clients, it is referred to as a retail store. Retail pharmacists are in charge of accurately distributing prescriptions for consumers to use at home, educating consumers about their medications, and responding to their inquiries. The public increasingly operates retail pharmacies as a one-stop shop to buy medicines in the current environment. Due to COVID-19, more people purchase their drugs from retail pharmacies rather than hospitals for routine check-ups. As a result, this market segment has grown.
Choosing, preparing, storing, compounding, and distributing medications and medical devices, as well as advising healthcare personnel and patients on how to use them safely, effectively, and efficiently, are all part of hospital pharmacy. Hospitals and clinics use most of the medications used to treat acute infections. The severity of conditions influences people's decisions about seeking treatment at hospitals and clinics. However, due to their easy accessibility and low cost, over-the-counter medications have historically given prescription medications a terrible time. Many people, particularly in undeveloped and underdeveloped nations, choose OTC medications prescribed by the pharmacist rather than visiting a doctor or hospital for lice infestation because it is not seen as a severe condition or they lack the funds to cover medical expenses.
Online and eCommerce distribution channels are examples of other distribution channels. The internet has recently established itself as a reliable source for making purchases of goods and services. Online drugstore shopping is not an exception. Infestation with lice is a prevalent health issue that affects humans. The need for E-commerce platforms may be fueled by recommendations for over-the-counter medications based on consumer preferences for self-medication (online pharmacies). Online pharmacies are recognized distribution outlets as well. They have received extensive exploration in established markets, and emerging markets are gradually adopting them. Online drug distribution comes with a lot of advantages.
