Analysis has been made that with the help of nonprescription as well as prescription medicines, head lice can be treated. Following treatment instructions minutely would allow you to get rid of hair lice and their eggs.
While you are dealing with lice, it is better to keep a few things in mind. Since the lice can spread, this doesn't mean that you or your kids are in some way 'unclean.' There might be situations when all you need to do is utilize a lice comb for combing out the nits, and nymphs along with the adult lice in your child's hair.
If your child just came back from an overnight stay with friends and the parent in charge informed you that one of the kids has lice, then you don't need to panic in this case. You can consider yourself fortunate since you have caught the problem at an earlier stage. And then start simply combing out your child's hair every morning and evening for around three weeks.
In fact, all of the home remedies rely on some method for suffocating the lice. With the help of home remedies, it would probably be much better rather than using harsh chemicals on your child's head.
Head lice are known to be small parasitic insects that cling to the scalp hairs. This leads to the growth of eggs, known as nits which stand at the base of the hair shaft. These nits develop in order to become nymphs which ultimately form adults. It is common for caretakers, along with the household members of infected individuals to catch lice since they can be spread through head-to-head contact. Fortunately, some of the home remedies have been recommended for treating head lice:-
Wet Combing
One of the decent ways for removing lice and the recommended method for children aged two months and younger—is by the method of wet combing. When the hair is wet for a temporary amount of time, it keeps lice from moving as they stick to the hair follicles. Oils or leave-in conditioners help in making hair easier to comb through. When the hair is wet, it is better to use a fine-tooth lice comb to remove larvae and nymphs along with the nits. Wiping the comb after combing each section of the hair ensures that you are not accumulating nits or larvae back into the scalp. Repetition of this process every 2-3 days for 9-14 days might provide beneficial results. Even though this method is said to be time-consuming, this wet combing method can be useful without trusting any medical treatments.
Vinegar
The idea behind this method is that the acetic acid in Vinegar helps in disrupting the shells along with the natural adhesive that glues nits into the hair shaft.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum Jelly has been examined to possess more efficacy than other modernized treatments. In one study, it was shown that only 6 percent of the lice eggs hatched after petroleum jelly treatments. By saying that, over 6 percent of eggs hatching might still create some secondary round of infestation. While carrying out any lice-smothering attempt, follow up with fine-tooth combing in order to ensure complete removal.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is seen for suffocating lice and has been recommended to be very much effective when it is in combination with anise oil. Findings from Brazil found out that after a four-hour period of coconut oil application, nearly 80 percent of the lice were no more. During the winter season, coconut oil might be difficult to put on and then comb out because it hardens during colder temperatures.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is known to have proven benefits in treating lice when the oil is mixed with tea tree oil. It is said that Lavender also works as an insect repellent but it cannot be said to be the strongest option. As with any essential oil, it is better to dilute lavender oil in carrier oil to avoid extensive irritation. Lavender oil might be considered to be an endocrine disruptor, so be careful before using it in children.
Heat
It has been found that lice and their eggs cannot survive temperatures beyond 128.3°F for more than five minutes. Heat in this range is very hot if absorbed on your scalp and hair, so this method can be used while laundering clothing and bedding items. Simply wash and dry the clothes worn by affected family members within a week of infestation in temperatures of at least 130°F.
References
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-lice/symptoms-causes/syc-20356180
- https://khealth.com/learn/head-lice/home-remedies/
