Home Remedy Treatments For Head Lice

The following two treatments were those that were found to have the best results after applying when using common, readily available items. The treatments are in no way a complete, or medically endorsed, list of head lice treatments but are those that seemed to work best for most head lice sufferers.

The treatments outlined here will address the problem of difficult louse and NIT removal making it easier for you to remove them. This is where they have their greatest strength in lice removal and prevention of re-infestation. These two treatments are not to be assumed as a head lice “killer”. They do not work in this fashion as with harmful pesticidical shampoos or similar treatments. NEVER assume that a louse is dead. They can hibernate and appear to be dead. Lice Get Rid.

You will also notice that the steps in these treatments are similar. That is because these were hand-selected and deemed most effective from all the home remedies for head lice found based on safety and success responses from those using them. While there are only two provided in this guide, they are effective, and that is what has been focused on here.

“Sometimes The Simplest Answer Is The Right One.”
The “Mayo” Treatment

1-2 32 oz. Jars of Mayonnaise (the real stuff, no Miracle Whip) – depending on the amount of hair to be treated

1 Roll of Plastic Wrap or a Plastic Shower Cap(sometimes better)

1 Bottle of White Vinegar

1 Bottle of Denorex Dandruff Shampoo

1 Bottle of Dawn Dish-washing Soap

1-3 Rolls of Paper Towels

1 Metal NIT Removal Comb

Optional: 1 plastic spray bottle
Completely saturate the entire head of hair with Mayonnaise. Once done, wrap the head with plastic wrap, or shower cap(best for children) and leave mayonnaise on overnight, or for a minimum of 8 hours if performing treatment during the day.

Rinse out mayonnaise with warm water as best you can. Then apply a small amount of Dawn, or de-greasing type dish soap to the head and work into a lather to remove excessive “greasy” feeling. Rinse hair completely.

While hair is still wet, apply a normal size amount of Denorex Dandruff Shampoo to head and work into a lather. Rinse hair.

Towel dry hair and then apply white vinegar to the hair either by hand or with a small spray bottle.

Next, use the Metal NIT Comb and begin combing out the hair starting at the roots and continuing all the way down the hair shaft. Do this for the entire head and start at the top.

When using the NIT comb, remember to always comb in small, thin sections of hair, about ½ inch, to ensure complete NIT removal.
Repeat this entire process in 3 to 5 day intervals for the next 2 to 4 weeks to be sure that all lice are gone including and especially the NITs.

The Olive Oil Treatment

2-4 20 oz. Bottles of Olive Oil – Brand Name Not Important

1 Roll of Plastic Wrap or Plastic Shower Cap

1-2 Dry Wash Clothes

2-4 Dry Towels

1-3 Rolls of Paper Towels

1 Bottle of Dawn, or similar, Dish-washing Liquid

1 Metal NIT Removal Comb
Completely saturate the entire head with Olive Oil beginning at the top of the head and continuing on down to the ends of the hair.

Next, wrap the head completely with Plastic Wrap, or use the Plastic Shower Cap.

Leave oil and plastic on head overnight or for at least 8 hours.

If doing the treatment as an overnight treatment, be sure to lay down clean, dry bath towels anywhere the oil could leak out onto bedding. Use the wash clothes to wipe any extra oil that leaks from the head onto the face or body(as this is a natural occurrence when using such a treatment).

After 8 hours, or in the morning, remove the plastic wrap or shower cap and begin rinsing the hair with warm water(get it as hot as you can bare without being painful).

Next, add a small amount of Dawn dish washing liquid to your head and work into as much of a lather as you can(be careful to avoid contact with the eyes). And then rinse.

Last, begin to use the metal NIT removal comb and begin combing out small sections(about ½ inch in width). Be sure to wipe off the comb repeatedly during this process using the paper towels.

Clean out the NIT comb when you have finished combing the entire head with a bleach/hot water solution allowing the comb to sit in the solution for several hours.

Repeat this process in 2-4 day intervals over the next 7-14 days to ensure no re-infestation occurs.

THere are several other home remedies for head lice, but we felt these were the best ones to display for you.

Lice Do Not Spread Disease, but They Are Contagious!

Lice aren’t dangerous and don’t pass blood born disease disease, but they are contagious and can just be downright annoying. Their bites may cause your child’s scalp to become irritated, and persistent scratching may lead to skin problems and even infection.

Recognizing Head Lice

Though very small, lice can be seen by the Human eye.

Lice eggs (called nits). These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown sacks before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts near the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits appear a lot like dandruff, only they can’t be removed by brushing or shaking them off. Unless the infestation is heavy, it’s more common to see nits in a child’s hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks after being ‘nitted.’

Adult and Hatched Lice

Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). The adult louse is very tiny and is brown-tan in color. Nymphs become fully grown in about a week after hatching. Most lice feed on blood about every 4 to 6 hours, but they can survive up to 3 days off the scalp.

Hair Lice and Scratching

With lice bites come itching and scratching. However, the itching may not always start right away – that depends on how sensitive your child’s skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to notice the discomfort, meaning the infestation will become more severe. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads as they can feel the lice wriggling near the scalp.

Red Bumps and Scalp Sores from Head Lice

For most children, the irritation is mild; but for others, a more bothersome rash with crusting and oozing may develop. It’s also not unusual for kids to develop some swelling of their lymph glands as a reaction to the bites. Excessive scratching can also lead to a bacterial infection (the skin would become red and tender around the bite area). If your doctor thinks this is the case, he or she may treat the infection with a topical or an oral antibiotic.

Searching For HeadLice

You may be able to see the lice or nits by parting your child’s hair into small sections and checking for lice and nits on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the back of the neck near the hairline). A magnifying glass and bright light may help. But it can be tough to find a nymph or adult louse – often, there aren’t many of them and they’re able to scramble quickly running from the light. It is much easier to find the newly laid eggs attached to the hair shafts.

Are Hair Lice Contagious?

Yes, hair lice are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (this pretty much means anywhere kids are together such as school, daycare or sports team that share equipment)

Though they can’t fly or jump, these tiny parasites have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along.

Can Pets Pass Head Lice

Nope, pets like dogs and cats are NOT prone or susceptible to lice or passing it along. They gotta live with the fleas, but not the lice!

Your doctor can recommend a medicated shampoo, cream, or lotion to kill the lice. These may be over-the-counter or prescription medications, depending on what treatments have already been tried. It isn’t uncommon for treatments to be unsuccessful because of incorrect use or because the lice may be resistant to the chemical in the shampoo.

It’s important to follow the directions completely because these products are insecticides. Applying them too much or too frequently can increase the risk to you or your child. Following the directions on the product label is also important to ensure that the treatment works properly. Your doctor may also suggest a special rinse to use on your child’s hair that makes it easier to comb out the nits using a fine-tooth comb. There are specially designed fine toothed combs that will remove lice eggs from the hair.
A good hair cut is also a good idea after an infestation.

Medicated lice treatments can usually kill the lice and nits, but it may take a few days for the itching to stop. Your doctor may recommend repeating treatment in 7 to 10 days to make sure all the nits have been killed and avoid risk of reinfestation.

What About Lice In The House?

Headlice don’t live very long once they fall off the scalp of the host. So it’s unnecessary to spend a great deal of time and money trying to rid the house of lice.

Following are a few tips for eradicating lice in your house after an outbreak on you or your child’s head.

* Wash all bed linens and clothing that’s been recently worn by anyone in your home who’s infested in very hot water (130° Fahrenheit, 54.4° Celsius), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
* Dry clean any clothing that isn’t machine washable.
* Have bed linens, clothing, and stuffed animals and plush toys that can’t be washed dry-cleaned. Or, put them in airtight bags for 2 weeks.
* Vacuum carpe

]]> http://hairlicetreatments.com/head-lice-hair-lice-cause-identification-and-treatment/feed/ 0 http://hairlicetreatments.com/head-lice-hair-lice-hair-louse-general-information/ http://hairlicetreatments.com/head-lice-hair-lice-hair-louse-general-information/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:08:43 +0000 Parental Helper http://hairlicetreatments.com/?p=3 Hair lice or head lice or sometime even hair louse, also called Pediculus humanus capitis, is the most common type of lice. Other types of lice include body lice and pubic lice. For our purposes, we are talking about the type of lice that you find in your kids’ hair when they come home from school.

First off, you should NOT FEEL BAD if your kid gets lice. It can come from anywhere and does not reflect on your being a bad parent! Now that we have that straight:

Hair lice are parasitic insects that are found on people’s heads. Having head lice is very common. It is estimated that 6-12 million people in the USA get head lice every year. Head lice is not considered a serious disease, but is embarrassing to have and can cause uncomfortable itching.

Adult female lice lay hundreds of eggs, called nits. These nits are firmly attached to the base of the hair shaft, closest to the scalp. The nits are often confused for dandruff. After a week or so, the nit hatches into a baby louse called a nymph. Nymph’s look like adult louses, but are smaller. They become an adult in 10 days, and as an adult live for about 30 days. To live, nymphs and adult lice must feed on blood. If the louse falls off a person and cannot feed, it will die within 2 days.

When people check hair for lice, they are actually looking for the eggs, or nits attached to the hair. This is the quickest way to find if someone is infected.

The good news is that lice can be treated safely and effectively.

It is all natural, contains no harsh chemicals, and kills all lice and their eggs (nits) in just one application. For information on the best hair lice cure, follow this link to Naughty Nits. For additional information about lice, please continue reading.

Who Gets Head Lice?

Anyone can get lice. You are at greatest risk of getting hair lice if you come into close contact with someone who already has head lice. Head to head contact is the most common way to get lice, however, you can also get it from contact with an infected persons clothing (such as hat, coat, scarves, hair ribbon) or other personal items (such as a brush, comb or a towel). Head lice cannot jump or fly.

If your child plays sports like baseball, they are very likely to get it from sharing batting helmets!

Young children, ages 3-10, and their families are most often infested. Girls get lice more often then boys, and women more often than men. A person’s degree of cleanliness or personal hygiene has nothing to do with getting head lice. Hair lice are much less common in African Americans, due to hair type.

Hair Louse Symptoms

While, some people have no symptoms, most people will have some or all of the following symptoms:

· Frequent feeling of something moving in their hair.
· Nits that look like whitish shells are found attached to the base of hair strands near the scalp.
· Scalp itching that is caused by an allergic reaction to the lice bites.
· Irritability.
· Red sores that can become infected if repeatedly scratched.

Where are head lice found

Hair lice are found on the scalp, behind the ears and near the hairline at the neck. They are rarely found in eyelashes, eyebrows or on the body. They are difficult to see, and can change color to match the host hair.

Lice have six legs. At the end of each leg is a hook like claw that they use to hold on to hair with.

We will now go over lice treatment, and discuss the best lice cure.

Hair lice treatments and cures

The best cures are a good haircut and lice killing shampoo. There are dozens of shampoos available over the counter at your local drug store. The haircut is not necessary but will save some picking because you need to comb the lice nits out of the hair after washing with the shampoo.

In addition to lice treatment, all household members should be checked for lice and nits. Also, the infected persons bed linens and clothing should be washed in hot water. Non-washable items like stuffed animals should be put in plastic bags for 2 weeks, and then opened outside. Combs and brushes should be soaked in alcohol or hot water for 5 minutes. The water should be at least 131°F or 55°C.

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