Head Lice Treatment

There are three kinds of lice that dwell in a human being’s body; these are head lice, body lice and pubic lice. Another name for the presence of lice is pediculosis. It is more common among children. The insect starts out as a nit, grows into lymph and finally an adult lice. Its life cycle lasts for approximately 30 days. If distanced from its host - a human body – it can only thrive for about 2 days.

The most common type of lice is the head lice or the Pediculus capitis. The head lice infestation is generally found in the scalp with several itinerant head lice found in the neck and face area. The adult lice have six shafts like legs, which facilitates ease of movement and better hold on the hair.

Usually the presence of head lice is mistakenly believed to cause head lice but is not the case. The most usual cause of head lice is the head-to-head contact with an infected person. This is very true in the situation of most children. Their daily interaction and contact may result to an effortless transfer from one child to another. Other than head-to-head contact, head lice can also be transmitted by using the infected persons’ combs, towels, hats and other paraphernalia used on the head.

Symptoms of Head Lice

A person who is infected with head lice might feel some tickling sensation brought about by the movements the adult lice. There is also that intense and constant itching probably caused by the bites. Crusting and redness of the scalp can also lead to skin infection. This is turn might result to the formation of lymph nodes creating some bumps on the neck and the area behind the ears.

Prevention of Head Lice

Preventive measures may be done to avoid having head lice. There are louse or nit combs, which can be used in order to reduce the number of nits and lice. One can also use proper shampoo and be more heedful to keeping the grooming of one’s hair. Daily shampooing of the hair may just do the job. It is also easier to control the head lice if one’s hair is shorter. Maintain cleanliness of the surroundings at the same time to prevent infestation.

Home Remedies for Head Lice

In order to eliminate head lice, one can look around the house for things that can be used for home remedies. The kitchen is a good source of these anti-lice materials.

Washing the hair with vinegar can kill the nits in a matter of two days. One can also apply coconut oil to the hair after as conditioner. Vinegar mixed in equal proportion with baby oil or any other mineral oil applied on the hair and kept covered for an hour before shampooing can also do the job. This is one of the useful home remedies for head lice.

Another effective head lice cure is tea tree oil can also be used by mixing ten to fifteen drops to your regular shampoo for daily use. Another way of doing it is by mixing 3 tablespoons of olive, I tablespoon of tea tree oil, 1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil and one’s regular shampoo. The mixture will be applied to the hair and scalp. The head should be covered tightly with a plastic bag for half an hour before rinsing. Mayonnaise can then be applied overnight as leave on conditioner. This procedure will make it easier for lice to slide off the hair when one uses the lice comb after rinsing.

Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash is also effective if one will rub it on his head. This has something to do with the constitution of the mouthwash, which includes essential oils like eucalyptol, thymol, menthol, methyl salicylate and alcohol. This is a good natural remedy for head lice.

Another common kitchen ingredient that can be used is mayonnaise. Massage and leave it on the hair for two hours. After the designated time, one can run a comb through the hair and voila, all the lice and nits are killed. A mixture of lemon and butter left on the head for about fifteen seconds and rinsing it thereafter can do the job. This is one of the important head lice home remedies.

The application of Vaseline may also help by suffocating and then removing the lice. Since it is difficult to remove from the hair, the use of corn flour before washing will facilitate its removal.

Another mixture that can be done is that of 20 drops each of eucalyptus essential oil and tree tea oil. 10 drop each of aniseed essential oil and lemon oil and 75ml of olive oil. Massage the mixture on the hair and let it stay for an hour before rinsing to be more effective. This is one of the important head lice treatment.