If you choose not to use a medication for treating a head lice problem, you might think about an alternative home treatment. There is little to no medical proof of the effectiveness of such treatments.
Home Remedies for Treatment of Head Lice
Wet-combing
Combing damp hair with a fine-toothed nit comb may get rid of lice and some nits. Research is undetermined on the efficiency of this method.
The hair needs to be wet, and you ought to add something to oil the hair, such as a hair conditioner. Comb the entire head from scalp to end of the hair a minimum of two times during a session. The procedure must be repeated every 3 to four days for a number of weeks– a minimum of two weeks after no more lice are found.
Necessary oils
Small medical studies have recommended that some natural plant oils may have a hazardous effect on lice and eggs. These products include:
- Tea tree oil
- Anise oil
- Ylang ylang oil
- Nerolidol, a chemical substance discovered in lots of plant oils
These products are not required to fulfill safety, effectiveness and production standards used for drugs authorized by the FDA.
See also: How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Lice Treatment
Smothering representatives
A number of home products are used to treat head lice problems. The thinking is that these products deny the lice and incubating eggs of air. The item is applied to the hair, covered with a shower cap and left on over night. Products used for this purpose include:
- Mayo.
- Olive oil.
- Butter.
- Petroleum jelly.
Harmful products to prevent
Flammable products, such as kerosene or fuel, must never ever be used to eliminate lice or to remove nits.
Household cleansing
Lice typically do not live past one day without feeding from a scalp, and eggs do not survive if they aren’t incubated at the temperature near the scalp. For that reason, the opportunity of lice making it through on home products is small.
As a preventative measure you may clean up products that the impacted person has used in the last two days. Cleaning suggestions include the following:
- Wash products in hot water. Wash bed linen and clothing in hot, soapy water– a minimum of 130 F (54.4 C)– and dry at high heat.
- Tidy hair care products. Tidy combs, brushes and hair accessories in hot, soapy water.
- Seal products in plastic bags. Seal items that can not be washed in plastic bags for two weeks.
- Vacuum. Give the floor and upholstered furnishings a great vacuuming.
Prevention
It’s tough to avoid the spread of head lice amongst children in childcare centers and schools because there is so much close contact. And the possibility of indirect transmission from personal items is slight.
See also: Tips For Head Lice Prevention
However, it is usually a great practice for children to hang their garments on a separate hook from other children’s garments and not to share combs, brushes, hats and scarves. A fret about head lice transmission is not considered a good reason to avoid sharing protective headgear for sports and bicycling when sharing is necessary.
