Natural Lice Treatment Options For Head Lice Removal At Home
A head lice infestation is extremely annoying. Just the thought of having one can send shivers down your spine. Head lice are small parasites that live on hair shafts and scalps when they feed on the blood of their host. Many think that having head lice means you are unclean. However, this is untrue. Even if you are the cleanest person you know, and you take a bath regularly, you can still be prone to getting a head lice infection.
In this article, you’ll learn and discover natural lice treatment options for head lice removal at home.
Table of Contents
Signs You Have Head Lice
In the United States, six up to 12 million children become infected with head lice annually. Because of their infection, parents find it extremely difficult to get rid of them. Early detection is critical to prevent it from spreading. You need to be aware of the different signs of a head lice infestation so you can apply natural remedies immediately.
One of the first symptoms of head lice is an itchy scalp. Itching in other areas such as above your neck and behind your ears may indicate a lice infestation. If you also notice any red bumps on your scalp, they might be due to head lice.
How Lice Get Transmitted
Head lice are contagious; however, they do not carry any type of diseases with them. They are spread from one human to another when:
- Your head touches a lice-infected person’s head.
- You share personal items with someone who is infected with lice.
- You use the same fabric that a person with lice used.
Headbands, combs, hats, brushes, and headphones often transfer lice. They can also live in bedding, clothes, towels, and furniture.
Are You at Risk?
Almost everyone is at risk for getting infected with head lice. However, some people are more at risk than others. Head lice are more common in small children, preschoolers and elementary students than adults. Because of frequent head-to-head interaction, girls are more at risk of a head lice infection. People living in warm or hot weather are also more likely to have head lice. Also, those with kinky hair are less at risk because their thick and curly hair makes it difficult for lice to live in it.
Natural Lice Treatment Options
Some parents rely on conventional lice treatments that are often loaded with ingredients and chemicals that may cause damage to the scalp. Some of these lice treatment products contain permethrin, which is a toxic and dangerous substance that should not be used on the human scalp.
Lice can multiply quickly. Because they can reproduce fast, it makes it difficult for people who are infested with lice to get rid of them. As an alternative, more effective home remedies are available so you can get rid of head lice.
Combing
One of the most fundamental home remedies for lice is combing. You can use a lice comb or a regular fine-toothed comb to remove the lice. You can follow these steps for better results:
- Divide the hair into different sections.
- Thoroughly comb one section at a time.
- After each comb or stroke, you must rinse the comb with vinegar. Make sure to put the vinegar in a bowl to make rinsing easier. Avoid skipping this step because the lice will reattach to the hair.
- Repeat steps 1-3 until you are satisfied with the results.
- Remember this is a tedious and meticulous process. It takes time and effort. You need to be patient so that you can remove the lice on your head.
Olive oil or almond oil
Using these types of oils help suffocate the lice. It will make it easier for you to comb through the hair and remove them using a lice comb. These steps can help you remove the lice easily:
- Divide your hair into sections using clips.
- Cover each section with almond/olive oil.
- Comb through your hair using a nit comb.
- Rinse the comb with warm water after each stroke.
- Once you are done, clean your hair using your regular shampoo. Do this twice.
- You must also clean the towel and comb thoroughly so the lice will not spread.
This method is effective because smothering lice with oil slows them down. As a result, it is easier for you to comb them out of your hair. You can use this remedy daily for a week.
Home remedies are readily available to treat head lice. However, they may be time-consuming. If you do not have the time and the patience to handle your head lice yourself, you can also seek a professional lice service from businesses that offer to do the treatment for you.