Quick Head Lice Home Treatments
Quick Treatments For Head Lice
Having head lice and nits is a pesky problem, but it can be treated quickly. Because lice are extremely contagious, the real problem is in preventing a new infestation from occurring. In this article, we’ll share some quick fixes for head lice and tell you about lice prevention.
For headlice to spread, a person must have direct personal contact with someone who is infested, or by contact with infested clothing and items. Head lice is extremely contagious, so if you suspect an infestation, use a nit-removal lice comb to check everyone in your household. Symptoms include itching, swollen glands in the back of the neck, foul-smelling hair and small, oval white or gray-white spots stuck to the hair shaft. If you do find lice or nits, remove them using tweezers, your finger-nails, or a piece of tape wrapped around your finger, sticky side up. Adult lice are reddish-brown and do not jump or fly.
Treating head lice is as easy as consulting a pharmacist for shampoos that kill head lice and nits. The National Pediculosis Association strongly advises against using lice products containing lindane, because it has been associated with a number of serious medical conditions, including seizures and possibly cancer. You can treat eyelashes and eyebrows with a thick layer of petroleum jelly applied twice daily for eight days. For a head lice home remedy, try using olive oil or mayonnaise on the head. There is some evidence that it works by smothering the nits. Massage it into the hair, leave it in as long as possible and then manually comb out the nits. Heat can kill lice and nits, so use a hair dryer after treatments.
Getting rid of head lice in your belongings requires a bit of elbow grease. The good news is that lice don’t live long without a human host. Start by washing all bedding, towels and recently worn clothing. Heat can kill lice and lice eggs, so soak everything in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer. You don’t have to replace all of your brushes and combs, but soak them for at least ten minutes in hot water. To clean items that can’t be washed, give them a thorough vacuuming. If you have a steamer cleaner, that’s definitely advisable. Don’t forget to check the headrests in your car for head lice.
To keep the infestation from spreading, it’s a good idea to stay home and keep your kids home from school for a few days. To protect yourself, avoid sharing hats, bicycle helmets, combs, brushes and clothing with anyone who may have lice. Remember that even if a person is clean, they may still have lice. If you do end up with lice, approach your treatment with care. Pregnant or nursing women should not use treatments for head lice and babies should NEVER be exposed to the chemicals. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist who’ll give you good advice on treating this nasty problem.
