Head lice (pediculus humanus capitis), they are tiny parasite that infest the human scalp and feed on blood, mostly common in children. Head lice, Nits, Critters, Creepy crawlies makes the head itchy. You can get head lice by coming in contact with an infected person through playing, at school, in a gathering, wearing an infected person’s clothes, sharing personal items such as combs, brushes and infected person’s bed. Most common signs of head lice infestation are itching and red bumps on the scalp. Every child in school or day care needs lice prevention.
Signs and Symptoms of Head Lice
The following are the symptoms to be looked out for head lice, if you notice your child is having some of the symptoms below, it is time to check her head for lice
- A tickling feeling
- Seeing tiny brown bugs in the hair or clothes
- Feeling something is crawling on your head
- Small red bumps on the scalp, neck and shoulders
- Swollen lymph nodes at the back of the head
- Irritation and difficulty in sleeping
The following home remedies have proven to be effective treatments for head lice:
Garlic
Garlic has a strong smell that can kill head lice quickly
Make about 10 cloves of garlic into a paste with two teaspoons of lime juice, and then apply the mixture thoroughly onto the scalp. Leave in for 30minutes and rinse the hair thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Baby oil
Baby oil is another good remedy to eliminate head lice.
Apply some baby oil on your hair and comb out slowly so that the lice start falling from your head.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is powerful; it is a natural insecticide effective for the treatment of head lice. Mix one tea tree oil, one ounce of natural shampoo and two tablespoons of olive oil. Apply gently to your hair and cover with a shower cap or towel for 30minutes and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Then comb through while your hair is still wet to remove the dead lice.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise also has the power to choke the head lice. Add some mayonnaise on the scalp and massage, cover with shower cap and leave overnight. In the morning comb out dead lice and eggs and wash with shampoo thoroughly and wash with lukewarm water.
Vinegar
Before bed, put some white vinegar diluted with equal amount of water on your hair and cover with shower cap or towel. Dip a comb in white vinegar and comb your hair. Wash your hair with regular shampoo and apply some conditioners.
Olive oil
Apply any type of olive oil to your hair before going to bed, cover with shower cap or towel. In the morning, comb out to remove the dead parasites and wash with herbal shampoo, which contain tea tree oil.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly can prevent the lice moving around. Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly to the scalp before going to bed. Cover your head tightly with shower cap or towel. In the morning, use baby oil to remove the petroleum jelly and comb your hair thoroughly to remove the dead lice.
Advice
- Contact health professional if natural lice treatments do not work after two weeks or there are signs of an infection when using any of the home remedies.
- Check that your child is not allergic to any of the ingredients.
- Do not use flammable products like kerosene to kill head lice or to remove the eggs.
- Remember head lice do not mean your child is dirty, your home is dirty or you do not wash your child’s hair enough, it is something not to be embarrassed about.
- Also, if your child has head lice, parent is likely to come in contact with lice at some point it is treatable. It can happen to anyone, don’t be embarrassed.
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