Head lice are tiny parasites that live on the scalp and feed on human blood. Head lice do not carry disease or bacteria, but their presence can be very annoying. You can get rid of head lice and their eggs using a special over-the-counter shampoo, or a stronger medicated shampoo that requires a prescription and sometimes over-the-counter medication. You can also try home remedies to get rid of head lice, but their effectiveness has not been proven in clinical trials. Make sure your environment, clothing, and bed linens are free of fleas to prevent a second infection.
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Method 1 of 4: Seeking Medical Treatment
Step 1. Consult a doctor for a diagnosis
If you have head lice, make an appointment with your doctor or at least call him for advice. There are a variety of treatment options available to treat head lice and their eggs, and your doctor can recommend them and give you specific instructions on how to use the shampoo or oral medication.
Step 2. Try a medicated shampoo
If your doctor doesn't think this treatment is harmful to you, he or she may recommend an over-the-counter lice shampoo as a first step. Use this product as directed by your doctor.
- This over-the-counter shampoo contains a chemical compound called pyrethrin, which is effective against head lice. Flea shampoo contains permethrin (Nix), which contains synthetic pyrethrin, and pyrethrin with additive (Peditox), which combines pyrethrin with other chemicals. Pyrethrin can cause side effects such as itching and redness of the scalp.
- You should wash the hair of people who are infected with lice with this shampoo. Don't use conditioner. Some people say that rinsing your hair with white vinegar after shampooing with lice shampoo can speed up the treatment process. Follow the directions on the package to find out exactly how long you should let the shampoo work before rinsing it off.
- This treatment usually has to be repeated a second time. While over-the-counter lice shampoos can get rid of nits, some may stick to your hair and hatch. Many people recommend a second treatment after 7-10 days, but your doctor may give different advice, depending on how severe the tick infection is.
Step 3. Ask your doctor about products to buy with a prescription
In some cases, lice can develop resistance to over-the-counter flea shampoos. Therefore, your doctor may prescribe a stronger shampoo to treat a tick infection.
- Benzyl alcohol (Ulesfia) kills lice by depleting them of oxygen. This product is prohibited for use in children younger than 6 months because it can cause serious side effects, such as seizures. For older children, these products are usually safe, although they can sometimes cause redness and itching of the scalp.
- Malathion (Ovide) can be used for those aged 6 years or older. This lice shampoo can be applied to the hair and allowed to dry. This product will go away on its own after 8-12 hours. Do not use a hairdryer when using this product or near a fire as it is flammable.
- Lindane is only used if other treatments have not worked for the problem. This product may cause serious side effects, such as seizures. Do not use it on children, or people weighing less than 50 kg, pregnant or lactating women, people with HIV, or people who have a history of seizures.
- Doctors may prescribe ivermectim, although this is rare. This product can be applied topically (Sklice) or given orally.
Method 2 of 4: Combing Wet Hair
Step 1. Learn how to identify ticks
If you want to get rid of nits by combing wet hair, learn how to identify lice first. Take some time to find out what head lice and their eggs look like before doing a wet comb.
- The size of an adult or infant flea is between 0.25 and 0.3 cm. These insects are gray or brown. Fleas cannot fly or jump, but can crawl quickly.
- Lice eggs are small and brown (like coffee) before hatching. It is about the size of a sesame seed. Lice eggs are very difficult to remove because they stick tightly to the hair shaft. Empty eggs are usually white or clear.
- Use a magnifying glass to make it easier to find nits.
Step 2. Prepare the hair
Before doing a wet comb, you should prepare your hair for the process. Comb your hair with a hairbrush or a regular comb to untangle the tangles. Apply conditioner to keep your hair moisturized.
Step 3. Comb the hair
Use a fine-toothed comb specifically designed to remove lice (or "slices") in this method. Divide the hair into sections according to the width of the comb. This step will make it easier for you to spot and get rid of fleas.
- Scan one section at a time. Take a section of hair by hand and comb it. Start at the scalp and pull the comb in a position against the scalp. Do it slowly and watch for lice and eggs carried when combing.
- If you see lice or dirt accumulating on the comb, dip it in soapy water to clean it.
Step 4. Do the cleaning
After the combing process is complete, flush the water you used to clean the comb into the toilet. Soak the comb in ammonia water. You can make it by mixing 1 teaspoon of ammonia with 2 cups of hot water. Check the hair again to see if there are any lice or eggs left behind. If you find lice or eggs on the hair shaft, use scissors to remove them separately.
Continue to comb wet hair once a week for 3 weeks. Call your doctor if you still find lice after 3 weeks
Method 3 of 4: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Try tea tree oil
Although there is no scientific consensus, some studies show that tea tree oil and other natural oils can kill head lice. You can buy tea tree oil at your local health store. Try it and see if this oil is effective in killing your head lice.
- Some people are allergic to tea tree oil and will experience skin redness and irritation. Consult a doctor before trying tea tree oil. Or, you can apply a small amount of the oil on your arm for a few days to see if you have an allergic reaction. Be careful if you use it on small children.
- Before going to bed, sprinkle a few drops of tea tree oil on your scalp. Before going to bed, put a towel on the pillow. Leave the oil on your hair overnight.
- In the morning, comb your hair to remove dead lice or eggs. Then, wash your hair and apply conditioner. If possible, use a shampoo and conditioner that contains tea tree oil. Look for products that have a tea tree oil concentration of at least 2%.
- Repeat the same procedure as necessary. You may need to do this several times before you get satisfactory results.
Step 2. Use other essential oils
Several studies have shown that some natural vegetable oils can be toxic to head lice. However, the available scientific research is limited and inconclusive. Lavender, fennel, ylang, and nerolidol oils can be used to get rid of head lice. You can buy this oil online or find it at a pharmacy or health food store. However, be careful when using essential oils because there are no safety standards that apply to these oils. Note that many essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil, such as olive oil, before use. Read the label on the package for safe use. As with tea tree oil, use essential oils with caution, especially for children. Consult a doctor before using essential oils to treat head lice.
Step 3. Try a substance that deprives the tick of oxygen
Many household products can kill head lice and their eggs by depriving them of air. This product can dehydrate lice and eggs. However, there is little clinical evidence of the effectiveness of this method.
Olive oil, mayonnaise, petrolatum, and butter can all be substances that suffocate lice. You should apply one of these products to your hair, put on a shower cap or hair net, and let the product work overnight. Wash your hair the next day and see if there are significant results
Method 4 of 4: Ensuring Treatment Success
Step 1. Understand the reasons why treatment is not working
If you don't use the treatment properly, you may not get the desired results. Make sure you avoid common mistakes when dealing with head lice.
- Applying conditioner after using a flea shampoo can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Conditioner can act as a barrier and prevent lice medication from reaching the scalp. It's best not to use conditioner while undergoing the treatment process with lice shampoo.
- Follow all instructions carefully when using shampoo. Oftentimes, people ignore these instructions so that treatment is not effective. Make sure you do a second treatment and wait for the right time. If you re-treat too soon after the first, chances are that not all the nits will hatch and you won't be able to get rid of all the lice.
- You can get lice again. That's normal. Maybe you managed to kill all the head lice, but then caught the lice again from other people or your environment. Make sure you avoid people who have head lice and clean your house to get rid of any lice that may have fallen off your head.
Step 2. Wash all the fabrics in your house
Usually lice can not live too long after falling from the scalp. However, as a precaution, you should wash all items used by people who have lice. Wash fabrics, sheets, stuffed animals, and clothing in hot water, then dry them on a high temperature. If you have items that cannot be washed, put them in a plastic bag, seal tightly, and leave for 2 weeks.
Step 3. Clean the carpet and furniture upholstery with a vacuum cleaner
Although it is rare, it is possible for fleas to fall onto carpet or furniture. Just in case, clean the furniture upholstery and carpet with a vacuum cleaner regularly until the flea infection is controlled.
Step 4. Wash combs and hair tools
It is possible for lice to transfer to the equipment you use for the head. Well, this equipment must be washed clean. Wash brushes, hair ties, hair accessories, hats, and accessories that you use in your hair with warm water and soap.
