Head lice, also known as Pediculosis capitis, are tiny parasites that live on the human scalp and suck blood as a food source. Most commonly found in children, head lice are usually caused by direct transmission from one person to another. Head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene and do not cause any infectious disease. Although there is little evidence of clinical effectiveness, the use of natural remedies may be able to kill head lice without harsh chemicals.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Using Home Treatments
Step 1. Wet comb your hair
Use a fine-toothed lice comb to comb through wet or conditioning hair. If done for a few weeks, this treatment can get rid of the lice and some of their eggs.
- Purchase a flea comb at a pharmacy, department store, or other large supermarket.
- Wet hair with water and apply a product such as hair conditioner to smooth it out.
- Move the comb from root to tip of hair at least 2 times in one treatment.
- Repeat this treatment every 3-4 days for a few weeks, and continue for at least 2 weeks after you have removed all the head lice.
- Turn on the flashlight and aim it at the scalp to illuminate the combed area.
- A magnifying glass may also be able to help you see more clearly what you're combing.
- Comb a section of hair 2.5 x 1 cm, starting from the scalp to the ends of the hair. Be sure to clean the comb with a tissue and hot water after combing each section of hair.
- Pin the section of hair that has been combed to ensure a thorough treatment of the scalp.
Step 2. Use essential oils
There is some evidence that natural plant oils can kill head lice and their eggs as well as relieve itching when applied to hair. Be aware that although essential oils can treat head lice, their safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing standards are not approved by BPOM, and may cause scalp damage if not used properly.
- Use essential oils such as tea tree oil, anise oil, or ylang ylang oil to treat head lice and their eggs. You can also look for plant oils that contain nerolidol (a chemical found in many plant oils). Examples of oils that contain nerolidol include: neroli oil, ginger, jasmine, and lavender.
- Mix about 50 drops of one or more essential oils of your choice with 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- Apply the oil mixture to your hair and cover it with a plastic shower cap. Then, wrap your head with a towel.
- Let the oil sit on your hair for 1 hour, then wash it thoroughly with shampoo to get rid of head lice and their eggs.
- You can buy essential oils at most health food stores, some pharmacies, and many convenience stores.
Step 3. Kill head lice and their eggs by restricting air access overnight
There are several household appliances that can suffocate head lice and their eggs. Applying one of the following ingredients to your hair and leaving it overnight may help with your head lice infestation.
- Apply mayonnaise, olive oil, butter, or petroleum jelly to your hair.
- Put on a shower cap to cover the above ingredients and leave it overnight.
- In the morning, clean the above ingredients with baby oil and wash and rinse the hair until clean. Be aware that the above material is difficult to remove because it is very sticky, so you may have to work hard to remove it from your hair.
- Repeat this treatment several nights in a row.
Step 4. Rinse hair with water and vinegar
After successfully killing the lice and their eggs, make a 1:1 solution of water and vinegar. This solution can help dissolve dead nits as well as get rid of lice or their eggs that are still attached to your hair.
- Rub the vinegar solution vigorously into your hair and rinse thoroughly.
- A mixture of vinegar and olive oil can also be used.
Step 5. Avoid flammable materials
Whatever natural treatment you choose for head lice, never use flammable substances in your hair. Kerosene and gasoline can cause serious health problems, and there is a high risk of burning your hair if exposed to fire.
Part 2 of 2: Controlling Flea Attacks
Step 1. Clean household appliances
While lice usually don't survive more than a day outside the scalp, you may need to clean household appliances as a precaution. Wash and clean everything that a person with head lice has used in the last two days.
- Wash sheets, dolls, and clothing with soap and hot water. The temperature of the water used must be at least 54.5 degrees Celsius. After that, dry the equipment on high temperature.
- Wash hair tools such as combs, brushes, and hair accessories with soap and hot water. Soak hair tools in water at least 54.5 degrees Celsius for 5-10 minutes.
- Put other utensils that cannot be washed or cleaned in a plastic bag, tie the plastic tightly, then leave for 2 weeks to kill any remaining lice and eggs.
- Vacuum the floor and all upholstered furniture.
Step 2. Examine the hair carefully
Check your hair carefully for lice and eggs left after any treatment and 2 weeks after. This will prevent spreading the lice to other people, as well as ensure that there are no more lice or their eggs that need to be treated in your hair.
- Lice eggs will hatch in between 7 to 11 days. So check your scalp again at least 2 weeks after the treatment is finished.
- You may need to use a magnifying glass and flashlight to check your hair and other household items.
- Check your hair daily until the lice have been removed and weekly thereafter to check for re-infestation.
Step 3. Contact the source of head lice
Although it can come from anywhere, generally lice attacks start from schools and children's playgrounds. Contact a place you believe is a source of head lice to warn of the possibility of spreading it to others.
Let the venue manager know that you are dealing with a flea infestation that you have experienced yourself
Step 4. Separate personal items
It's generally best to keep personal items separate as much as possible. This will minimize the risk of spreading the lice and their eggs to other people, as well as preventing a reoccurrence of lice infestations.
Hang coats, hats, and scarves separately as much as possible
Step 5. Don't use other people's personal belongings
You may not share personal items with other people. This step is necessary to prevent the transmission of head lice and their eggs.
- Use only your own comb, hairbrush, hat and scarf.
- Be sure to use your own sports protective equipment, such as a helmet.
Step 6. Visit a doctor
If you think natural treatments are not working for head lice, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat head lice or the skin infection they cause. The doctor may also find that the "lice" in your hair are actually a different problem, like dandruff.
- Severe itching on the scalp due to head lice can cause sores and cause infection.
- Symptoms of head lice may be similar to other conditions such as: dandruff, residue from hair care products, flakes of dead scalp cells on the hair shaft, scabs, or other insects living in the hair.
Tips
Check the hair of school-age children every 1 or 2 months for head lice infestation
Warning
- Be careful when placing plastic bags on children as this may cause them to suffocate.
- Head lice almost never spread through inanimate objects, because these parasites need blood to survive.
