Head lice are small insects or parasites which live and breed on human heads, feeding off of human blood from the scalp. Head lice are not a serious problem or a health hazard. However, they tend to be disturbing and irritating, and can spread easily. Lice causes extreme itchiness on the scalp, and can lead to sores due to scratching the scalp continuously. Lice can be spread in a few ways, such as:
- Head-to-head contact: Lice spread through physical contact. For example, children at schools are likely to catch lice easily during sports activities or even while staying at a camp.
- Shared belongings: Sharing the belongings of a person who is already likely to have hair lice, such as comb, towel, hats, pillowcases, or scarves, can cause the spreading of lice.
There are certain home remedies and other effective medications that will help you to get rid of head lice. They are as follows:
-
1. Wet combing
Combing the hair while wet with a nit comb can help remove lice and eggs from the hair.
-
2. Olive oil and other essential oils
Applying olive oil overnight and wearing a cap will suffocate the lice. Olive oil helps in loosening the lice from the hair shafts, making it easier to comb the hair to remove lice. Also, there are various essential oils you could try, such as neem oil, eucalyptus oil, cinnamon leaf oil, clove oil, and lavender oil. Remember, combing your hair is essential to remove lice after applying these oils.
-
3. Medical treatments for lice
Chemical medications such as permethrin lotion, spinosad lotion, benzyl alcohol lotion, lindane, and malathion are some over the counter medications to resolve lice. Different treatments apply to different individuals:
- Permethrin is generally prescribed for kids of two months old and above.
- Benzyl alcohol lotion is an aromatic lotion used for six-month-old kids or above.
- Malathion is an organophosphate pesticide which is prescribed for kids of six years and above.
- Lindane is an organochlorine pesticide which is also available in the form of shampoos and lotions.
- Spinosad lotion is a natural insecticide derived from bacteria. Apply the lotion over the scalp and let it dry for about 10 minutes. Then rinse and comb to remove lice.
Although these are over the counter treatments, it is important to get a prescription from a doctor before using any medication for lice.
