Lice infestation is quite common. Children in kindergarten in particular are often affected by head lice. They are transmitted through close contact between people. But chemical agents do not always have to be used to get rid of lice, because there are also various home remedies that can be used Treatment of head lice have proven.
What are head lice?
The head lice only attack humans and therefore belong to the type of Pediculidae (human lice). The heat-loving, blood-sucking and wingless insects are around two to four millimeters in size. They settle on the hairy scalp of humans and lay their eggs (nits) there. To feed themselves, they suck blood several times a day.
They can only get by for a few hours without food. They usually do not transmit disease, but they can spread quickly and make the person very itchy. It takes around two to three weeks for the lice to develop from eggs and hatching larvae to sexually mature males and females.
They cling to the hair when you comb or wash your hair, making them difficult to remove. Outside the hair, that is, without being able to suck blood, the head lice die within a short time. A head lice infestation has nothing to do with poor hygiene. It occurs in all social classes. With the following methods it is possible Treating head lice properly.
Method: General Help
There are various products for treating head lice that contain silicone oil, which stops the lice from breathing. The most commonly used lice preparations contain insect venom. The so-called anti-parasitic drugs are applied externally.
The severe itching or skin inflammation can be treated with glucocorticoid ointments. Various home remedies are also helpful in the fight against head lice. It is necessary to carry out the treatment several times in a row in order to kill the lice that hatch over time.
In addition, there is regular combing out using a special lice comb. The dead nits stuck to the hair must also be removed. It is also important that the entire family or close contacts are examined and, if necessary, treated as well. The treatment must be carried out until no more head lice can be detected. Furthermore, the used clothes, towels and bed linen should be washed at 60 degrees.
Method: vinegar rinse
The vinegar rinse is an effective way of removing the small insects. This is made from one part vinegar and two parts warm water. The head is covered with a clean cloth. The mixture can act overnight. It is therefore advisable to use vinegar before going to bed, also because of its penetrating smell, which many people find unpleasant.
The hair is washed the following morning. This is followed by the procedure with the lice comb. This can also be cleaned in hot vinegar water afterwards. Head lice do not tolerate the strong acid. Treatment with the vinegar rinse should be done twice a week.
Method: tea tree oil & apple cider vinegar
Tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar are well-known remedies for head lice. To do this, the hair is washed with a herbal shampoo that contains tea tree oil. After washing, the hair is rinsed with apple cider vinegar and then the lice are removed with the lice comb. When using the tea tree oil, care should be taken not to get it in the eyes.
It is also advisable not to use tea tree oil in combination with homeopathic remedies. Another option is to mix a cup of olive oil with three tablespoons of tea tree oil and rub this on the scalp and leave for 30 minutes. The hair is then washed out with shampoo and then rinsed out again with vinegar water. The vinegar water should work for about ten minutes before rinsing it out with hot water.
Method: mayonnaise & apple cider vinegar
The combination of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar is also a well-known remedy for head lice to remove them. For this, the scalp and hair are covered with the mayonnaise, a bathing cap is put on or a cloth is wrapped around the hair. The whole thing works overnight under a bathing cap.
The next morning all head lice should be killed. This is because the oils in mayonnaise clog the lice's respiratory organs and loosen the nits. The hair is washed and rinsed with vinegar water. The latter works for around ten minutes. The lice and nits are combed out with the nit comb.
Method: mustard & egg
Mustard and egg are other ways to get rid of head lice. The hair is washed as usual. Then around three eggs are beaten with a whisk until they are frothy. Then a cup of mustard is added. The distilled vinegar contained in mustard mixes with the effective vitamin E of the egg yolk.
This kills lice. The mix is spread over the hair and left on for about five hours under a bathing cap. The hair is then washed and combed out well with the nit comb. Even the Romans used mustard to combat lice and hair loss.
In stubborn cases, go to the doctor
Head lice won't go away without treatment. The various home remedies can be good alternatives to the chemical preparations. However, there are also cases when it is best to see a doctor.
This applies if the child is still small and younger than three years, if there are severely scratched wounds, because then there is a risk of inflammation or if the treatment of the head lice was unsuccessful and various options have already been tried.
