Head lice are small parasites that live on the human scalp and feed on blood. They can walk but they cannot fly, so they only spread between people through very close contact. This is why children are the most affected individuals: because they tend to play very close to each other. It is estimated that between 6 and 12 million school-aged children are infested with lice each year in the United States alone. Vinegar is an old home remedy used to fight lice by preventing eggs (nits) from setting on the hair. There are other specific treatments, both natural and pharmaceutical, to directly kill insects. The best way to deal with these pesky parasites is probably to use a combination of different solutions and strategies.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Using Vinegar Against Lice
Step 1. Find out the benefits and limitations of using vinegar
This is a popular home remedy for lice, but some people mistakenly think it can kill adult insects and eggs, called nits. In fact, vinegar does not directly kill parasites, because it is not a toxic substance to them. However, it can eliminate the eggs that have stuck on the hair, thus avoiding new broods and further infestations. To be more specific, the acetic acid present in the product dissolves the protective wrapping around the eggs, preventing them from sticking to the hair.
- Once the vinegar is applied, the nits fall directly or it becomes easier to remove them from the head with a fine-toothed comb.
- Although vinegar cannot kill adult specimens, it can kill newborn lice, called nymphs. More research is needed to better understand the impact of vinegar or acetic acid on these parasites.
Step 2. First use a treated shampoo that you can find at the pharmacy without a prescription
Since vinegar does not kill lice and eggs, it is important to act on the lice with this type of product first of all. This type of treatment is also known as a "pediculicide". After applying the product, you can use vinegar to remove lice from your hair.
Using medical shampoo first ensures that you kill adult lice and this allows you to reduce the risk of infestation
Step 3. Choose the type of vinegar
All types contain acetic acid, but in some types or brands the main ingredient is more concentrated. Generally speaking, you should get a product that has about 5% acetic acid - this is enough to dissolve the film covering the nits, but not enough to irritate most people's skin. White vinegar is a normal acetic acid diluted with water and is usually the least expensive option as well. The red one is cheaper and often contains between 5% and 7% of the active ingredient. Apple cider vinegar is also effective, but be sure to take the unfiltered and pasteurized one, as it typically has the highest concentration (around 5% acetic acid).
- A higher concentration of the active ingredient (more than 7%) can irritate the scalp, although a milder product may not be able to dissolve the nits attached to the hair. Choose one that has 5-7% acetic acid.
- The itchy sensation that lice leave is due to the allergic reaction to their saliva. Not all people, however, experience a reaction or feel itchy.
Step 4. Get in the shower or bathtub and apply the vinegar
Once you have chosen the type of vinegar and its concentration, take off your clothes and put yourself in the shower or tub. Wet your hair with some water (but not to the point where it drips) and then pour the vinegar directly onto your scalp. Massage it all over your head and try to cover as much hair as possible - it can be quite difficult if you have long hair, but take the time to do this. When finished, let the vinegar sit for 5-10 minutes, long enough to dissolve the exoskeleton of the nits (their cover).
- Make sure you close your eyes when applying vinegar. Diluted acetic acid may not harm the eyes, but it certainly causes a stinging sensation for a few minutes.
- Be careful not to pour vinegar on your clothes as it could stain them, especially if you are using apple cider vinegar.
Step 5. Run a fine-toothed comb through all of your hair
After holding the vinegar on your head for at least 5 minutes, do this with a fine-toothed comb specifically for lice removal. By combing carefully, you can eliminate loose nits and several adult specimens. For better results, you can decide to buy a special comb for nits at the pharmacy or even online (it can be metal or plastic with very dense teeth). After combing your hair for a few minutes, rinse off the remaining vinegar and dry it with a towel; But be careful not to share the towel with anyone else while you still have lice.
- Vinegar is a great way to detach and remove eggs from hair, but it doesn't kill adult birds. For this reason, you shouldn't be surprised if you still see parasites after treatment.
- You can use this remedy every day until you no longer see any nit stuck to your hair. Acetic acid also removes the natural sebum present on the hair, so it may appear dry and frizzy after the treatment is finished.
- The eggs hatch after 7-9 days and the adult specimen lives up to 3-4 weeks. Therefore, if you are using only vinegar to combat the infestation, it may take up to a month to completely eliminate all the insects.
Part 2 of 2: Using Other Lice Remedies
Step 1. Ask your doctor about over-the-counter lice shampoos
First, make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist to get a correct diagnosis. Then ask your doctor for some advice about the most effective lice shampoos and conditioners. He may point out some over-the-counter pyrethrin-based compounds, a compound extracted from chrysanthemum flowers and toxic to lice. Among the products on the market you can find Nix (a synthetic version of pyrethrin) or others that can be a mixture of pyrethrin with other toxic compounds for lice.
- Pyrethrin-based shampoos are effective for killing parasites, but they don't usually get rid of nits. For this reason, you may want to combine one treatment with vinegar and one with this compound to get rid of both the eggs and the adults.
- Among the side effects of this chemical are irritation, redness and itching of the scalp, especially among children who are allergic to chrysanthemum or ragweed.
- Head lice do not transmit disease (bacterial or viral), but the itch can cause excessive scratching, causing infected sores in some people.
- Do not use regular shampoos or conditioners after applying medical shampoo. It would only reduce the effectiveness of the lice treatment.
Step 2. See your doctor for prescription medications
If you can't control the infestation with vinegar and specific shampoos, talk to your doctor to find stronger solutions. In some geographic locations, head lice have developed resistance to over-the-counter treatments such as shampoos, so prescription medications may be more effective. Those that are most often prescribed contain benzyl alcohol (Ulesfia), malathion (Aftir) or lindane. Lice-killing drugs are called pediculicides and should be used with great caution, especially on children.
- Benzyl alcohol kills parasites on the scalp by depriving them of oxygen. It is effective, but its side effects include skin irritation, allergic reactions and seizures, so it is not recommended for babies under 6 months old.
- The use of malathion shampoo is only approved for children who are at least 6 years old, due to its potentially serious side effects. Be careful not to expose this shampoo to very hot air from the hair dryer or open flame, due to the high alcohol content.
- Treatment with lindane shampoo should be considered as a "last resort" against head lice, because it has a high risk of serious side effects (including seizures). Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend its use on children of any age and pregnant women.
Step 3. Consider using a natural herbal remedy
Some research has found that certain vegetable oils can have a toxic effect on lice and their eggs. Among the most suitable for fighting this type of infestation are tea tree oil, anise oil, ylang ylang essential oil and nerolidol (a compound found in many plants). Although these vegetable oils are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of head lice, there is a lot of evidence to prove their safety and, if your budget allows, they are worth a try.
- Natural oils such as tea tree oil are often found in various medicated shampoos to treat dandruff and psoriasis, but are usually also effective against a lice infestation.
- These are generally safe for children and adults and no serious side effects have been reported.
- Other natural treatments that can kill lice "by asphyxiation" (by depriving them of oxygen) include the use of olive oil or butter. For best results apply either of the two ingredients on the scalp for 5-10 minutes before rinsing the head with a medicated shampoo.
- Head lice cannot fly or jump, so they typically spread with direct contact between two heads. However, they can also spread in indirect ways, such as through hats, brushes, combs, towels, pillows, scarves, hair accessories, and headphones.
Advice
- You may not be aware that you have head lice, although some common symptoms are: itchy scalp and ears, a large amount of grayish spots (roughly the size of sesame seeds) on the head similar to dandruff, dark brown spots along the hair.
- Lice infestation (from the scientific name Pediculus humanus capitis) is generally not an indicator of poor hygiene or a scruffy lifestyle, very often it is due to direct contact with people who are already infested.
- If a family member has head lice, it is important to check all other family members carefully as well.
- To facilitate the search for lice and nits, separate the hair into different sections and observe them under bright light using a magnifying glass.
- Nits may appear similar to dandruff, but remain firmly attached to the hair shaft and do not flake off like dandruff does.
- After using the comb or brush, soak the tool in very hot water (at least 55 ° C) for about 5 minutes to kill the parasites.
- Do not use spray insecticides on your head or that of children, as they can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the scalp.
- Teach your child not to come into direct contact with other children's heads when at school or at the playground to reduce the risk of infestation.
- Remember that pets (dogs or cats) cannot transmit lice to you, because these insects feed only on human blood and prefer the temperature and protection of the scalp.
