Lice are small parasites that colonize the heads of human beings by feeding on their blood; they are not capable of transmitting disease or bacteria, but they are very annoying. You can remove them along with their eggs (called nits) by using over-the-counter medicated shampoos or, if that solution is ineffective, by having your doctor prescribe stronger products and take medications occasionally. There are also home remedies you can try, but they have proven useless in clinical tests. You should also make sure that the environment, clothing and bedding are completely free of parasites, to avoid a second infestation.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Seeking Medical Treatment
Step 1. Go to the doctor to get a diagnosis
If you have head lice, you need to make an appointment with the family doctor or at least call him for advice. There are different types of treatments to get rid of insects and their eggs; Your doctor can give you specific instructions for using medicated shampoos or oral medications.
Step 2. Try a medicated shampoo
If your doctor thinks it's safe for you, he may recommend this over-the-counter product as a first treatment approach; use it according to your doctor's recommendations.
- Over-the-counter products contain a chemical compound called pyrethrin which is toxic to lice; some are based on pure permethrin, the synthetic version of pyrethrin, and on permethrin with other additives. These substances can cause side effects, such as itching and redness of the scalp.
- You need to wash your hair or that of your child with these cleansers without using conditioner; some people find that a vinegar rinse makes the treatment quicker. Follow the instructions on the package regarding the laying times of the product before rinsing.
- Generally you need to do a second treatment after the first wash. Although some nits are killed with medicated shampoos on sale, others remain on the hair and hatch. Many manufacturers of such cleaners therefore recommend a second wash 7-10 days after the first, but your doctor may give you different suggestions based on the severity of the infestation.
Step 3. Ask your doctor for prescription products
In some cases, the head lice develop resistance to over-the-counter active ingredients and the doctor may opt for stronger shampoos to eradicate the lice.
- Benzyl alcohol kills insects by depriving them of oxygen, but it is not approved on children under 6 months because it has serious side effects, such as convulsions; on older children it is usually considered safe, although it can cause redness and itching of the scalp.
- The disease can be used on people from 6 years of age. It is the active ingredient of a medicated shampoo that you have to apply and let it dry; it detaches spontaneously from the hair within 8-12 hours. Do not use the hair dryer and do not bring the medicine close to a fire because it is flammable.
- Lindane is only used when other solutions have failed, as it can cause serious side effects, such as seizures. It should not be used on children, anyone weighing less than 50 kg, pregnant or breastfeeding women, patients with HIV and anyone who has suffered from seizures in the past.
- In rare cases, the doctor may recommend ivermectin, which can be taken orally or applied to the skin.
Method 2 of 4: Comb through wet hair
Step 1. Learn to recognize head lice
If you want to remove nits by combing wet hair, you must first be able to spot insects. Take some time to familiarize yourself with what these pests and their eggs look like before taking action.
- Adult or developing lice are about 2 to 3 mm long, are gray or brown, cannot fly or jump, but crawl quickly.
- The eggs (nits) are small and coffee-colored before hatching; they are the size of a sesame seed and are difficult to detach because they are literally "glued" to the hair shaft. Once hatched they are white or transparent.
- Use a magnifying glass to find them.
Step 2. Prepare your hair
Before the procedure, you should brush or comb them normally to get rid of the knots and then apply a conditioner to keep them moist.
Step 3. Comb your hair
Use a fine-toothed comb built specifically to get rid of lice. Part your hair into sections the same width as the comb, so you can see and remove parasites more easily.
- Comb one strand at a time. Hold it with one hand and slide the fine teeth of the instrument along the entire length of the section, starting with the scalp and taking care to keep them well adherent to the head; take your time looking for lice and nits as you work.
- If you notice residues, parasites, or their eggs accumulating on the comb, soak the comb in a bowl of soapy water to remove them.
Step 4. Clean and tidy up
At the end of the operation, throw the water you used to rinse the comb into the toilet; soak the tool in a solution of 5 ml of ammonia and 500 ml of very hot water. Inspect the head once more for any bugs or eggs that have escaped treatment and remove them individually with a pair of scissors.
Repeat the entire procedure once a week for 3 weeks, checking your hair often; if after this period you still notice signs of pediculosis, contact your doctor
Method 3 of 4: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Give tea tree oil a try
Although there is no unanimous consensus from the scientific community, some research indicates that this product, like other natural oils, is capable of killing lice. You can buy it in herbal medicine, online and even at the supermarket; try it to see if it works.
- Some individuals are allergic to tea tree oil and may experience intense skin irritation and redness. Before opting for this solution you should talk to your doctor or apply a small amount on the arm for a few days to look for adverse reactions; be very cautious when you decide to use it on children.
- Spread a few drops on your scalp before bed. put a towel on the pillow and let the oil work overnight.
- Comb your strands in the morning to get rid of dead nits and bugs before shampooing your hair and applying conditioner; if possible, make sure that these last two products contain the same tea tree oil in minimal concentrations (about 2%).
- Repeat the procedure as needed; it may be necessary to repeat the treatment a few times before reaping the benefits.
Step 2. Use other essential oils
Some studies indicate that oils extracted from certain plants are toxic to lice, although such research is limited and not definitive. Lavender, anise, ylang ylang and nerolidol oil appear to be effective against pediculosis; you can order them online, buy them in pharmacies or in organic food stores. However, you must use them with caution; even if there are European Community regulations governing the production and trade of these substances, the products that are sold online may be of dubious origin. Remember that essential oils must be diluted in a carrier oil before use; read carefully the labels of all the products you buy to use them correctly. Just like with tea tree oil, be careful, especially on children, and discuss this with your doctor.
Step 3. Try some asphyxiating product
It is believed that several substances present in every home are capable of killing lice and nits by depriving them of oxygen; in theory they can suffocate parasites, but there is little clinical evidence to show their effectiveness.
Olive oil, mayonnaise, petroleum jelly and butter are all recommended products for this purpose; you should apply one of these to your hair, collect the hair in a shower cap or net and wait all night. The next morning you can wash your hair and evaluate the results
Method 4 of 4: Ensure Treatment Effectiveness
Step 1. Try to understand the reasons why the treatment is not giving the desired results
If you have not followed the procedure correctly, you cannot effectively eliminate the nits; make sure you avoid the common mistakes of the various remedies.
- Using a conditioner after washing with medicated shampoo prevents the active ingredients from acting as they should. The conditioner works as a barrier that protects the scalp from the product; for this reason you should not use it when you are treating pediculosis.
- Follow all instructions carefully when using shampoo; people often neglect the leaflet or the label with directions for use and consequently the treatment is ineffective. Remember to proceed with the second treatment and to respect the correct times; if you repeat the wash too early you run the risk that not all the eggs have hatched and therefore you will not be able to get rid of all the lice.
- It is not unusual for new infestations to develop; you could kill all the parasites on your head or that of your child, but then get "infected" by another person or a louse present in the environment. Avoid people who have pediculosis and clean the house to kill any bugs that have fallen off the scalp.
Step 2. Wash all the fabrics in the house
Head lice generally do not live long away from their host; however you should wash any items used by the infested person as a precaution. Machine wash all fabrics, sheets, stuffed animals and clothes using a very hot water program and then dry them on high temperatures. If any items cannot be washed, seal them in a plastic bag for two weeks.
Step 3. Clean carpet and upholstery furniture using a vacuum cleaner
In rare cases, insects can become trapped between the fibers of these surfaces; as a precaution use the vacuum cleaner regularly until the infestation has been eradicated.
Step 4. Wash your combs and hair items
Since a louse can remain on tools that have come into contact with the scalp, you should wash brushes, hair ties, hats, hair accessories and all other similar items with warm soapy water.
