A Four-Step Home Remedy for Head Louse Infestation
There are lots of misconceptions about head lice, the biggest being that those who suffer from this condition are somehow unclean, or have poor personal hygiene. But, the truth is, personal hygiene has nothing to do with whether or not a person will get head lice. In fact, in certain conditions, head lice are as easy to “catch” as a cold.
So, how do you get head lice?
Lice are spread through close personal contact. If your head touches the head of someone who has head lice, some of these little critters will be more than happy to jump from them to you. You can also get head lice by using personal items–like combs, pillows, brushes, hats, or towels–that belong to someone who has this condition.
Head lice are easily spread among school children, who often play closely together. And, often, a child who has caught head lice at school ends up “bringing them home” to their families.
So, what do you do when head lice have invaded your home?
Here’s a four-step home remedy for head louse infestation.
Step #1: Head for the Drugstore.
The first step is to kill the lice that have taken up residence in the patient’s hair. And you can buy shampoos and lotions over the counter that will do just that.
When using such products, follow the directions on the package carefully. There are some people who probably shouldn’t use an over-the-counter delousing treatment before checking with their doctor. These include:
* Children under the age of two.
* Women who are pregnant or nursing.
* Those who suffer from asthma or allergies.
If you’re pregnant or nursing, you shouldn’t even use a delousing treatment on someone else before you’ve checked with your doctor first.
Treat everyone in your household who has head lice at the same time. If you don’t, someone who’s already been treated could end up picking head lice up again from someone who hasn’t.
Step #2: Pick Out the Nits.
Unfortunately, the products that kill the head lice won’t have any affect on the nits, or eggs, the lice have lain in the hair. And, if you don’t get rid of the nits, they’ll hatch in a week or so, and you’ll be dealing with the head lice problem all over again.
After washing the hair with the lice-killing shampoo, comb it out to remove any tangles. Then, use a fine-toothed comb, or nit removal comb, to remove nits from the hair. Go over the head thoroughly, making sure you don’t miss any nits.
When you’re done, use an old, wet toothbrush to remove the nits from the comb. Then, take the towels you used, and the clothes the person was wearing before and during the treatment, and put them in the washing machine. Wash the items in hot, soapy water, and then dry them on a high, hot setting for at least twenty minutes.
Step #3: Keep Checking for Lice and Nits.
For at least two weeks after the treatment, give the head a thorough inspection every day. That way, you’ll catch any nits that you missed the first time around. And, if there are signs that the lice problem has returned, you’ll catch it early. And, since a single head louse can lay ten eggs a day, the sooner you catch it, the better.
However, even if there are signs that the lice are back, read the label on the over-the-counter product you used. Some products advise that you wait for a week to ten days between treatments.
Step #4: Treat Your Home for Head Lice.
To get rid of lice completely, you must treat everything the person who had head lice might have come in contact with. This includes bedding, hats, clothes, coats, towels, combs, brushes, hair clips, and even plush towels.
For items that are washable, wash them in hot, soapy water, then dry them on a high setting for twenty minutes.
For items that aren’t washable, vacuum them to remove lice and nits. You should also vacuum the carpets, mattresses, furniture, decorative pillows, and anything else you can thing of where lice and nits might be hiding. Once you’re through, get rid of the bag. Put the vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic bag, tie it up tight, take it outside, and throw it away.
For items like stuffed animals, headphones, and pillows, put them in a plastic bag and seal it tight, and put it where no one will disturb it for at least to weeks. Any head lice that have infested those items will die within twenty four hours. And, once the eggs have hatched (which takes up to ten days), the lice they produced will have died by the end of the two-week period.
Soak hair implements, like combs, brushes, and hair clips, in hot, soapy water for at least five minutes.
As you can see, getting rid of head lice can be a challenge. But it’s worth it to eliminate the itching and discomfort head lice can cause.
Reference:
- “Lice,” The MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com/health/lice/DS00368)
