Head lice infestations are prevalent all over the world, but are more common among populations where hygiene standards are low. In developed countries the problem is more common or likely to be found in environments where there is close contact or proximity, as in schools or nurseries. The number of natural and medicated remedies that are available are as varied as the condition is widespread. This of course makes it hard to sift through the various alternatives and choose the right one. It also means that there are many which are questionable and some that are downright dangerous, while the effectiveness of others may vary.
Many medicated solutions and shampoos marketed for the treatment of lice infestations contain harsh chemicals that can damage the skin. For this reason parents have in recent years grown particularly concerned and sought out natural alternatives. Unfortunately some of the remedies touted as natural remedies amount to nothing short of quackery. Here are a few you should avoid:
- Do not use tea tree oil or any of the other essential oils, particularly on children as they can be dangerous. Moreover their effectiveness has not been proven. Essential oils are also poisonous if ingested making them a very bad idea for small kids. If you are determined to use a solution with tea tree oil, pick up a natural shampoo congaing tea tree oil.
- Dog shampoo is also sometimes touted as a remedy, but these are again ill advised. Their effectiveness is questionable and if any it would be because of the presence of pyrethrins or permethrin, which are also present in anti lice shampoos. You would therefore be better of using anti lice shampoos as they are at least formulated and regulated for humans.
- Kerosene is another remedy that you should steer clear of. It is particularly dangerous when used on children and there have in fact been incidents where the child has suffered severe burns and worse because of the inflammable nature of the solution. Moreover it is not the most effective treatment and there are plenty of safer options.
The best thing to do would be to use an anti lice shampoo or a mixture of vinegar with water in a 2:6 ratio. Apple cider vinegar can also be applied onto your hair and scalp. While a shampoo needs to be used as per the instructions the other ingredients can be applied at night before sleeping and your head should be wrapped well in a cloth. Whichever treatment you use you will need to wash your hair thoroughly after using it so as to get rid of the dead lice and nits. You will need to repeat a second treatment in a few days (within the week) to eliminate the risk of a recurrence in case of any nits. Using a fine toothed comb after the first treatment will also help get rid of any lice, dead or alive, that still remain.
answered by S D