Head lice are parasitic insects that live on people’s heads. Head lice are passed from person to person by head-to-head contact and direct contact with an affected person’s hair. Head lice can be spread by physical contact or the sharing of combs, brushes, caps, and other apparel, although they are less common.
Life Cycle Of Head Lice:
The lice form and develop gradually from nits to adults.
Nit:
Lice eggs are nits. Nits are difficult to spot and are frequently mistaken for dandruff or hairspray droplets. Nits are detected clinging to the hair shaft. They’re oval in shape, around 2-3 mm long, and yellow to white in color. It takes a week for nits to hatch.
Nymph:
The nit develops into a nymph, which is a baby louse. It has the appearance of an adult head louse but is much smaller. Seven days after hatching, nymphs mature into adults. The nymph must feed on human blood to survive.
Adults:
Adults are roughly the size of a sesame seed, have six legs, and are tan to grayish-white in appearance. The adult louse appears darker in those with dark hair. Females are the ones who lay the nits, and they are usually larger than males. Adult lice can survive on a person’s head for up to 30 days. Adult lice require human blood to survive. The louse dies in two days if it falls off a person.
What Causes Head Lice To Begin With?
Head lice can be contracted in a variety of ways.
- Contact with a person who has already been infected (personal contact is common during play, school, sports activities, at school, home, slumber parties, or camp)
- Wearing infected hats, scarves, coats, sports outfits, or hair ribbons
- Using combs, brushes, or towels that have been infected
How To Get Rid Of Lice Naturally?
Kids will play at school and in childcare settings. Their antics may contribute to the spread of head lice. You can, however, prevent lice from spreading among children and adults. Here are some suggestions on preventing the lice from spreading:
- Items that come into contact with the head, such as combs and towels, should not be shared.
- Avoid activities that put you in direct contact with another person.
- Keep your items out of communal locations like coat closets, especially your upper body clothing.
Treating Lice with Home Remedies
Preventative Combing: How to remove lice eggs from hair?
To remove lice and nits by hand, for 3 weeks after the last live louse was spotted, use a fine-tooth comb on damp, conditioned hair every 3–4 days.
Wet Combing & Bug Busting:
There are differing opinions on whether you should treat head lice with chemicals or with natural ways. There are some really fascinating professional viewpoints, and while they differ significantly, they all agree on one thing: combing (wet or dry) is essential, as is persistence (purgatory).
Have An Eye On Your Head:
Lice attach themselves to the body. They are unable to fly or jump. Head-to-head contact is the most common way for them to spread. To catch lice, you usually have to be in close proximity to someone who has it. As much as possible, avoid activities that cause hair-to-hair contact.
Don’t Share Personal Items:
That hat on the store shelf may look appealing and would make a fantastic selfie, but think twice before trying it on. If you share hats, sweatshirts, towels, beds, and pillows with someone who has or recently had lice, you can catch it. Lice can spread through combs and brushes. This type of “shared contact” is uncommon, but it does happen. After dropping off the body, lice might live for a day or two. Never share anything that comes into contact with the head to avoid lice.
Wash Your Laundry In Hot Water:
Are you concerned that you may have been exposed to lice? When lice are exposed to temperatures of 128.3°F or higher for 5 minutes or more, they perish. Toss your apparel, hat, jacket, scarf, gloves, and any other items into the washer to avoid a lice epidemic. Use hot water (130° F or more) and a high-heat dryer. Put your combs and brushes in the washing machine as well. Can’t wash something? Place it in a plastic bag and store it for two weeks.
Tips And Tricks For A Natural Cure For Head Lice:
- Check your child’s hair for lice on a regular basis, preferably twice a week. Use a special wet comb for the job. The technique is made easier by combing through wet hair. It’s crucial to have good lighting.
- Close to the skull, behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, top of the head, and under the fringe are all good places to look.
- Treat the hair if there are active lice or unhatched eggs. Always get advice from your pharmacist on the best treatment option.
- Always follow the instructions on the treatment pack and any advice offered by your pharmacist if you’re going the chemical therapy route. Head lice treatments do not prevent infection and should never be used “just in case.”
- How to get rid of head lice with lemon? Fresh lemon juice should be applied to your scalp and left on for half an hour. Rinse with lukewarm water after rinsing with vinegar. This medication should be used once a week to help prevent lice infestation.
- Warm three tablespoons of coconut oil (Essential oils for head lice) and blend in three drops of camphor before massaging the concoction into your scalp. Cover your hair with a shower hat and leave it on overnight. The next day, shampoo your hair and comb it with a nit comb. This method suffocates the lice, eventually killing them. To totally eliminate lice, repeat the process every day for 5 days.
DO’S
- Sanitation: It is essential to keep a clean environment in order to prevent lice from breeding and spreading.
Personal Hygiene: Bathing daily, shaving facial and pubic hair on a regular basis, wearing washed and clean clothes and so on are all simple procedures that can help avoid a variety of illnesses, including lice.
Hair Care: Wash your hair at least twice a week and be on the lookout for indicators of lice infestation.
DONT’S
Nails: Always keep your nails clipped. Scratching with long nails can increase pain and lead to secondary infection.
Sharing Personal Items: Sharing combs, towels, and clothes with friends or relatives should be avoided, especially if they are sick.
Physical Contact: Children have a natural desire to sit near their peers, and playing together also fosters close connection. They should be told to stay away from people or children who have lice in their hair.
To eliminate lice, don’t use a damaged comb. Instead, use a fine-toothed comb.
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