Noticed strange tiny organisms crawling your scalp day and night? Don’t panic. According to Clinical Advisor, the estimated number of head lice cases in the United States per year ranges from 6-12 million with the prevalence of 3.4% to 35%. So you are in great company.
The head louse, also known as Pediculushumanus capitis, is a parasite that feeds on human blood. It attaches to the scalp where food is in abundance. Lice eggs, also known as nits, can easily be mistaken for dandruff or residue from hair styling products. Once they hatch, they are known as nymphs which are basically immature forms of lice that are grayish tan in color. After about 12 days, the nymphs mature into adults measuring approximately 2-3mm.
What are the remedies?
Head lice are spread through personal contact after which they can crawl to your clothing, hats, hair brushes and other personal belongings. They multiply so fast and can be downright irritating and frustrating. Luckily, there are tons of remedies for getting rid of head lice permanently. The good news is that you don’t need to visit head lice salons as the products are readily available at home.
Olive oil
Olive oil is one of the head lice solutions that are safe and effective. As a smothering agent, it suffocates lice to death by blocking their breathing holes. To get the best results, apply olive oil overnight and under a cap. Lice can’t survive for hours without breathing.
Spinosad
Spinosad is a prescription lotion commonly referred to as Natroba. It is a natural insecticide derived from soil bacterial and one that has since been approved for use for patients over 4 years of age. To use Spinosad, coat the scalp and rub the liquid through the hair from roots to end. Leave it on for 10 minutes, rinse your hair then comb for nits.
Wet combing
This is a traditional way of getting rid of lice that involves spraying conditioner on wet strands of hair then using a fine-toothed comb or a magnifying glad to distinguish lice from hair strands after which they can be easily removed.
Essential oils
Essential oils have a place as head lice solutions according to a head lice salon. When combined with combing, the results can be optimal. Some of the oils used include tea tree oil, aniseed oil, lavender oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, and red thyme oil. Mix olive oil with the essential oils, apply on the scalp using cotton balls, leave it overnight, rinse and comb.
The next time you or your child develops head lice, you know what to do. If you cannot get your hands on Spinosad, your pantry will step in and save the day. Better still, you can go old-fashioned and use the wet-combing method to remove the lice.