How to Get Rid of Lice

What are Lice - Causes and Effects:

Every child has had the unfortunate run with lice, and a fair share of the itching that comes as a part and parcel with the annoying little parasites, to the little ones it can be a sight that is scary and it is for the parents too but all for different reason and mostly it can cause much irritation as the tedious task of exterminating lice begins.

Pictures of Lice

How to Get Rid of Lice

Head Lice or as they are scientifically known Pediculus Humanus Capitus are parasites that can infest the scalps, eyebrows and eyelashes of people, they feed on blood and thought not known to spread any type of disease they do prove to be quite a nuisance.

Generally transmitted from one infected person to another, if one comes in direct contact with the head of an infected person it is certain that they too will end up picking the infestation. Though children are usually infected with head lice, they can sometimes through rarely infect a grown up too.

Signs and Symptoms:

• If you experience any of the above symptoms you can be susceptible to a lice infestation if not suffering from it already:
• A ticklish feeling and the feeling that something crawling through your scalp
• Irrational itching, which is generally due to an allergic reaction to bites on the scalp
• An irritability and difficulty in sleeping as lice are most active at night when it is dark.
• Sores can appear in the head due to constant scratching that is hazard of scratching

Treatments

The fact that you need to realize when dealing with lice is that it is going to be quite a tiresome process, as it is easy to get rid of the lice that are adult or in the process of being one, however it is the eggs or nits that take time to get rid of as even a few of the hatched eggs can lead to another outbreak. So to help you get rid of the parasites and ensure that they do not infect again, we have a few tips that will help you get rid of them effectively.

Medical Treatment:

• The first thing that you can do is to buy a treatment for lice there are countless treatments available (also known as Pediculicide) follow the instruction carefully, regarding to things like how long does one need to apply the treatment etc. let it stay for the stipulated time and then rinse it off properly. One thing to note is that for the next few days 2-3 days to be specific, the use of a normal shampoo or conditioner is prohibited as it may cause a hindrance in the treatment.
• After rinsing and drying wait for almost 8-10 hours and then using the nit comb, comb through your hair for dead lice or the ones that have fainted, and combing them out, just proceed to kill them off.
• One important pointer to keep in mind is that the infected person’s clothes should be cleaned and changed immediately after the treatment and after you clean the hair using the nit comb, so as to prevent another outbreak.
• It is important that that you try to get rid of the eggs so that you can rid yourself of the lice altogether, the process of complete extermination can take a couple of weeks, and it might be required for you to use the Pediculicide again after 10 days in order to target the nits that might have hatched and brought about another infestation, in case you feel that the treatment is not effective, you can try to buy one which is of a heavier dose.

Homemade/Herbal Treatment:

• A homemade remedy that seems to work somewhat effectively on lice is the application of vinegar to the head as the acidic smell of vinegar also seems to make the lice faint and hence easier to comb off and kill.
• Other effective treatments include, coconut oil, neem based shampoos, equal proportions of lime juice and garlic powder. Hence it is necessary to take care of your personal hygiene in order to prevent them from returning.