Have you been searching for the most effective head lice treatment? Perhaps you’ve been looking for head lice pictures or home remedies for head lice. Well, your search ends here. Howtotreatlice.net is your source for trustworthy and unbiased information.
Let’s start with the basics on head lice treatment, lice nits, the head lice life cycle and How to Treat Lice.
It is estimated that up to 12 million Americans get lice infestations every year.
What is Lice ??
One of the worst fears of parents, when they have a School going child, is, getting head lice. In this article, we will outline exactly what the head lice is.
First, as most parents know, head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect. It lives on top of your head and feeds off of small amounts of blood from your scalp. Head lice are very similar to fleas on dogs and just as annoying yet treatable.
Head lice are especially dangerous and a very common problem for children ages three to twelve and more often than not, girls get head lice over boys.
When lice gain entry to a home, it can start spreading to all the family members. Lice have very adaptive claws for clinging and can find its way into the sofa, clothes, bed sheet, towels and the like.
When lice finally latch on to other family member’s hair, they would crawl their way into the scalp which may be reported as a tickling sensation on the head. After a few days, irritation would start to occur. Long haired children may visualize the bite marks on their neck by brushing their hair aside. Severe infestation on several family members may indicate a need for more vigorous head lice treatment.
What Does Lice Look Like
Lice are very tiny (2 -3 mm long), about the size of a common sesame seed. They have six legs but the legs of male and female louse are a little different.
The eggs or sometimes called nits of female head louse are about the size of a pin’s head and just like any other eggs they also hold only one baby. The sheath or shells of eggs are made up of sticky glue-like substance that is pasted on the hair shaft through the reproductive organ of the female louse. These eggs are closely attached to the scalp hair of humans.
When the female passes the glue-like substance on the egg around the hair shaft, it gets harden as soon as that substance is exposed outside. The eggs take about a week or ten days to hatch completely.
The babies of head lice are called nymphs and these little lice leave their shells still intact with the hair. Sometimes this leads people in thinking that these eggs are just some mere white specks or dandruff.
The eggs of lice are totally nothing like mere dandruff. The shells of these eggs are quite sturdily affixed to the strands of hair and normal method of lice removing treatments like shampooing cannot remove those eggs.
The only way to remove lice eggs is through combining the certain treatment with nit combing or nitpicking tool. Since Nit is a term used for eggs or nymphs, therefore, you have the term nitpicking for Nit removing tools.
It is true that not all eggs are fertile but if some eggs have the chances of containing potential embryos, then the cycle of lice infestation begins all again.
Life Cycle of Lice
Head lice are an infestation, though unfortunate, that is quite common among small children. They are common among children because of school, and when kids get together and play around, head lice might transfer from one child to the next. Knowing the life cycle of lice and the treatment you can choose to use for your child may stop the spread of head lice. Here are some things you need to know about head lice and what you can do to manage an infestation.
The life cycle of lice.
The life cycle of lice begins with being tiny egg sacs. These are called nits, and they can be found burrowed in the scalp of the child. They are hard to remove because they have a glue-like substance that attaches them to the scalp. The next stage is nymphs, in which the lice have just hatched and are still quite very small. They look similar to that of the adult lice, with the only size being the distinguishing factor between the two. The final stage in the life cycle is the adult phase, wherein head lice have reached maturity and are capable of reproducing.
Important Facts about Lice
When it comes to How to Treat Lice, there is a lot of embarrassment and misconceptions. Here we discuss the facts:
The people who get lice are not necessarily “dirty”. This is one of the biggest falsehoods believed, and often a cause of major embarrassment. Lice are a serious issue because it can spread from person to person so easily. Contact with an infected person, pet, towel, couch, clothing, bedding can spread lice.
Lice are a common concern for school-age children. It is highly contagious with 8 out of 10 children having the problem.
The main side effect of lice is itchiness, which can lead to infection and cuts when the host scratches. Lice can also be visible to the human eye, and therefore can be embarrassing. If not handled properly lice can spread across your body, including around your eyes which can cause additional problems.
Many people still have the notions that they can get rid of lice by shaving the infected area. You will find out, this just won’t work. Lice can live not only on your body but around your house for days. It is important to be very very thorough when getting rid of lice and to use proper shampoos or medicines approved by the FDA.
How to Get Rid of Lice Fast – Tips
Getting rid of lice should be a family affair. When someone in the family has a lice infestation, everyone must participate to isolate and treat the problem.
Because lice infestation is highly contagious, it is also advised that family members be screened to detect lice on their hair. Lice can live for about 3 days without food, so proper isolation of possible modes of transport of the lice should be observed.
7 Best Working Tips to Treat Lice at Home
Follow these simple tips to get rid of lice fast.
- Other than lice treatment for the family, the house should be clear from lice as well. The house should be thoroughly cleaned.
- Clothes have to be washed with hot water and sharing is to be avoided at all times. Those that cannot be washed should be dry cleaned.
- While stuffed toys must be placed in an airtight bag for a week or more to ensure that no louse will be left alive.
- Carpets and rugs have to be vacuumed regularly, as well as the sofa and other furniture that have fabrics on them.
- Getting rid of lice from small objects is fairly easy. Just soak them in alcohol and remember to do it every time the item is used.
- If there are two or more siblings, sharing clothes, towels and linens should be avoided.
- Family members must also have routine screening to check if they have lice on their scalp, so immediate medication on the scalp can be given.
Lice infestation is a real, persistent problem that should be addressed accordingly. But with the right tools, you don’t have to do all the lice treatment on your own. Necessary precaution should be practiced at home to prevent the transmission of lice to other family members.
All of these should be done actively and consistently to ensure the eradication of lice from the house and family.
September is considered national head lice prevention month, but getting rid of lice should be an all year round undertaking.
Lice will attack children in any season or climate. Therefore policies to identify children with lice infestations should be implemented. Confidentiality must be ensured so that children with lice are not discriminated or humiliated by their classmates and peers.
How To Treat Lice – Treatment Options
There is currently a high prevalence of lice infestation not only in the United States but all over the globe. The most susceptible are school age children ranging from ages 4 to 12. All contact activities like group sports help spread the lice exponentially.
Inability to find a successful head lice treatment will only promote it to thrive longer on its host. And the longer it stays on the scalp, the harder for its host to cope and perform daily routines. Lice are very hardy and adaptive parasites. They can live a few days without a source of nourishment.
All things that come in close contact with a host or carrier can be another mode of transmission for this pest. So head lice treatment should not only focus on the individual but on the family and the surrounding environment as well.
How to Treat Lice – Products
Treating the scalp should be the first priority, as it is where the parasites get all their nutrients. Cutting their food supply would certainly help in eradicating the problem.
Shampoo and creams are a great help in this process. Shampoo will wash away most nits and lice that are not securely latched onto hair and scalp. Creams and conditioners will lubricate hair so lice can be combed off easily.
All indications for use should be followed to acquire maximum results. Using it less frequently or in lesser amount may decrease its effectiveness, while using it in excess may be harmful to the individual being treated. After this, the home and its surroundings should be attended with.
There are head lice treatment kits that include products for eliminating lice on surfaces that are frequently in contact with infested members of the family. With all of these factors being considered, and with the help of proper head lice treatment products, the lice problem will be totally eradicated in the house and can then be prevented from happening again.
There are a lot of speculations and old remedies of How to Treat Lice. An example would be putting mayonnaise or olive oil on the hair to suffocate the lice.
Lice are a very adaptive parasite. They can survive harsh environments as long as the food supply is plentiful.
Lice are not very hard to find with the naked eye when looking at the scalp. But a magnifying glass can help locate them more easily and quickly.
The biting of lice poses the greatest problem for most infected individuals. In children, the bite of the lice can be a very pestering experience.
In severe cases, bite marks are very visible and are very close to each other. It is very irritating and scratching the bite may traumatize the skin and create sores that can be a portal of entry for bacteria. Secondary infection is not uncommon. If the dermatologist sees any sign of bacterial infection, oral antibiotics are usually prescribed.
Side effects of Anti-Lice Products
Lice treatments would include shampoos and creams that are toxic to the scalp. They are usually hypoallergenic because it is commonly used in children. In using these lice treatments, it is vital that the parents know the indications and dosage of the medication. Even if it is a shampoo or cream that is washed off afterward, it should not be used in high volumes because toxic effects may occur.
Most lice medications are not to be used in combination with other remedies because it may cause a negative drug to drug interactions. After medicating the scalp, it is advised that the hair should be left unwashed for 2 days for maximum toxin exposure on the lice. The hair dryer should be avoided when the hair is undergoing lice treatments.
Some components that are used to treat lice infestation are flammable and are not to be exposed to sudden dry heat. The scalp should not be exposed to the same medication for more than three times. It may be able to pass the skin pores after continuous exposure and enter the bloodstream.
If the problem still persists after giving lice treatments, it may be an indication that the shampoo or cream used is ineffective and may require another visit to the doctor.
Even with the hypoallergenic composition of lice medications, there are still some that experience allergic reactions. It is important to monitor the child while giving lice treatments so that any sensitivity over the medication can be noted and addressed as soon as possible.
Why we must need to treat head lice?
Head lice have always been a concern for families. Most parents with school-age children have encountered this problem one way or another. It is annoying not only to the family concerned but also to the people around them.
Most schools and communities have a “no nit” ( nit is the name for lice eggs) policy that prevents any child that has an infestation from coming to school. It can be frustrating and humiliating for the child to miss school because he or she has a lice infestation.
Active infestation is very upsetting. It causes severe itching of the scalp and even rashes on the skin. Bite marks are often seen on individuals with long hair.
Continued trauma to the skin due to scratching can cause sores and may later develop to bacterial skin infections like Impetigo. This will require a more aggressive remedy other than the ongoing lice treatment. It may even produce life lasting scars if the skin is badly damaged by the secondary infection.
Lice are also resistant against some pesticides found in shampoo and creams. Their pesticide composition is not adequate to eradicate the infestation rendering them useless against the lice. Using more potent insecticide may be harmful to the scalp and toxic for the child if ingested.
Finding the right product is sometimes confusing. With dozens to choose from, it is not uncommon to get lost finding the right remedy for the problem.
Physical removal of the head lice is very time consuming and will not guarantee complete removal of the pest. Hair length and density also pose more difficulty in detaching nits, as head lice can attach to them and can provide a larger area to multiply.
Childer and Head Lice – How to Treat Lice
Children exposed to lice must endure high emotional stress. They are teased and avoided by their classmates as well as their neighborhood friends. It prevents them from going out and playing with peers. It also removes them from social activities that they usually engage on like going to school or just hanging out at the park. They feel that they are left out because of a disease that they carry, and may cause long term problems especially if the treatment drags on to weeks or months.
Parents are a big factor for the coping of the child. They must do everything necessary to stop the infestation dead in its tracks. They should help the child to cope with this distress and remove the problem as soon as possible. Successful treatment can only bring the child back to his daily life activities.
Your child comes home complaining of persistent scalp itching. He is also feels something moving on top of his head. You check his hair and you see small white nits. You are now one of many who has the same lice problem with their children and bothering about how to treat lice. Your next step would be to find the best lice treatment possible to remove the infestation.
Lice have been a nuisance since anyone can remember. They are highly contagious pests that spread through close person to person interaction. Most hosts of this parasite are school age children. They can get them from playing with the neighbors, going to school or even having a haircut at the salon.
Who will be victimized of head lice?
Anyone can be victimized by these small critters. It has no regard for social status and race. Even with good personal hygiene, anyone is still susceptible to infestation. There are studies that indicate that dirty hairs are a perfect habitat for lice reproduction. This is added stress for most parents. Getting their child into school is hard enough. Now they have another problem on their list, which is lice treatment.
Some would say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Although this is correct, no one can really monitor their child’s activity 24/7. Sometimes the problem is identified late in the process because lice infestation usually shows up symptoms after a few days or weeks.
How to treat Lice – Lice treatment can be widely varied. And it is usually different for any individual. Females tend to have higher incidence due to the difference in hair density and length. So they require more aggressive methods of lice treatment.
There are different products that are very useful in eliminating lice and nits. One of them is head lice treatment kits approved by the FDA. These kits kill lice upon contact without causing toxic effects to children.
The products included in lice treatment kists are composed of natural ingredients that are hypoallergenic and nonpoisonous to kids. The kit includes the Clearlice shampoo, conditioner, household spray and much more. It is a big help to alleviate parents’ worries regarding lice treatment.
How To Get Rid of Lice Naturally In One Day
Home treatment for head Lice has healed many folks in helping to remove head lice. The truth is that many people avoid the treatment and they consider it very simple lice can be severe when it comes to complete rid off especially in a home with kids. There are Four most effective remedies for How To Get Rid of Lice Naturally In One Day. The stuff you need for these remedies can be found easily in every home.
1. How To Treat Lice With Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most powerful substance to kill young lice. Mix the Vinegar with baby oil in equal portion and after apply this liquid to your hair and scalp. You must leave the mixture of Vinegar and baby oil for an hour and cover your hair fully with the washing cap. Then after an hour of shampoo hair as you do in the normal routine. you might be shampoo 2-3 time as you have the baby oil
Examine your hair and scalp completely you will be amazed after seeing the result of this remedy.
2. Lemon Juice And Almond For Head Lice
You need a few Almonds and a Lime juice for this remedy. Take 15-20 fresh almond and blend along with 3 tablespoons of a lime juice. you will get a thick mixture paste of Almond and a Lime juice.
Apply and rub this past to hair & scalp leave it for half an hour. Then wash hair with the normal conditioner.
3. Mayonnaise For Lice
It seems to be the messiest solution to get rid of lice but many people have recommended it. Mayonnaise works very well by suffocating the head lice. Apply mayonnaise to your hair and scalp and cover it, make sure you have covered the root as well. leave the mayonnaise for an hour then wash it with shampoo.
Apply the baking flour or the baby powder if you having a difficult time of removing the mayonnaise from hair and scalp.
4. Lime/Lemon Juice and Garlic
Mix an equal portion of lime/lemon juice with garlic until it becomes a paste then apply thoroughly apply in hair and to the scalp.
Keep the past for an hour then wash the hair with normal conditioner.
How to Treat Lice completely somehow difficult except you are determined. Always use a comb to extract the mature and adult lice & nits. Keep cleaning all beds, pillows, bed sheets, pillowcases, and the blankets. Wash your hair with hot water to eliminate the nits.
Along with these tips of How to treat lice, bear in mind, educate your kids about cleaning and hygiene and not to share personal belonging like hair brushes, scarves or hats with anyone in school.