Head Lice Treatment - It Works!

Head lice are a shockingly common affliction in the United States, particularly for elementary school-aged children. It is calculated that there are about 12 million incidences per year. Until recently, the only effective head lice treatment used abrasive chemicals and pesticides. They got rid of the lice, but also left an overly dry scalp and pesticide residues that lingered in a house for months afterward. Currently, researchers are trying to find more ways of mechanical removal of lice and lice eggs. The basic steps for "nit-picking" follow.

First, treat anyone with lice with a natural over the counter lice wash. Follow the instructions exactly, with special attention to how long to leave the product in the hair before rinsing. Alternatively, one can suffocate the lice by spreading the scalp liberally with petrolatum, mayonnaise, or olive oil and leave in overnight. A shower cap or similar head protection may be worn to protect bedding. Rinse out the hair the next morning.

For either approach to head lice treatment, commercial wash or home remedy, the next step is to comb out the nits. Special nit combs are available at the pharmacy. Basically, these are very fine toothed stiff combs. The spacing of the teeth is close enough to catch the nits as the comb passes through the hair. Parents or caregivers are often squeamish about this task, but some basic head lice information may help. Namely, head lice can not jump or fly so are not easily transferred to the person combing the child's hair.

It is not enough to remove head lice and their nits from the hair. They must also be removed from the home environment. Lice can live several days without being on a person's head. To completely get rid of them, all the sheets and blankets need to be washed and stuffed animals or other items that cannot be washed can be sprayed with a head lice treatment spray or sealed in plastic bags for several days to kill the lice.

Nits are capable of surviving for 14 days without a host, so items that can not be thoroughly cleaned should be discarded or quarantined for two weeks. Stuffed animals that commonly share a bed with a young child should be kept isolated in an airtight bag. Some physicians will also recommend taking a vacation to avoid a further infestation.

Sharing hats and combs and brushes is the most common way of spreading head lice. The lice can take refuge in these items and be transferred to the other person's head. Schools inspect students' heads on a regular basis to try to control the spread of head lice. Parents and other caregivers should do the same. Friends and neighbors should be contacted immediately when there is an outbreak of head lice.