Head and Body Lice Home Remedies

What Exactly are Lice?

Lice is also known as Phthiraptera (Scientific Binomial Name), Head Lice / Louse (Common English), (Unani), Joon Aur Leekh / Joon Ka Anda (Hindi / Urdu), Penkal / Pen / Penkal / Pen ponravarrin muttai (Tamil), Uva Leekha (Marathi), (Sanskrit), Ukuna / Ttakana / Uddansa (Bengali), Penu (Telugu), Paropajivigalu (Kannada), Pen (Malayalam), Shizi (Mandarin / Traditional Chinese / Simplified Chinese), Piojos (Spanish), Piolhos (Portuguese), Vosh (Russian), Pseires (Greek), Qamal (Arabic), Shirami (Japanese), (Latin), Luizen (Dutch), Pidocchi (Italian), Voshi (Ukrainian), Lapetada (Punjabi), Lause (German), Kutu (Javanese), Kutu (Malay / Indonesian), Chay (Vietnamese), Iga (Korean), Les Poux (French), (Turkish), Ju (Gujarati), Jumra (Nepali). Lice is a small, wingless, parasitic insect that lives on the skin of mammals and birds. They are burrowing into skin and causing itching. Scabies can live in the seams of clothing, migrating to the body for their twice daily feedings.

Different Types of Body Parasites

Lice, crabs, and scabies are 3 parasites can make those infected with them very uncomfortable. Head lice are prolific, and females lay between 50 and 300 nits in their life cycle. Nine days later, the eggs hatch. Nits are tiny yellow ovals that attach themselves firmly to the hair shaft and survive by biting and sucking blood. They can live up to two days without a host. Pubic lice are known as crabs and are generally transmitted by sexual contact. They are hard to see but look like tiny black or rust colored spots clinging to the base of pubic hair. Using a magnifying glass can help them be more visible. Treat pubic lice in the same manner as head lice. Scabies also known as body lice. Lice infest the body, especially in areas of the wrists, finger webs, hands, elbows, underarms, waist, feet, scrotum, and nipples.

What is the Main Cause of Head Lice?

Something is definitely moving in your hair, and the itching is driving you buggy. And that’s precisely the problem. Your tresses are now a cozy domicile for the common head louse, otherwise known as Pediculus humanus capitis. Just one sixteenth of an inch long, these wingless insects live close to the scalp, laying their eggs (nits) and feeding on your blood. When lice appear in school age children, word usually gets around quickly. And parents are warned to be on the lookout. Lice spread via contact with contaminated hair, hairbrushes, combs, clothing, or bedding. Parasites are more likely to invade those in poor health. So a lifelong practice of good hygiene and sound nutrition is wise. Strengthen your energy shield! If you do get infected, here’s how to stop the itch.

Best Natural Home Remedies for Head Lice and Nits

Once lice are in the hair, even a burr cut won’t help. You need to get rid of the louse eggs that are attached to the hair shafts about one-quarter of an inch from the scalp. Start by using a delousing shampoo and choose one that contains permethrin, not lindane. Lindane is a chemical cousin of the pesticide DDT and has been linked to nervous system problems (including convulsions) and brain cancer. Once you’ve found a killer shampoo, the remaining challenge is to use it effectively and become very nit picky about preventing contamination. Otherwise, your whole household could get lousy.

Home Made Shampoo for Lice: To make a natural lice shampoo out of herbs, add 5 drops each of essential oils of tea tree, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus to a base of 5 teaspoons (28 ml) of pure olive oil. Add a small amount of regular shampoo to the mixture and put this all over the hair to the ends. Leave on an hour under a shower cap to prevent drips. Rinse and shampoo the hair.
Easy Home Remedy: Saturate the hair and scalp with mayonnaise, then put on a shower cap. The next morning, lice should be dead. Unfortunately, you can’t smother the louse eggs, you will still have to remove them by hand.
Herb That Works: Blend 12 cloves of garlic in 1 pint (475 ml) of water and work the solution into the hair and scalp. Cover the head with a plastic shower cap, leave on one hour, and then wash your hair. Repeat treatments again in 10 days. After shampooing, rinse the hair and scalp with vinegar. This loosens the glue that holds the nits onto the hair shafts. Rinse with hot water, but not so hot that it burns.
Delousing Shampoo: Use a delousing shampoo, and leave it in your hair for ten minutes. That’s a long time to spend in the shower, so you may prefer to do your shampooing in the bathtub, where you can read or listen to music while the shampoo does its job. After you rinse out the shampoo, rinse it again using 50% water and 50% white kitchen vinegar. The vinegar helps dissolve the bodies of dead nits. Rub it in vigorously, then rinse your hair a few times to dispel the odor.
Get Rid of Lice and Scabies: Aniseed oil can be the base for an ointment to help control lice. The oil is also useful direct application in the control of lice. The oil of star anise is best antiseptic, but it is also reportedly useful against scabies, lice and bedbugs. Just dab it on the affected areas.
Petroleum jelly can have a stifling influence on roaming lice. Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly to the scalp, then cover with a shower cap. Leave it on overnight. In the morning, use baby oil or mineral oil to remove the petroleum jelly and the lice along with it. Repeat several nights in a row.
Nits Control In Kids: Use undiluted tea tree oil on a comb or add to shampoos to treat head lice and nits in children. Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to 1 tablespoon of shampoo.
Mix a 1/2 cup vinegar with a 1/2 cup olive oil. About an hour before you take your bath or shower, apply this mixture to your hair, working it in close to the scalp. Put a shower cap over your hair. After an hour, remove the cap and take your shower, washing your hair with regular shampoo.
Body Lice and Scabies: Neem oil is useful to treat head lice. Neem leaves and seed oil contain compounds that appear to be active against many insect pests. For lice on whole body try Neem and turmeric paste. Turmeric has a long history in Asian folklore as a vermin killer, and it’s especially good at fighting scabies, which are parasitic mites. To prepare this paste, pulverize together 4 parts fresh neem leaves and 1 part turmeric root. Rub this paste all over body and allow it to dry. Repeat until no longer felt or see lice. It may take 3 to 15 days for complete cure. Be careful while using turmeric as it can stain cloths and no detergent can wash it off.
Kill Lice and Soothe Itching: Essential oils can kill lice and help soothe the itching. There are many different recipes. One effective combination is 20 drops tea tree oil, 10 drops rosemary oil, and 15 drops each of lemon (or thyme) and lavender oil mixed into 4 tablespoons vegetable oil. Rub the mixture into your dry hair, cover your head with a plastic shower cap, then wrap that with a towel. After an hour, unwrap your head, shampoo well, and rinse.
Herbal Treatment with Sweetflag: Sweetflag (Acorus calamus) is the American species of this plant, which grows in temperate regions around the world, has proven lice killing properties. Pound this aromatic root is into a powder. Either make a poultice or rub directly onto the affected areas.
Old Folk Medication: Before effective louse killing shampoos came on the market, some said that the best way to kill lice was to rinse the hair with paint thinner or kerosene. These methods were probably effective at killing lice when nothing else was available, but there are far safer options today.

Tips to Avoid Lice Spreading

Other that head lice home remedies, here are few tips to avoid lice spreading.

When someone in the family has lice, keep all combs and brushes separate. Make sure no one comes into contact with hats, scarves, hair ribbons, etc., that is worn by the affected person.
After treating the lice, wash clothing, bedding and other washables that have been used by the affected person in hot, sudsy water. Seal non washable items in plastic bags for a week or three days in the refrigerator.
After a coat has been worn by someone who has lice, put it in the dryer to make certain all lice and eggs are killed.

FAQs.

Q. What are the most effective measures against head lice?

Use a specialized shampoo: Look for shampoos and conditioners that are specifically formulated to kill head lice.
Use a nit comb: A nit comb is a fine-toothed comb that is designed to remove lice eggs (nits) from the hair.
Wash all of your clothing, bedding and towels in hot water: Heat is a great way to kill lice and their eggs.
Vacuum carpets and furniture: Vacuuming can help reduce the number of lice in your home.
Avoid head-to-head contact: To avoid spreading lice, avoid activities such as sharing hats, helmets, or other items that may come into contact with someone’s hair.
Apply essential oils: Essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, and eucalyptus oil can be effective at killing lice.

Q. How do you get rid of ‘super lice’?
Super lice are a type of head lice that have developed resistance to the most commonly used treatments, such as over-the-counter shampoos and lotions. Super lice are very difficult to get rid of, so it is important to take extra steps when trying to treat them. To get rid of super lice, it is recommended that you use a combination of treatments. This includes using a lice shampoo or lotion, combing through the hair with a special lice comb, and vacuum cleaning any areas where lice may have been present. It is also important to wash any clothing, bedding, and towels used by someone with lice in hot water and to dry them on a hot setting. If the infestation persists, it is recommended that you see a doctor or pharmacist for advice on additional treatments.

Q. How can I be 100% sure that I have head lice?
The only way to be 100% sure that you have head lice is to have a doctor or other healthcare professional visually inspect your scalp and hair for lice or nits. It is also important to check for other members of your household for signs and symptoms of head lice infestation. Treatment should not be attempted until a diagnosis is made.

Q. What is the best way to kill lice eggs?
The best way to kill lice eggs is to use a lice comb and a lice treatment shampoo. The lice comb should be used to comb through the hair to remove any adult lice and eggs. This should be followed by using a lice shampoo, according to the directions on the bottle, to kill any remaining lice and eggs.

Q. Does hair dye kill lice?
No, hair dye does not kill lice. Lice are most effectively treated with special shampoos, and creams that contain insecticides.

Q. Should I shave my head to get rid of lice?
No, shaving your head to get rid of lice is not recommended. Lice can live for up to 48 hours without a human host, so shaving your head will not guarantee that the lice are gone. Instead, you should use a medicated shampoo or lotion specifically designed to kill lice.

Q. Is there any solution to get rid of lice and nits?
Yes. There are several methods for getting rid of lice and nits. These include using a lice comb to manually comb out the lice and nits, using an over-the-counter lice shampoo, and applying essential oils to the hair and scalp. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to remove lice and nits from furniture and carpets.

Q. Why are head lice such a problem in children but not in adults?
Head lice are more common in children than adults because they often have closer contact with each other, such as sharing hats and clothing, which makes it easier for lice to spread from one person to another. Children also tend to have less developed hygiene habits than adults, making it easier for lice to survive on their heads. Additionally, lice can live up to 30 days on a person’s head, so it’s easier for them to reproduce and spread when they’re on a child’s head.

Q. Does salt water kill lice and nits?
No, salt water does not kill lice or nits. Lice and nits are both incredibly resilient and can survive in salt water. The only way to effectively kill lice and nits is to use an over-the-counter lice treatment, such as a shampoo or lotion.

Q. What might cause your child to keep getting lice?
The most likely cause of your child repeatedly getting lice is that they are not taking proper preventative measures to avoid it, such as avoiding direct head-to-head contact with other people who may have lice, avoiding sharing personal items (such as hats, clothing, and towels) with others, and regularly washing and combing their hair with a lice comb. Additionally, if your child is attending a school or daycare with a high rate of lice infestation, they may be more likely to contract lice.

Q. What is the best way to remove a child’s head lice?
The best way to remove a child’s head lice is to use an over the counter lice shampoo. It is important to follow the instructions carefully and to repeat the treatment in 7-10 days to eliminate all the lice and eggs. Additionally, items such as bedding, clothing, and stuffed animals should be washed or dry-cleaned to prevent reinfestation.

Q. Can you get lice from your pets?
No, lice cannot be transferred between humans and animals.

Q. How do you remove lice from clothing?

Put the clothing item in a sealed plastic bag and store it for at least 48 hours.
Wash the clothing item in hot water, using the hottest water safe for the fabric.
Dry the clothing item in a hot dryer.
Vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, and mattresses.
Steam clean any rugs, carpets, and upholstered furniture, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing in hot water and a hot dryer.
Clean any items that cannot be washed, such as stuffed animals, with a lice-killing shampoo.
Vacuum the entire house.

Q. Is coconut oil good for getting rid of lice?
Yes, coconut oil is popular to help in getting rid of lice. However, it is still important to use other treatments and methods to completely remove lice.

Q. Do lice fly?
No, lice do not fly. They crawl from one person or animal to another.

Q. Can head lice become body lice?
No. Head lice and body lice are two different species of lice. Head lice cannot become body lice and vice versa.

Q. Can you get rid of lice yourself?
Yes, you can get rid of lice yourself. Common methods of lice removal include using a lice comb, over-the-counter lice shampoo, and manually removing lice and nits with your fingernails.

Q. My child has gotten head lice five times at school this year. How can I prevent head lice?

Ask your child to avoid close head-to-head contact with other children.
Check your child’s hair for lice and nits (lice eggs) every two weeks.
Wash any items that your child’s head may have come into contact with, such as hats, scarves, and pillow cases.
Use an over-the-counter lice treatment or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Vacuum carpets, furniture, and car interiors regularly.
Make sure all family members use the same shampoo and conditioner to reduce the spread of lice.
Use a fine-toothed nit comb to remove lice and nits from your child’s hair.

Q. What is the best home remedy for lice?
The best home remedy for lice is to apply a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water to the scalp and hair and leave it for an hour before washing it out. Comb the hair with a fine-toothed comb to remove any lice or nits. Repeat this process every few days for a few weeks to remove all lice.

Q. What kills head lice instantly?
There is no one product that will instantly kill head lice. However, certain over-the-counter treatments, such as shampoos and creams, can be used to help get rid of them. It is important to follow the instructions carefully and to repeat the treatment as directed. Additionally, it is important to thoroughly clean the house and personal items to remove all lice and eggs.

Q. How do you get rid of lice overnight?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get rid of lice overnight. Lice require manual removal, using a fine-toothed comb, and treatment with a medicated shampoo. Repeat the treatment and combing process in 7-10 days to remove all lice and eggs.

Q. How do you get rid of lice super fast at home?

Start by washing all bedding and clothing in hot water, and drying on the highest heat setting.
Use a lice comb to remove lice and nits (eggs) from hair.
Use an over-the-counter lice treatment, following the instructions carefully.
Vacuum furniture, carpets, and car seats, and throw away vacuum bags to prevent re-infestation.
If necessary, use a blow dryer to dry the hair after using lice treatment.
Ask your friends and family to check their heads for lice and treat if necessary.

Q. How to remove lice from hair permanently at home?

Use a quality, lice-killing shampoo. Choose a medicated shampoo specifically designed to kill lice. Follow the instructions on the package for how long to leave it in the hair.
Apply a conditioner to the hair and comb through it with a lice comb. This will help loosen the lice eggs from the hair shafts.
Use a lice comb to remove lice and eggs from the hair. Start at the scalp and work your way down to the ends of the hair, combing through each section several times.
Vacuum any lice or eggs that fall onto furniture or carpets.
Wash bedding, clothing and other items that may have come into contact with the lice.
Repeat the shampooing, combing and cleaning process every 3-4 days for 2-3 weeks, to remove all lice and eggs from the hair and home.

Q. Does vinegar kill lice?
Yes, vinegar can kill lice. Vinegar is useful in a variety of ways to treat lice, including as a pre-treatment to soften the exoskeleton of the louse, and as a post-treatment to kill any lingering lice eggs.

Q. Does coconut oil kill lice?
Yes, coconut oil can kill lice. It is a natural lice remedy that works by suffocating the lice. It is important to use pure, organic coconut oil for best results.

Q. How to get rid of lice naturally in one day?

Wash your hair with an anti-lice shampoo, such as a tea tree oil-based shampoo.
Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar.
Comb your hair with a special fine-toothed lice comb.
Apply a natural oil, such as coconut oil, olive oil, or neem oil, to your scalp and hair.
Leave the oil on for at least 8 hours.
Rinse your hair with a natural shampoo and conditioner.
Comb your hair again with the lice comb.
Vacuum your entire home and wash all bedding, clothes, and towels in hot water.
Put all stuffed animals in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.
Repeat the process every 4-5 days for 2-3 weeks to eliminate all lice.