Head Lice Prevention and Treatment

Natural Head Lice Treatment and Prevention

For every parent of a school aged child, a head lice prevention strategy should be routine. It is a fact however, that despite our best efforts, children may still contract this irritating condition. While there are a number of over-the-counter treatment options available, there are also natural remedies which have been shown to be effective. Lice are not known to be disease carriers, but it pays to make children aware of what can lead to infestation.

Methods of Head Lice Prevention

A case of head lice infestation does not indicate poor hygiene so there is no need to feel ashamed. In fact, lice tend to prefer clean hair to lay their eggs in. If your child or you get lice and you are reluctant to use any medication or pesticide for removal, try some natural solutions instead.

Home Remedy For Head Lice…

Preventative measures may include:

Discourage children from sharing personal items such as combs, brushes hats and scarves.
Don’t let children get their hair in the sandbox at playgrounds.
Check the hair of children periodically for any sign of infestation.

Some known natural head lice treatments are:

Vaseline: Apply Vaseline generously to the hair, and then cover it with a shower cap. Leave it in overnight then wash it out the next day. It may take repeated washes to get all of the Vaseline out.

Mayonnaise: Cover the hair with mayonnaise and then put on a shower cap. This will smother the lice in a similar fashion to the Vaseline. Leave the mayonnaise in only for a few hours then wash the hair with ordinary shampoo and warm water.

Coconut Oil: Apply virgin coconut oil to the hair and scalp lightly, then use a lice comb to go through the hair. Rinse of the comb repeatedly during the process. Wash the hair with ordinary shampoo then apply the coconut oil again and leave it in overnight. After this the hair must be combed again to remove any adult lice or eggs (known as nits) that may have been left behind. This process may need to be repeated a few times for best results.

Essential Oils: Eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil and olive oil can be mixed with ordinary shampoo in order to turn it into an effective lice removal treatment. After lathering the hair with the mixture, leave it in for about half an hour with a shower cap on before washing the hair.

After Natural Head Lice Treatment

If some eggs remain in the hair after treatment, make a solution of equal parts water and vinegar and soak a towel in the solution. Vinegar dissolves the glue-like substance that holds eggs to the hair. Wrap the towel around the head and leave it there for an hour or two. If possible, blow dry the hair on a warm setting before washing. This treatment may need to be repeated to improve success rate.

Alternative Treatment of Head Lice…

Natural head lice treatment does not have to be expensive, but it can be time consuming. Oils such as tea tree oil, olive oil, eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil are not only effective when applied to the hair, but can also be used to treat areas the infected person has been in contact with. These include sheets, pillows, carpets, scarves and hats. These products can be combined with a small amount of water and used as a spray as well. This spray can be used for helmets and beds.

The success of some of these methods has been disputed, but this may be due to not following instructions or hoping for immediate results. The best thing is to try one or a combination of methods when treating head lice infestation. No matter how successful a course of treatment the risk of getting lice is always present.

Author: Liz Solovay

For effective, 100% natural head lice treatment try Bon Cheveux. Clinically tested and proven effective, these products have been created by a board certified pediatrician, for the Lice Treatment Center.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liz_Solovay

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