Lice are blood-sucking insects. They have no wings and feed on human blood. They are parasites that can be found on people’s heads and bodies. They survive on human blood. There are three types of lice that are found on humans: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice. Lice infestation is a very common problem. They spread when a person comes in close contact with a person who already has lice in hair or head; lice are wingless insects that do not hop or fly. They crawl and move to other people. If the infestation is not treated, it increases its number by producing more lice to your head.
It spreads with contacts and makes use of other belongings such as hardcore, scarves, headbands and caps and sharing toggles, quilts, and bed sheets, which are used by an infested person. If you have lice in your hair, this doesn’t mean that you are poor at maintaining self-hiding and keeping your body infected. They do not carry any bacterial or viral disease. People use several natural remedies over-the-counter medicine to get rid of lice. Before you learn how to get permanently rid of lice, you must also learn of its causes
Let’s learn the reasons why lice develop in your hair and on your scalp below here are listed some common causes:
Causes of head lice
You must have seen lice if you ever had any in your hair clippers. They are tan or grayish bugs about the size of a seed that feeds on human blood from the scalp, it causes irritation and itches on your scalp. The female one produces a sticky substance that attaches each egg to the base of a hair shaft.
A louse undergoes three stages of life eggs, nymph and adult lice stage. The egg hatches after 6 to 9 days and proceeds to the life stage of a nymph; it becomes adult after 9 to 12 days. The adult lice can live up to 3 to 4 weeks, whereas a female one lays 6 to 10 eggs every day, and that’s why their number keeps increasing.
Transmission
The primary cause of lice is the transmission from one head to head. They don’t fly or hop the only way is crawling. They get transferred head to head, one person to the other by getting in close contact. This usually happens within a family or among children who sit, play, and study together.
These tiny head lice cannot spread without direct contact, but sometimes, sharing head accessories may develop a possible chance of transmission, such as sharing brushes, combs, headphones, pillows, towels, and upholstery.
Humans are kind, and they have a tendency to share their belongings. Sometimes, they make passage for lice transmission by keeping their things together, as head lice may spread when your clothes or bed covers are kept together. Storing your items in the same school locker could also cause lice to spread.
Lice affect only humans; they don’t spread to your pets or other animals. Lice cannot live for long without feeding, and they need a new human scalp to survive.
Below are listed common signs and symptoms that indicate that you have lice and you need to remove them immediately:
- You may feel Intense itching on the scalp and find yourself scratching your head on and off. You may also feel itching in your body or in the genital area.
- You may have an uncomfortable feeling on your scalp from the movement of lice, you may feel disgusted seeing the movement of lice on your clothes, body parts, or in your pubic area.
- You may see lice eggs on hair shafts. They are very tiny and visible when in great numbers They are easily visible around the neck or at the nape of the neck. They cannot be removed easily; it requires proper treatment.
- Continuous scratching in the scalp, neck, and shoulders may cause red sores or bumps that can cause bacterial infection.
- You may notice tiny bites or marks on the waist, upper thighs, and pubic area.
- It’s been observed that kids or school-going teens primarily come in contact with head lice as the children sit, play, and learn together and spend a good amount of time at school.
Children who catch head lice can be seen scratching their head before a lice develops. You may notice a yellow dot on your ward’s hair. Those are nits or eggs of a lice. When these eggs hatch, lice can be crawling on the scalp. When noticed closely, the lice eggs hatched within 1–2 weeks. These smaller nymphs grow into adult lice about 1–2 weeks after hatching. The life cycle goes on for three weeks periodically; they feed themselves on human blood and can survive for 2 days off the scalp.
Scratching begins when lice bite on or begin to suck blood your child may often complain of tickling and scratching, although it’s not always the case as it depends on how sensitive your child’s skin is.
How to remove lice from hair permanently
1. You can try removing the lice from hair with the comb
Lice is the most annoying trouble a kid has to deal with. A special lice comb is the best way to eliminate these tiny wingless insects. Wet-combing is the most applicable method followed for a very long time, it is an effective way to get rid of lice permanently from your child’s hair. Experts say that wet-combing helps you to see the lice more clearly. Using a special lice comb can resolve your problems easily and quickly.
It’s the most handy way to eliminate lice, as it is cheaper. Also, you will not be drained by pocket as chemical treatments are expensive and harmful.
You can perform wet combing by spraying water on your child’s hair and then using a special lice comb to remove the lice. Although it is time-consuming, it’s an effective method.
2. Suffocate the Lice
It is the best way to kill lice. You must try this natural, effective method: anise or olive oil. It suffocates the lice or stuns them for a few hours to easily catch them up in the comb. Olive oil cuts off the oxygen, and lice begin to suffocate. Do not wash your hair too early. After applying oil, it takes 6 to 8 hours for a head lice to die.
It is an effective and cheap way to get rid of lice permanently
After applying oil, divide your child’s hair into sections and comb to remove the lice. Once you’re done with combing, wash your child’s hair with a shampoo, rinse hair twice or thrice, and dry it completely with a towel.
3. Use Essential Oils to remove lice from hair permanently
Essential oils have been a regular part of human life. They have been in use since the ancient period, and it’s the most effective way to treat several ailments as essential oil contains medicinal properties. Let’s read further to find out how to remove lice from hair permanently
i. Tea tree oil
It contains antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties that work against lice infestation. Just mix a few drops of tea tree oil with water and spray it on your hair. Gently rub this mixture with the help of your fingers behind your ears and neck to get rid of headlice.
ii. Lavender oil
Generally, you know this oil is a favorite, but it works effectively against head lice as it contains potential antifungal properties. Applying lavender oil gently over your hair and washing it after a few hours gives you amazing results and improvement in lice infestation.
iii. Eucalyptus oil
It is one of the most popular essential oils that is generally used for parasite and insect prevention. Eucalyptus oil serves best for treating lice. Apply a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the hair shaft and comb your hair gently; you can mix this oil in your shampoo also to make it more effective.
iv. Rosemary oil
It contains antifungal properties that help in resolving head lice issues most people love its fragrance also, and it is used as a fragrant, but they believe the use of rosemary oil is a successful remedy to get rid of head lice permanently; take two drops of rosemary oil and rub it gently on the base of the hair and the scalp this helps in removing the lice and nits from your hair.
v. Lemon oil
This essential oil application helps in eliminating your trouble. It helps reduce the itch from the scalp and eliminates the lice infestation. Take a few drops of essential oil and rub gently over your hairline at the top scalp and the back of the neck. You can give a good massage with the help of your fingers to stun the lice.
vi. Clove oil
It helps in treating the lice. One of the studies suggests that 90% of lice are exposed to clove oil for 30 to 40 minutes and die within 2 hours of application. It contains a compound called eugenol that helps in reducing the lice you can add 15 drops of oil to two ounces of olive oil and apply this to your hair and scalp for 30 minutes and then rinse your hair properly.
vii. Cinnamon oil
You can find cinnamon in every Indian kitchen. It is commonly used for various purposes, considered very healthy for health, and has an important place for germicidal properties. Research shows that cinnamon oil helps in treating lice. Add 15 drops of cinnamon oil to 2 ounces of coconut oil, stir the mixture properly, and apply it to your hair and scalp for 4 to 5 hours. Rinse it off completely with shampoo if you are allergic to any of the components,. Take a patch test over your scalp and then only apply it to yourself.
viii. Aniseed oil
It is one of the most effective remedies for permanently removing the lice from your hair; its application suffocates the lice for a few hours and helps eliminate it permanently. Apply a few drops of aniseed oil on your scalp, leave it for 4 to 5 hours and then wash your hair properly with the shampoo. You will see an effective result.
How to make an effective essential oil to remove lice from hair permanently
First, consider the best essential oil for the process. It can be any of your choice; start making the treatment oil by adding two ounces of olive oil with around 15 to 20 drops of essential oil of your choice. Mix it well and pour it into a glass bottle. You can use this oil again for the next session. Apply the oil to your child’s hair and scalp overnight. Let this natural lice treatment take effect for a minimum of 12 hours for the best results. After this, comb it out, shampoo, rinse, and repeat if required.
Can head lice spread disease?
Head lice feed on human blood, which is not considered a cause of health hazards. That may cause discomfort, irritation, or annoyance. Their presence keeps reminding you of their presence. Sometimes, excessive scratching may cause bacterial skin infection, but they are not a source of any chronic disease.
Can swimming spread lice?
There are studies show that head lice are good survivors underwater for several hours but do not spread by the water in a swimming pool. Head lice tightly hold to human hair and never lose grip when submerged under water. Even chlorine levels found in pool water do not kill head lice.
The common spread of lice is through sharing towels or using teams that have been spread by sharing items that have been used for an infected person’s hair. Children must be taught not to share towels, hair brushes, or other head and hair accessories at the pool or changing room.
Tips for prevention from head lice
- You must avoid activities that have hair-to-hair contact.
- To prevent lice in your hair, you must not share your belongings that are specially for your head and hair.
- Don’t share headphones at home or the gym to reduce your risk of catching lice.
- Be thoughtful before resting your head over any pillow soft toy or over any support, as lice and nits can live for 48 hours, and they are nice hideouts for them.
- Wash your hair accessories after every use; don’t mix them with other items. Always use a washed and clean towel for your hair.
Getting rid of hair lice permanently is difficult, but with proper care and treatment, you can win the battle, as prevention is better than cure.
