Lice: Diagnosis And Natural Solutions
Head lice, which are parasites exclusive to humans, regularly invade our children's heads to feed and lay hundreds of eggs. When an outbreak occurs at school or daycare, it is best to stay calm and immediately seek treatment. In addition to shampoos and insecticide lotions, there are 100% natural solutions against lice.
Who is affected by lice?
Children aged 3 to 10 years old are the favorite victims of head lice because these intruders are transmitted through contact, especially in places where children interact with a crowd of classmates, such as daycare or school.
Girls are more vulnerable than boys because they have longer hair and share accessories with their friends.
If you discover these tiny insects that live on the scalp on your children's heads, know that there are solutions against head lice and that they do not transmit any diseases.
These parasites, which can affect anyone, are not a sign of dirtiness but prefer to live on clean hair.
How to diagnose the problem?
If your child is constantly scratching their head or if an outbreak has occurred at school or daycare, the first step in treatment is to look for lice.
To effectively spot these invaders, which measure between 2 and 4 millimeters, make sure you have good lighting (the eggs are easier to spot due to their whitish color).
To conduct a thorough examination of the scalp, separate the hair strand by strand from one side to the other, and don't forget to check behind the ears and in the neck. In short, don't hesitate to search for the little pest!
How to treat head lice?
There are two types of solutions against Lice: treatments using Chemical products or natural treatments.
Several lice products are available over-the-counter in pharmacies, usually in the form of a lotion or Lice shampoo containing an insecticide.
This type of treatment is the most radical solution. However, these products are not without side effects and can cause skin reactions. They are therefore contraindicated for people with allergies and not recommended for children under 2 years old, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women.
What are the natural solutions against lice?
Fortunately for allergic individuals, there are natural solutions to treat lice without resorting to chemical products.
The use of a fine comb, preferably made of stainless steel, allows for the mechanical removal of nits and lice from the hair and scalp.
It is recommended to sit in a well-lit area and cover the shoulders with a towel. Pre-applying a damp towel to the scalp for about an hour facilitates the removal of nits.
After each combing stroke, the comb should be dipped in hot water or vinegar to remove any lice or nits that may be present. It is also necessary to repeat this process daily for the treatment to be effective.
The application of vegetable oil (such as olive oil) on the scalp is another natural solution against lice that can be combined with the use of a fine comb. The oil suffocates the lice, killing them.
It is advised to leave the oil on the head for at least two hours before shampooing and rinsing thoroughly. A second application of vegetable oil should be done 10 days after the first application to ensure all nits are killed.
As many essential oils have insecticidal, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the vegetable oil, choosing organic products and dosing them carefully.
Use 10 drops of essential oil for every 60 ml of vegetable oil.
You can use either or combine:
- Tea tree essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Lemon essential oil.
