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Learn How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Remedies That Works
How to get rid of lice fast is a question causing headaches in many people. It has been recorded that nearly 6 million to 12 million kids belonging to the United States suffer from the predicaments of head lice every year. This is estimated by the centers for disease control and prevention or CDC.
These are tiny parasitic insects having 3 different forms. These are nits, nymphs, and, adult lice. The nits are white colored eggs laid by lice, the nymphs are immature lice whereas adult lice are parasitic in nature.
The size of an adult louse is near to the size of a sesame seed. If u want to know how to get rid of lice fast you need to get rid of all these three forms of parasitic insects. How to get rid of lice fast when they reproduce at higher rates? keep reading to know more.
The experts usually prescribe medications that go after all three forms to treat them effectively. These medications are taken twice a week, once to get rid of the adult lice and the second time to get rid of eggs that usually grows.
At times these standard medications do not work very well because the lice in your head have gained resistance to over-the-counter medicines and stuff.
Providing you a list of different OTC, prescriptions, and some natural remedies that you can easily follow to get rid of lice completely.
Where Do Lice Come From
Lice can survive outside your scalp only for 24 hours. The fear of spreading infestation of these lice is usually from head to head contact. If you are in contact with someone having lice in their head for example your friends or family members there are high chances of you getting infected. Not only direct contact, sharing items like scarves, hats, brushes, combs, etc can pass lice to your head.
Some of the most common situations where the transfer of lice to your head is possible includes:
- Being on the same bench or class for children
- Sitting in very close proximity with a person having lice
- Sharing the same bed during parties or night outs.
- Sharing towels, brushes, or combs.
How To Get Rid Of Head Lice Fast At Home Naturally
While having to deal with lice, there are a variety of things that you should keep in your mind. While lice spread in your entire head they do not carry harmful diseases, and they do not mean your kids and you are not clean because they spread very easily.
There are times when all you have to do is use a lice comb that can help you comb out the adult lice, nits, and nymphs in your head or your child’s hair.
If your kid went for a night out with some friends and one of them informed you about having lice in their hair, do not act in a hurried manner or worry because there is no need for panicking. This is in fact good because you have got to know about the issue early which will enable you to protect yourself and other members of the family by acting soon.
Also, you can easily get rid of lice at this stage as they have not spread very much. It will nearly take 3 weeks to get rid of them by combing your child’s hair daily if you get to know them at this stage.
You can also use home remedies that can be combined with combing to remove them earlier. All the home remedies known works in the same fashion, that is they generally suffocate the lice. Using home-based methods is always better because the outside medicines and shampoos contain harsh chemicals. Let us go through certain home remedies at first.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Wet Combing
The most followed and traditional way to get rid of lice fast without using anything else is wet combing your hair. As described by the British Medical Journal, the wet combing method possesses many benefits such as making the lice easily detectable, helps to differentiate between lice and dandruff, and it is the most affordable way.
This process involves first spraying some conditioner when the hair strands are wet and then using a small and fine-toothed comb to remove all the lice by going through sections of hair separately.
Sometimes you can also use the magnifying glass if you are not able to differentiate accurately between lice eggs (Nits) and dandruff as both are white and appear somewhat similar. Know that the eggs of lice have a bit shiny appearance and the dandruff is matt white. You can use this as a tip to distinguish between both.
Although the process of wet combing is highly effective and affordable, it is also time-taking. It requires a lot of patience both by the child and parents to get it completed every day, and you cannot miss out on it even a single day because the lice are multiplying at a rate and you have to keep the rate of removing them higher to get rid of lice completely.
If you have opted for this method to keep your child away from the usage of harsh chemicals, make sure you are providing the child with some sort of entertainment like a phone or TV show in front of them so that the child cooperates.
How To Get Rid Of Lice By Smothering The Lice
You can also eye for certain natural smothering or suffocating agents for the lice to suffocate. They are the best if you have followed all the instructions given carefully. Experts suggest that using both methods together, that is using the wet combing method along with suffocating agents is best if you want to get rid of lice as fast as possible because the suffocating agents if used will suffocate the lice and make them slow down.
Once you comb your child’s hair the lice will be more visible to your eyes as they are slow and could not easily escape.
If you want to opt for this method to get rid of lice fast you can make a coating of almond oil or olive oil on your child’s hair. Many people you come across also suggest using mayonnaise and vaseline but it is highly recommended not to go for them because they will make your child’s hair unnecessarily messy and sticky. Also, it becomes very difficult to wash them later on.
If your child is not a huge fan of using oil and gets irritated easily, you can also apply the oil on your comb instead and then use it in their hair. If you are doing so, do not forget to reapply oil again and again on the comb.
Try using any one, or both the ways and see which one is working effectively for you. You have to make different partitions of the hair in very small sections and clip them using a hair clip. The best place to carry this out is near the windows or outdoors where the light is immense and appropriate. After using the comb, rinse it out using hot water because it will help keep the comb entirely clean and free of any lice stuck over it.
After completely combing the hair of your child. Use any regular and mild shampoo to wash their hair. Let the hair dry afterward.
Do not forget to keep a check on all the towels you have used to wipe out your child’s hair. Making sure to wash the towels along with the comb is very important. If you ignore this even for one day there are chances the lice will multiply and more time will be taken to get rid of them.
Make a two percent Lysol solution or a ten percent bleach solution and soak the comb used in these solutions for nearly half an hour. After that rinse it using hot water. If these items are not available you can always use certain alternatives including boiled water or vinegar for 30 minutes.
Just follow the above-given procedure every day for 2 or 3 weeks and keep checking every other day using the comb if there are lice still moving or laying eggs. Once you have finished 3 to 4 days of checking without traces of any louse, it indicates your child doesn’t have them anymore.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Essential Oils
wondering how to get rid of lice fast using oils? There are many types of essential oils that have been equally beneficial for getting rid of lice when used along with combing for eliminating unwanted parasites lying in your child’s hair.
Essential oils should never be ingested because some of them are toxic. Before proceedings to use any type of essential oil always use normal oil to dilute them enough. After forming a dilute mixture you have to first use a tiny drop of this anywhere on the hand of your child and see if it has caused irritation or any allergic reaction to them. If it shows allergy try using some other remedy, if it doesn’t go for it.
There are no shreds of evidence that shows if essential oils are good for children or safe to be used. Although it is quite rare, there are some children who highly face allergic reactions when oils are used especially in the case of tea tree oil. Here is a list of few oils that have been useful for many people in getting rid of unwanted lice.
- Lavender oil
- Tea tree oil
- clove oil
- neem oil
- aniseed oil
- eucalyptus oil
- cinnamon leaf oil
- peppermint oil
- red thyme oil
- nutmeg oil
For this method to work effectively just use 2 ounces of olive oil and 15 drops of any essential oil, you have chosen. Mix both of them entirely to prepare a dilute solution of essential oils. Use a cotton ball and apply this mixture to your child’s scalp overnight. Keeping this for at least 12 hours is necessary for it to work at its best potential.
Use shampoo to rinse the hair and repeat the procedure.
How to get rid of lice fast using any other alternative? There are few alternatives you can go for. You can mix nearly 15 or 20 drops of essential oil taken along with 4 ounces of alcohol. Use a spray bottle to store this mixture prepared and saturate your child’s hair with it.
Just leave it to work for 12 hours and then using a shampoo rinse and dry the hair.
It is very important to keep combing the hair in spite of whichever remedy you are using to remove lice as fast as possible. If you wish to know how to get rid of lice fast, follow best practices.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast By Cleaning The House
When you have lice in your head you are more likely to be tempted to clean every corner thoroughly within your house to make sure no other place is contaminated with lice. But this is not needed, because the lice do not travel far away from your scalp and if you are worried about nits laid anywhere in your house, do not worry because they cannot hatch at the normal room temperature.
But make sure you are cleaning and washing all the things that have remained in close contact with your child having lice. For example, things such as pillows, hats, combs, or brushes they have used that were in contact with their scalp should be cleaned. If they use stuffed toys, use a plastic bag to cover them and put them aside for few days.
Washing items infested with lice using hot water is very important. Make sure the temperature reaches nearly 50 degrees or 55 degrees while you are washing. You may also use plastic bags to keep items used by them separately as the nits and adult lice will eventually die when they do not get the environment and temperature.
If you feel that lice have fallen onto the floors or furniture, vacuum them simply.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast And What To Avoid
The Centre For Disease Control and Prevention or CDC has suggested some things and products that you need to completely avoid in order to get rid of lice fast. Read these carefully.
- When you visit a doctor or online store for purchasing any medication to get lice problem cured, they will suggest some medications. Do not use any lice medication more than the prescribed dosage to treat the lice fast because it does not work in that way. Taking an excessive dosage of any medication can be highly dangerous for you.
- Make sure you are not putting the medication anywhere near your eyes or if there is any chance that any contact with your eyes has occurred, flush it out as soon as you can.
- If you constantly have come across a lice problem in your hair, do not go for the same products and medications every time because over time you may build resistance to the medication. Make sure you use different medicines.
- Do not use two or three types of lice medication during the same time. Using many medications at the same time will do more harm than good and do not think that it will make your lice disappear faster.
- Do not fumigate the area or house where the person having lice sits or spends time the most because fumigating is toxic to other pets in your house. The lice are present in that area will automatically die when they will not get the proper temperature and environment to sustain themselves.
- When lice have entered your hair, avoid using any conditioner. The conditioners used to cause barriers for the medications of lice applied and do not let it stick and act properly to the hair shaft.
- Avoid using lindane shampoo for the children as first-line treatment. It is recommended by the American Academy Of Pediatrics to NOT use it on children. Overusing this or misusing it by the children affects parts of the nervous system badly. If other treatments have drastically failed and there is no other option left, you can talk to experts and use lindane after their guidance.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Treatments (Medicines)
There are some medicines specially designed and introduced into the market for getting rid of lice faster because they are really irritating in the scalp with constant itching. It is HIGHLY ADVISED to seek a doctor if you are planning on taking any medication mentioned-below.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Ovide Or Malathion
Bring this medication and apply it directly to the scalp and then massage it or rub it using your hands. You can apply this once and wait for some days. If you still feel the lice have not completely gone, you can go for a second treatment after waiting for 7 to 9 days.
These medications are not for use for children below the age of 6 years. These are only for women who are breastfeeding or pregnant. You should consult a doctor if you want to know how to get rid of lice fast using this.
Nit combing is also necessary with this medication.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Sklice or Ivermectin Lotion
Apply this medication to your dry scalp and hair. It is highly effective even after only 1 treatment. Just keep this for 10 minutes and then rinse and dry your hair.
There is not even the need of combing your hair for nits after using this medication.
Do not get it ordered for children below the age of 6.
Natroba or Spinosad Topical Suspension
Apply this medication to dry scalp and rinse after 10 minutes only. This does not require repeated usage. One use is enough to get rid of lice fast and no nits combing is required.
This is also not for children below the age of 6 years.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Ulesfia Or Benzyl Alchohol Lotion
Apply the benzyl alcohol lotion to your scalp for 10 minutes only. Saturate your hair and scalp completely with this lotion. It is not efficient in killing the eggs or nits, it is just for adult and immature lice in your head which makes it necessary to go for a second treatment.
Combing wet hair for removal of nits is necessary while using this oil. Even this is safe in breastfeeding women and pregnant women. Do not purchase it for children below 6 years of age.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Lindane
It is a shampoo that you can apply to dry scalp and hair. Leave it in the head for 4 to 5 minutes before pouring water onto your head for lather formation. Rinse it afterward. Avoid using it again and again.
This does not require nit combing as well. Lindane is not usually suggested because it can cause serious side effects and downsides. If other prescriptions have not worked well for you, you may try using this. It is not for infants and people having HIV virus should also avoid using it.
Also, women who breastfeed and children should not use it. Other than this, adults having a weight less than or nearly 110 pounds should avoid lindane.
Some possible side effects of using all these medicines and prescription commonly seen are:
- Burning sensations on the areas you have applied the medications
- Dandruff issues
- Irritation in eyes, scalp, and skin.
- Redness in eyes.
How To Get Rid Of Lice Fast Using Over-The-Counter Treatments (OTC)
If you wish to use over the counter treatments for getting rid of lice in your head, always search for the following ingredients in them.
Pyrethrins
Pyrethrins are natural ingredients extracted from chrysanthemums. You may use it for your child if they have been 2 years of age or older than this. This is highly effective in killing lice that are adult. It is not effective against nits laid by lice. Individuals who see an allergic reaction to ragweed or chrysanthemums should not use it. You have to go through repeated treatments to get rid of lice completely as they do not kill nits.
Permethrin Lotion (NIX) 1 percent
It is quite similar to the above treatment that is pyrethrins but it is not natural, it is synthetic. It is effective against killing both, live lice and eggs laid by them. Permethrin usually lays residue in your scalp and hair which enables it to get rid of newly hatched lice that just arise from the eggs. Do not use it along with shampoos and conditioners because they might interfere with its working and effectiveness. If any lice are spotted after 7 to 8 days, you can go for a second treatment.
It is suitable for children above the age of 2 years. Talk to the doctor before applying.
Things To Do After Taking Treatments
How to get rid of lice fast after following treatments is a question asked by many. After any treatment you have undergone, be it home remedies, over the counter treatments, or medications, it is important to check the scalp and hair to remove any leftover nits or lice.
If you want to know how to get rid of lice fast, Keep in mind the tips given below:
- After 12 hours of any treatment, remove the nits or live lice using a thin comb.
- Do not use any regular shampoos after one or two days.
- Continue checking for lice even after 2 or 3 weeks because the possibility is there that nits have grown.
- Always soak brushes and combs used in water that is high in temperature.
There were some remedies to use if you want to know how to get rid of lice fast and effectively.
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