Just like your skin, you should take care of your hair too. They are also pretty sensitive and prone to external factors like wind, dust and even insects! Yes, you read that right. Lice, that are tiny little parasitic insects such human blood. They are mostly found in your head but can also infest eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic hair and your body. It is a very small insect that lets eggs on your hair, very close to the skin. Your head has a high chance of adapting to lice as once infested, they can stay for a long time. Head lice transfers easily through personal contact which makes it most common among school going children. Further in this articles, we have listed down the causes, symptoms and some natural remedies for head lice.
Head lice causes
As soon as lice lays eggs, it will definitely become a huge network as this infestation happens quite quickly. Lice can't jump and fly but you can easily get them through personal contact. Listed down are some head lice causes:
- Head to head/body to body contact
- Exposure to contaminated furniture
- Infested clothes/blanket
- Sexual contact
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Head lice symptoms
Getting lice on your hair or body can be irritating and uncomforting. In fact, head lice can lead to blood and wounds on your scalp. Here are some common signs or symptoms of lice:
- Itching
- Bite marks
- Tickling
- Infection sores
- Nits (lice eggs) on your hair
- Moving adult lice
Home remedies for head lice
Killing and eradicating head lice is a very difficult task if you let it get worse. Control it in time and you get better results. You have to eliminate both the insects and their eggs. If an individual uses a treatment that does not kill the eggs, they will have to repeat the process once the eggs get hatched. Here are some home remedies for head lice:
1. Mayonnaise
The use of mayonnaise to treat lice is very popular. The mayonnaise has the ability to smother lice which makes it very easy to comb them out from your hair. In fact, mayonnaise can also cool down and your scalp and reduce irritation/itching. There is no proper scientific evidence to kill lice but this remedy is harmless, easy and useful. DIY mayonnaise hair mask can help in this.
2. Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly helps in suffocating the lice and their eggs. As it is greasy, the lice get stuck in your hair, which makes it easy to take out with a comb. If you have an allergy from lice shampoo/oil, petroleum jelly is an effective option. It is easily available in the market or online. Petroleum jelly for haircare is a great option.
3. Garlic or Onion juice
You must have heard about this natural remedy from your mothers and grandmothers. Garlic or onion juice irritates and blinds the lice to stop them from moving here and there. Moreover, this juice can also help the lice to fall on its own.
4. Oils
Essential oils and different oils like almond oil, coconut oil and olive oil are also the treatments for head lice. They will also eliminate the dryness on your scalp and hair. The lice and eggs are easy to take out if you apply oils. Make sure you are not allergic to essential oils.
5. Wet combing
Whenever you get affected with head lice and nits, wet combing can play an important role. It is an old way of removing lice from your hair. Combing hair right after a head wash is time consuming but one of the most effective methods to treat head lice.
What can you avoid?
- Don't take an overdose of your life medication
- Avoid the use of conditioner on your hair
- Don't use more than one treatment at a time
- Protect your eyes from lice remedies/medication
- Don’t repeat the same lice treatment more than two or three times
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Not scientifically evident, but these were some effective home remedies to get rid of lice. To treat head lice, it's important to follow the instructions in a proper way. If these ways don't work then you should surely see a doctor for some medical treatment.
(Written by Navya Kharbanda)
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