Pediculosis brings many troubles and disorders to the physiological and living standards of people. Pharmacology and medicine are developing intensively, and new drugs against blood-sucking insects are appearing. Many different remedies have already been invented, but there are proven recipes, such as removing lice using kerosene. It is known that grandparents, who perfectly remember Soviet times, at the first symptoms of lice, removed them with kerosene. You will learn how kerosene works against lice and nits in our article.
Does kerosene help with lice?
The substance acts in several directions at once:
- clogs the spiracles of insects, causing suffocation;
- releases toxic fumes, causing intoxication in parasites;
- a strong pungent odor disrupts the normal functioning of parasites and also repels lice;
- dissolves the substance with which nits are attached to the hair;
- with prolonged exposure causes the death of the larvae in the egg.
Kerosene really helps with lice and nits. According to the descriptions of properties, it is one of the best products. However, there are some disadvantages that cannot be ignored.
The causative agent of pediculosis
A parasitic disease that affects the skin and hair, the causative agent of which is a louse that feeds on human blood, is called pediculosis or lice.
Pediculosis is transmitted by contact
There are head lice, body lice and pubic lice. They differ in the location of the parasites. Head lice, as the name suggests, live on the head, but with a severe infestation they move to the beard, eyebrows and mustache. Clothes, living on clothing, suck blood from all areas of the skin available to them, and pubic ones live in the intimate area, under the armpits.
This is interesting. Pubic lice do not spread to the head, since the peculiarity of the structure of their legs makes it possible to cling only to hair of a triangular cross-section.
Life cycle of lice
The insect species described live on average about 30–35 days. During this time, the female lays up to 150 nits. These oval-shaped yellowish-white seeds-like eggs of head and pubic louse are located at the root of the hair, to which they are attached with a special secretion secreted by the gonads of the adult. Therefore, they cannot be washed off with ordinary water and soap; nit removers must be oily. The louse breathes through 14 holes located on the sides of its body, which close upon contact with water, protecting the parasite from death. Thus, a means for killing insects and nits must act comprehensively.
Getting rid of nits that are firmly glued to the hair is much more difficult than getting rid of larvae and adults.
Which kerosene is suitable
Several types are known:
- Aviation . It is used as a fuel, lubricant, and acts as a coolant.
- Technical . It is used in the chemical industry for the production of solvents, alcohol, propylene, cleaning agents for mechanisms, firing of glass and porcelain products. Available in two brands with different chemical compositions.
- Lighting . Fuel for kerosene lamps and metal cutting equipment. Widely used in the production of leather products to impregnate the material.
To combat lice, it is recommended to use lighting kerosene; in extreme cases, the use of technical kerosene is allowed. Aviation is too aggressive and expensive.
Brief description of the substance
A mixture of flammable hydrocarbons is obtained during the oil refining process. A yellowish liquid, transparent consistency, with a pungent odor is formed. The substance, due to its high flammability, gained widespread use during the last century. Kerosene was used for lighting, cooking, manufacturing, and as rocket fuel.
The range of applications is not limited to this. Kerosene began to be actively used to combat various pests, including insects. Pediculosis is the scourge of all centuries, forcing us to look for new effective means to get rid of lice. At that time it turned out to be kerosene.
On a note!
The reason for its widespread use against lice was its availability - the substance was available in every household. And also an affordable price. Kerosene is several times cheaper than professional remedies for head lice.
Instructions for use
There are several folk recipes:
Pure kerosene is more effective, but provokes a lot of undesirable consequences. To soften the aggressiveness of the substance, add oil, honey, and shampoo.
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Traditional healers recommend that the first procedure be carried out with pure kerosene.
Head treatment procedure:
Leave for effect. Wash your hair thoroughly with warm water, rinse with a vinegar solution for better combing, and begin to thoroughly comb out dead lice and nits. The further result depends on how well this procedure is carried out. If all parasites are removed from the hair, re-treatment will not be required; lice will be defeated in one procedure.
"Grandma's" recipes
Among “grandmother’s” recipes you can find plenty of different options for using kerosene to combat not only lice, but also other parasites. All of them help destroy lice. The differences are only in the number of components that are needed to prevent skin burns.
Let's look at the most popular and relatively safe folk remedies that you can use at home.
| Mask name | Ingredients | Preparation | Application | Note |
| Oil-shampoo | Kerosene (1 tbsp), shampoo (1 tbsp), sunflower or olive oil (2 tbsp). | Combine kerosene with shampoo. Add oil. Mix everything thoroughly. | Apply to curls and lather. Wrap your head in cling film. Exposure time – 1 hour (for an adult) and 15 minutes (for a child). Wash your hair with warm water and shampoo. Repeat the procedure every 3 days until the lice disappear. | For adults and children |
| Honey | Honey (4 tbsp), warm water (4 tbsp), baby shampoo (1 tsp), kerosene (1 tsp). | Combine honey and water. Add shampoo and kerosene. Mix everything thoroughly. | Apply the mask to the root zone, lightly covering the overall length. Wear a shower cap. Exposure time – 30 minutes. Rinse under the tap with water at room temperature. Repeat the procedure daily until the lice disappear. | |
| Dairy | Cow's milk (100 ml), badger fat (3 tbsp), kerosene (3 tbsp). | Mix all ingredients well. | Apply the composition to the strands. Exposure time – 1 hour. Rinse under the tap with water at a comfortable temperature and shampoo. To completely get rid of parasites, 2 procedures are usually enough. |
How to enhance the effect of kerosene
The flammable substance has all the necessary properties to kill lice, so there is no point in adding any components. The desired result can only be achieved if the instructions are strictly followed.
How many procedures should be carried out depends on the length of the hair, thickness, and degree of infection. Initially, it is recommended to treat the head with clean kerosene and comb thoroughly. If live parasites are found within 3 days, new bites appear, prepare a mixture with the addition of olive oil and shampoos. Repeat combing again. If the second treatment does not give the desired effect, carry out the procedure a third time, the mixture is prepared according to the third recipe - with oil, honey, water.
Drug price
It is impossible to say with certainty who should treat these pests and how many times. This is purely individual. Moreover, it is better and safer to get rid of lice with a mixture of kerosene, for example, with shampoo, this leads to the fact that even for a full course of treatment (this usually lasts several days), it is enough to purchase 0.5–1 liter.
However, 1 glass of liquid is enough for the entire course of treatment. Only technical liquid is used for medical procedures. When using another (automotive or aviation) you can cause serious irreparable harm to your health. In addition, it may contain foreign additives, which will greatly increase its aggressiveness.
You can buy it in any hardware department. The average cost in the country is from 37 to 100 rubles. It depends on the brand, container and manufacturer. In any case, this is the cheapest remedy for getting rid of lice. You just need to treat carefully and correctly.
Precautionary measures
When using a folk remedy, certain rules must be followed:
- make sure that the product does not come into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth;
- put a bandage on the head along the edges of the hair growth so that the mixture does not spread over the neck and forehead;
- The treatment should be carried out in a well-ventilated area or outdoors;
- stay away from fire sources, lighting kerosene flares up at a temperature of 50 degrees;
- do not use for wounds on the surface of the head;
- Do not keep the product on the head for more than 2 hours for adults, 1 for children.
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There is nothing complicated in the instructions for use, but there is a high probability of unwanted effects.
Contraindications
The use of kerosene against lice has a number of contraindications:
- if you frequently dye your hair with dyes, after using the liquid, they become very brittle and dull;
- Do not use if there is damage to the skin;
- it should not be used by people who have allergic reactions;
- It is prohibited for use by patients suffering from asthma;
- Do not use (or use with great caution) when getting rid of lice in children.
Possible consequences
Even if the instructions are strictly followed, malaise, skin irritation, and other negative consequences may occur.
Before using a folk remedy, you need to evaluate the pros and cons. It may be better to abandon the idea and choose a more effective, less dangerous drug.
Safety precautions
Are you planning to poison lice with kerosene? First, study the safety precautions when working with this flammable substance. Proper treatment of hair guarantees relief from burns and subsequent baldness:
- Kerosene is a flammable substance. Therefore, the preparation of medicinal products based on it and the treatment of the head with them should be carried out away from very hot objects, and even more so from open fire.
- Before starting treatment, you should literally apply a drop of the mixture to a small area of skin. If an allergy occurs, the product should not be used.
- To treat a child's head, kerosene must be diluted so as not to burn the skin.
- Do you experience itching, burning, dizziness (at least one symptom)? Immediately wash off the applied composition.
- The most effective method of killing lice is complex. The use of pharmaceutical drugs can be alternated with kerosene masks.
- It is very important to know how to properly dilute fuel.
- Monitor your time at all times. Overexposure even for 10 minutes is fraught with serious consequences.
As you have already seen, caution, accuracy and attentiveness are the main qualities that will be needed when working with kerosene. You only need to use it correctly. Then it will become a powerful effective medicine.
How to remove lice with kerosene from children
The child’s body reacts vividly to the toxic fumes of kerosene and its aggressive effects. Even when carrying out the procedure in a well-ventilated area, poisoning can occur. The first symptoms are weakness, pale skin, headache, nausea. If the procedure is not stopped, vomiting, diarrhea will occur, and the child may lose consciousness. Children's skin is very sensitive, so the use of kerosene causes burns, irritation, and an allergic reaction. Hair suffers greatly and takes months to recover.
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The use of barbaric treatment methods is strictly prohibited. There are many professional products in the pharmacy, the possible side effects of which are much less. You need to keep the mixture on your hair for 5 to 20 minutes, it smells nice. The use of folk remedies with a less aggressive effect is allowed - dust soap, anise oil, pomegranate juice, etc.
How to treat your head, how to use it and how long to keep it on
The prepared mixture should be applied to dry hair using a cotton pad or swab. Then cover your head with cling film and tie a scarf or towel on top. If lice infest an adult, the mixture should be kept for 1.5-2 hours. It is not recommended to shorten this time - some insects can survive and continue to reproduce, but you should not exceed it - this can lead to a chemical burn to the scalp.
After the specified time, you need to remove the film and wash your hair with regular shampoo. It is advisable to do this several times and then rinse your hair with a weak solution of table vinegar.
Is it worth using kerosene for head lice?
The product was actively used in the last century, when there were no professional products yet. Currently, an effective drug based on natural ingredients and insecticides can be purchased at any pharmacy at an affordable price. In 1-2 procedures you can get rid of head lice completely.
Treatment with kerosene has a lot of negative aspects:
Kerosene can be called a cheap remedy, but not safe at all, so it is better to use special drugs for the treatment of head lice.
Conclusion
If you have consciously made a choice in favor of kerosene, be prepared for the troubles that accompany this method of treatment. The most common problems are redness of the skin, the appearance of small wounds, repeated washing of the hair, and a very persistent odor emanating from the hair.
It is better, of course, for children and allergy sufferers to abandon this aggressive drug in favor of modern fast-acting pharmaceutical drugs (for example, “Para Plus”). They do not injure the skin, do not harm the hair, and quickly cope with their main task - treating head lice.
Types and causes of lice
Lice can be:
- head;
- pubic;
- clothes.
Most often, infection with pediculosis occurs through close contact with a sick person , as well as through the use of common items - clothes, combs, hairpins, etc.
Other causes of head lice may include:
- low level of material well-being , which does not allow maintaining the necessary level of personal hygiene;
- non-compliance with sanitary standards;
- ignoring the rules of personal hygiene.
Reference! Contact infection is the most common method.
Useful tips
Since tar is essentially birch resin, it is difficult to wash off from hair. To prevent your hair from looking untidy, follow these simple rules:
- Do not use tar soap for more than one month - if it still does not help, combine it with pharmaceutical products.
- Do not rub your hair with soap - you need to lather it on your hands, and only then soap your hair.
- Rinse off the foam with pleasantly warm running water for a few minutes.
- Alternate the use of tar soap with regular shampoos.
- Be sure to rinse your hair after washing with water acidified with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar - this will remove excess oil and make combing easier.
Important! Ready-made tar shampoo foams better, has only a faint odor and is easily washed off with water, but it is less effective than homemade one.
Is tar effective in its pure form?
The concentration of substances that remove lice in it is much higher than in soap.
Yes, it can be used, but not in its pure form, as this leads to the formation of dangerous burns on the skin, but in the form of an aqueous solution in a ratio of 1 to 5 or 1 to 4 (15-20%).
All previously stated rules of use regarding soap with it remain relevant (pre-washing your hair, applying for 30-60 minutes and then combing out), and its possible side effects.
Although tar is included in various ointments (for example, Vishnevsky ointment), they should not be used, since, unlike the cost, their effectiveness in the fight against lice is no higher than that of soap.
