It is difficult to find a person who has not directly or indirectly encountered head lice in his or her life. You can become the owner of head lice both as a child and as an adult, experiencing this problem together with your child. The presence of uninvited guests causes severe itching, the consequences of which are allergic reactions, wounds and even the possibility of infection. The use of chemical and traditional methods of fighting parasites will help to avoid such troubles. However, more and more people prefer “grandmother’s” recipes, one of which is essential oil for lice.
Pros and cons of using oils for head lice
Essential and vegetable oils can be used for lice and nits. Both options are effective if you follow the instructions for their use. This method of control can be used to prevent infection and treat pediculosis when the number of parasites is low. But it also has certain disadvantages that you should familiarize yourself with in advance.
The main advantages of this therapy:
- safety of use;
- beneficial effect on the skin;
- ease of use;
- Can be used for children;
- improves nit removal.
Combing
The disadvantages of treatment include the fact that it will be difficult to remove lice with oil when they multiply en masse, and there is also a possibility of developing allergies.
General information
A parasitic disease of the skin and hair caused by lice is called pediculosis. Head lice affects the scalp, the back of the head, neck, skin behind the ear and temples suffer the most. The first signs of pediculosis, which indicate infection, appear after 2–3 weeks.
Symptoms caused by head lice: severe itching and rashes, on which pustules develop when infected, the appearance of nits and scratches at the bite sites.
Attention! The female louse lays up to 50 eggs at a time and begins to produce offspring within 9 days after emergence. If the number of individuals living on a human body increases to 75 thousand, this can lead to death.
The fight against head lice is comprehensive and includes:
- treatment;
- maintaining personal hygiene;
- sanitizing things.
It is better to prevent any disease than to subsequently waste time and money on treatment. This also applies to pediculosis. Although it does not threaten incurable diseases, a person may experience problems of a social nature.
We recommend reading: why lice are dangerous, the consequences of lice.
You can successfully remove head lice using tar soap at home.
Tar is a dark-colored oily liquid with a strong specific odor. It is produced by distilling the young bark (birch bark) of trees, most often birch. In its pure form, tar is rarely used for personal hygiene; it is added to various products - shampoos, creams, ointments and soaps.
Hypoallergenic tar soap against lice has a pronounced insecticidal and disinfectant effect. It is produced industrially in liquid form and in the form of bars. People suffering from an allergic reaction to synthetic components of medications willingly use it.
Essential oils
These concentrated products are characterized by a sharp, rich odor that has a depressing effect on parasites. However, it should be understood that therapy will give a positive result only with a course of treatment, since a one-time use cannot eliminate the problem.
Burdock
When using burdock oil for lice and nits, apply it to the scalp and hair, massage lightly, and then comb for better distribution of the product. After this, put a plastic bag or cap on top and wait 1 hour. When finished, wash your hair with warm water. The full course is 3 days.
Burdock oil acts in two directions: it heals the skin and creates a protective film on its surface that prevents parasites from moving and feeding normally.
Eucalyptus
The pungent aroma of this essential oil can also be used against lice and nits. When evaporated, it penetrates the parasite's lungs and displaces oxygen from them, which leads to suffocation. It should be used for treatment in combination with any vegetable oil, adding no more than 5 drops per 100 ml. Duration of exposure – 1 hour. Then you need to wash your hair and comb it. The procedure should be repeated for 5 days.
Eucalyptus oil
Lavender oil
The pleasant smell of lavender has a detrimental effect on lice. Therefore, the procedure for getting rid of parasites in this case can be considered as an aromatherapy session. Lavender oil should be applied to dry hair and then wrapped in a plastic bag or an airtight cap. When finished, wash your hair with warm water. You need to use lavender oil for lice for 5 days in a row. If necessary, therapy can be repeated after taking a break for 1 day.
Coconut
The rich smell of this essential oil repels lice. You need to apply it to your hair and comb it for better distribution of the product. Then put a plastic cap on your head and wait 2 hours. At the end of the waiting period, rinse off the product with warm water. The full course of therapy is 5 days.
Anise
This essential oil has an enveloping effect. When it comes into contact with a parasite, it limits the dynamics of its movement and prevents normal reproduction.
Anise
Anise essential oil is suitable for the treatment of head lice at the initial stage and as a preventive measure against lice. After applying it to your hair, you need to wait 2 hours. The full course of treatment is 4 days.
Geranium
This essential oil should be used during head lice outbreaks to prevent infestation. It is recommended to add 2-3 drops to your regular shampoo every time you wash your hair.
Effect of vinegar on lice and nits
It is better to use table or apple vinegar for lice.
Its high efficiency is explained by the organic acids included in the composition, primarily acetic acid - they destroy the chitinous cover of parasites. Due to the high volatility of the solution, there is an additional toxic effect. To increase the concentration of vapors that are poisonous to lice, put a plastic cap on your head (you can use a bag).
The acid also helps fight lice larvae by dissolving the sticky substance that attaches the nits to the hair.
All these actions help remove dead and weakened individuals, combing them out after the procedure with a thick comb.
Important! To ensure a guaranteed result, lice treatment should be carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 7 days. This time is enough for the nits remaining on the hair to mature into larvae. Repeated treatments will allow 100% destruction of parasites.
Vegetable oils
The thick, oily consistency of vegetable oils also makes it possible to effectively combat lice. When they come into contact with an insect, they block the parasite's respiratory tract and cause suffocation.
Olive
This vegetable oil for lice can only be used as a base, adding essential oils to it. To carry out therapy, you must initially heat the olive oil to a temperature of 36-380C, and then add 3-4 drops of essential oil per 100 ml of base oil.
Distribute the mixture onto dry hair and leave for 3-8 hours. Olive oil should be washed off with warm water and vinegar. The course of treatment is 5 days without breaks.
Sunflower
Sunflower oil is the safest and most gentle. The course of treatment is 10 days.
This lice remedy should be distributed evenly on the hair and left for 30 minutes, covering the head with a plastic bag or cap. When finished, rinse with warm water.
Peppermint oil
This oil is used to prevent infection, as it has a sharp, rich odor that repels lice. During periods of head lice outbreaks, it is necessary to add 1-2 drops of mint oil to your regular shampoo before each wash.
Clove oil
Clove oil can also be used for head lice, but for this it is better to combine it with burdock oil, observing the following proportions: 25 drops of the former per 3 tbsp. l. second. The mixture is applied to the hair and left for 5 hours. The procedure must be repeated three times every 3 days.
Carnation
Castor
The effectiveness of using castor oil against lice is due to its dense, thick consistency, which envelops every hair and does not allow parasites to eat, move, and reproduce normally. The product should be applied to the curls and left for 5 hours, putting a plastic cap on the head.
The course of treatment is 3 procedures with a 1 day break between them. Castor oil is difficult to wash off, so you will have to rinse your hair 3-4 times.
Anise
To treat head lice, you can use not only essential oil, but also vegetable oil of this plant. An unrefined product with a natural scent should be used. For therapy, it should be applied evenly to the hair and scalp for 30 minutes. At the end of the waiting period, rinse with warm water. The procedure must be repeated for 5 days.
Fir
The smell of this product repels parasites. When used regularly, they try to quickly leave their home in search of more favorable conditions. To achieve this trend, you need to apply fir oil in a small amount to your hair every day and not rinse it off.
Melissa oil
This product has a strong odor that has a depressing effect on ectoparasites. To enhance the effect of therapy, it can be used simultaneously with mint. Apply the mixture to your hair in the evening and do not rinse.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is effective against both lice and nits, as it causes suffocation in adults and neutralizes the sticky substance that holds nits in the hair. It also has a wound-healing and antiseptic effect, so it has a beneficial effect on the scalp.
Tea tree oil should be used against lice in combination with medical alcohol and distilled water in a ratio of 3:5:5. Apply the mixture to dry hair and leave for half an hour. After this, rinse with warm water. You need to use tea tree oil for lice for 5 days in a row.
Bergamot
To treat head lice, you need to apply bergamot oil to your hair and wait 8 hours, so it is recommended to carry out the treatment before bed. In the morning, you should wash your hair with your usual shampoo several times and comb it out.
Bergamot
Sea buckthorn
The use of sea buckthorn oil against lice is due to its ability to reduce the appetite of parasites and cause drowsiness in them. To increase the effectiveness of therapy, it can be used in combination with avocado, apricot kernel and cedar oils.
Side effects and precautions
When using vinegar against lice, you need to be aware of its possible side effects:
- increased dryness of the scalp;
- disruption of hair structure, appearance of split ends;
- change in hair color (they become lighter);
- dizziness (with high sensitivity to the evaporation of acetic acid).
In addition, before using this product, it is necessary to conduct a skin sensitivity test to exclude allergic reactions. Apply the prepared vinegar solution to a small area of skin on the inside of the elbow for 30 minutes. If there is no reaction, you can begin the procedure for removing parasites.
Important! If during treatment you experience a burning sensation, itching, or pain, you must immediately rinse the composition from your hair, then wash your hair with shampoo. This method will still have to be abandoned.
As a precaution, vinegar should not be used to treat head lice in children under 6 years of age, as well as in people with:
- skin diseases and skin damage (eczema, neurodermatitis, abrasions, scratches, etc.);
- exacerbation of chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract (bronchial asthma, bronchitis, lung failure, etc.);
- acute intolerance to strong odors.
How to use oils?
The effectiveness of using essential and vegetable oils against lice and nits directly depends on the correct implementation of the treatment procedure.
Apply the product to freshly washed, dry hair, evenly distributing it to the roots and along the entire length. After this, you should wrap your head in a plastic bag or put on a cap and wait for the specified time. At the end of the waiting period, wash off the oil with warm water. And then comb out with a fine comb.
When using oils to treat head lice, in order to achieve a positive result, it is necessary to carry out a course of procedures.
Oil compositions
The most popular complex products include the following tandems:
- 20 parts tea tree oil to 4 parts clove oil;
- equal ratio of lavender and olive oil;
- burdock with bergamot in a ratio of 1 to 1;
- in equal parts brome and eucalyptus;
- children under 7 years old can use a composition of 30 ml of sunflower oil, to which 3 drops are added. lavender, lemon, rosemary, tea tree;
- Children of school age are allowed to use the following complex: 30 ml of castor with 3 drops. tea tree oils, rosemary, thyme.
Efficiency
You can actually get rid of lice with kerosene. This is not a myth or a joke. The flammable mixture has a detrimental effect on lice and their nits due to several features. Kerosene has a complex effect on parasites:
- the pungent smell scares the louse;
- poisoning of adult insects occurs at the first contact with the liquid;
- nits (lice eggs) are significantly weakened;
- Suitable for disinfection of family members' belongings.
Kerosene differs from expensive pharmaceutical drugs in that the death of lice occurs almost instantly. The liquid enters the respiratory organs of the parasites, blocking them. As a result, the insects simply suffocate.
Some, when mentioning the destruction of parasites, say “treating lice with kerosene.” This is an incorrect expression. After all, you are going to treat the victim, and not the insects themselves. Of course, grammatical inaccuracy will not affect the effectiveness of this method. But you still need to express yourself correctly.
Medicinal mixtures
This option can remove parasites much faster, since a combination of several different ingredients will have a complex effect. Not all oils can be mixed, and before use, you should consult a doctor to determine compatibility with your body. The mixture needs to be applied less often and in a smaller volume, the more the overall effect will become stronger and therefore less mixture will be needed.
Recipe
Existing types of vinegar differ in concentration. For effective removal, it is necessary that the solution contains about 5% acid. Using a product with a higher concentration can cause scalp irritation or even a burn. Regular 9% table vinegar is inexpensive. For the recipe, it is recommended to dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:2 so that the resulting solution contains 4.5% acid.
You can use more expensive and rich red wine vinegar (5-7%). In this case, you need to carefully study the label to find out the actual acid content and calculate the ratio of product and water for the solution. If the concentration is insufficient, the product will not dissolve the nit shell.
