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This article was co-written by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee is a licensed family physician practicing in Tennessee. She received her MSN from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
This article has been viewed 3,921 times.
Head lice are insects commonly found on the scalp of people and feed on blood to live. [1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Going to the source Head lice usually crawl but can’t fly, so they’re only spread from person to person through close contact. This is why children are most commonly infected when they play close to each other. It is estimated that each year in the United States, 6-12 million children at school are infected with head lice. [2] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to the source Vinegar is a commonly used home remedy to treat head lice by keeping the eggs out of the hair. There are also other methods, both natural and pharmaceutical, that can kill lice directly. The most effective way is to combine lice products and remedies.
Steps
Use vinegar to treat lice
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Understand the benefits and limitations of using vinegar. Vinegar is a popular home remedy for head lice, but some people misunderstand that vinegar kills adult lice and nits. In fact, vinegar does not kill lice because it is not toxic to lice. However, vinegar can remove lice eggs from the hair, preventing the lice from hatching and spreading throughout the head. [3] X Research Source More precisely, the acetic acid in vinegar dissolves the protective shell of lice eggs and disables their ability to attach to the hair.
- After using vinegar, the nits will fall out of the hair or will be much easier to remove with a comb.
- Although it cannot kill adult lice, vinegar can kill newly hatched lice, also known as pupae. However, more research is still needed to understand the effects of vinegar or acetic acid in treating head lice.
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Use herbal shampoo first. Vinegar will not kill lice and nits, so you must treat the lice with a herbal shampoo first. This type of shampoo is often referred to as a lice shampoo. [4] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to the source After using a lice shampoo, you can use vinegar to remove nits from your hair.
- Use a medicated shampoo first to ensure adult lice are killed and reduce the chance of spreading.
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Choose a type of vinegar. Any type of vinegar contains acetic acid, but some types and brands of vinegar have a higher concentration of acetic acid than others. In general, choose vinegar with a 5% concentration of acetic acid – this is enough to dissolve the shells of lice eggs, but not enough to irritate the scalp. [5] X Research Source White vinegar is pure acetic acid diluted with water and is usually the cheapest. Red wine vinegar is more expensive and usually has a 5-7% acetic acid concentration. Apple cider vinegar is usually the most concentrated (the concentration of acetic acid is about 5%).
- The acetic acid in vinegar at too high a concentration (over 7%) can irritate the scalp, and too low a concentration will not be enough to dissolve lice eggshells that are attached to the hair. You need to choose a vinegar with a concentration of 5-7% acetic acid.
- An allergic reaction to the saliva of lice causes an itchy sensation when bitten by a lice. However, not everyone has an allergic reaction and itchiness.
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Stand in the bath or shower to wash your hair with vinegar. Once you’ve chosen the type and concentration of vinegar, you can take off your clothes and step into the tub or stand in the shower. Wet your hair first (not to the point of dripping), then splash a few cups of vinegar on your scalp. Rub the vinegar into your scalp and try to cover as much of your hair as possible – this step can be quite daunting if you have long hair, but don’t rush it. Let the vinegar stay on the hair for about 5-10 minutes, which is enough time to dissolve the outer shell of the nits. [6] X Research Source
- Remember to close your eyes when washing your hair with vinegar. Diluted acetic acid is not harmful to the eyes but will certainly sting for a few minutes.
- Avoid getting vinegar on clothes, as vinegar can stain fabrics, especially red wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar.
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Comb your hair with a comb. After letting the vinegar sit in your hair for at least 5 minutes, comb your hair thoroughly with a comb. Lice and nits that fall off will be removed when combed. [7] X Trusted Source US Food and Drug Administration Go to source For best results, look for a “nit comb” (comb with very tight teeth or metal comb) at your pharmacy. or online. After combing your hair for a few minutes, you can rinse out the vinegar and dry your hair – remember not to share towels with others if you still have lice.
- Vinegar is a great way to remove lice eggs from your hair, but it doesn’t kill adult lice on the scalp, so don’t be surprised to find some lice still left after you’ve washed with vinegar.
- You can wash your hair with vinegar daily until the nits are no longer attached to the hair. The acetic acid will also strip the hair of oils and leave it dry or frizzy after washing with vinegar.
- Lice eggs will hatch within 7-9 days after the lice lay eggs, and adult lice can live up to 3-4 weeks. So, if you use vinegar to treat head lice, it may take up to a month for you to get rid of the lice.
Use other therapies to treat head lice
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Ask your doctor about over-the-counter lice shampoos. Make an appointment with your general practitioner or dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis. Ask your doctor about the most effective over-the-counter lice shampoos or ointments you can get at the drugstore. Usually your doctor will recommend over-the-counter products that contain pyrethrin, a compound extracted from chamomile flowers that is toxic to lice. [8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source Common products include Nix (a synthetic form of pyrethrin) and Rid (pyrethrin mixed with other compounds that are toxic to head lice).
- Shampoos containing pyrethrin work to kill lice, but often do not kill lice eggs. So you should consider combining vinegar and pyrethrin to get rid of both lice and nits. [9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Side effects of shampoos containing pyrethrin include scalp irritation, redness and itching – especially in children allergic to chamomile or ragweed.
- Head lice do not transmit disease (bacterial or viral), but the itchy sensation of the scalp causes people to scratch a lot and can lead to infected sores. [10] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source
- Do not wash with regular shampoo and/or use conditioner after washing with lice shampoo to avoid reducing the effectiveness of the lice treatment. [11] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source
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Ask your doctor about prescription medications. If lice cannot be controlled with vinegar and/or over-the-counter shampoos, you should ask your doctor about stronger medications. In some areas, lice have developed a resistance to over-the-counter lice shampoos, and then you will need prescription medications. The most common prescription lice medications are benzyl alcohp (Ulesfia), malathion (Ovide), and Lindane. [12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source In general, medications that can kill head lice are called pediculicides and should be used with caution, especially with children.
- Benzyl alcohp kills scalp lice by depriving them of oxygen. This product is very effective but can cause side effects such as skin irritation, allergic reactions and seizures, so it is not recommended for children under 6 months of age.
- Malathion shampoo is only for use in children 6 years of age and older due to the risk of serious side effects. You need to be careful, do not expose the shampoo to hot air from a hair dryer or near an open flame, because the shampoo contains a high concentration of alcohol.
- Lindane shampoo is considered a “last resort” for head lice due to the high risk of serious side effects (including seizures). Therefore, this product is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in children of all ages and pregnant women. [13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
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Consider using natural herbal remedies. Studies show that certain plant-based oils can treat head lice and nits. The vegetable oils believed to be most effective in treating head lice include tea tree oil, anise oil, ylang-ylang essential oil, and nerpidp (a compound found in many plants). Although vegetable oils aren’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for lice treatment, they’re well documented as a fairly safe treatment and are worth a try if your budget allows.
- Vegetable oils (like tea tree oil) are often found in natural herbal shampoos that are advertised as effective against dandruff and psoriasis, but they are also effective in treating head lice.
- In general, vegetable oils are generally safe for both children and adults – there have been no reports of serious side effects.
- Some other natural remedies that can kill lice by “suffocating” them (taking away their oxygen) include olive oil and avocado. You can apply these products to your scalp for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with herbal shampoo for best results.
- Head lice can’t jump or fly, so they’re only spread by close contact when people put their heads together. However, indirect transmission can also occur through sharing hats, combs, towels, pillowcases, scarves, hair accessories and headphones.
Advice
- You may not realize you have lice, although common symptoms include: itchy scalp and ears, grayish-grey (sesame-sized) particles on the scalp that look like dandruff, darker colored particles on the scalp. hair body.
- A lice infestation is not always a sign of poor hygiene or an unclean lifestyle, but is usually caused by close contact with someone who has lice. [14] X Trusted Source US Food and Drug Administration Go to source
- If one person in the household is infected with lice, the others should also be carefully checked.
- Check for lice and nits by tracing the hair in several places on the scalp under the light and using a magnifying glass to detect.
- Lice eggs look like dandruff, but they stick very firmly to the hair shaft and do not come off like dandruff.
- Soak the comb or hairbrush for 5 minutes in hot water (at least 55 degrees Celsius) after use to kill the lice that cling to the comb.
- Do not use scalp insecticide sprays on adults or children – this product can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the scalp.
- Teach children to avoid touching others when at school or playing on the field to reduce the risk of lice transmission.
- Remember that you do not get lice from a pet (dog or cat), as lice only feed on human blood and prefer the heat and protection of the scalp.
X
This article was co-written by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee is a licensed family physician practicing in Tennessee. She received her MSN from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
This article has been viewed 3,921 times.
Head lice are insects commonly found on the scalp of people and feed on blood to live. [1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Going to the source Head lice usually crawl but can’t fly, so they’re only spread from person to person through close contact. This is why children are most commonly infected when they play close to each other. It is estimated that each year in the United States, 6-12 million children at school are infected with head lice. [2] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to the source Vinegar is a commonly used home remedy to treat head lice by keeping the eggs out of the hair. There are also other methods, both natural and pharmaceutical, that can kill lice directly. The most effective way is to combine lice products and remedies.
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