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This article was co-written by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a licensed naturopath in Washington. She received her ND degree from the National Medical University in 2007.
There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 3,034 times.
Head lice are very small, wingless insects that only live on the human scalp by attaching and laying eggs in the hair. Contrary to popular belief, head lice are not contagious and poor hygiene is not the cause of head lice. They are spread through person-to-person contact. If you or your child is infected with lice, it can be treated with tea tree oil.
Steps
Identifying and Reducing the Potential for Lice Transmission
- Use a fine-toothed comb to examine the hair and scalp for lice and its eggs. When alive, lice are about the size of a sesame seed (2-3mm long), while lice eggs are usually yellowish white and cling to the hair shaft close to the scalp. The eggs are slightly smaller than the size of adult lice. [2] X Research Source
- Look for eggs on the hair. The eggs that are attached to the hair shaft more than 5mm from the scalp are most likely to hatch into lice. The reason is because head lice have to suck a very small amount of blood from the scalp to survive, and the warmth radiating from the scalp helps them grow better. Eggs located further down the hair shaft will usually die or have hatched into lice. [3] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source
- Use a magnifying glass to examine the scalp and hair. Dust particles and dandruff are often mistaken for lice, so you must use a magnifying glass to determine if it is lice or nits. If you don’t see lice or only eggs are attached to the hair shaft and away from the scalp, the lice infestation is probably gone. [4] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source
- Look behind the ears and at the hairline. Head lice and nits are easy to spot in these areas because the hair density is quite thin. [5] X Research Sources
- Head lice are most contagious through sharing combs, hats, or sharing a bed with an infected person. If you have children who sleep in the same bed or room, or who often share the same clothes, you should check all of them for lice.
- Machine wash and dry clothes, bedding, hats, towels, and all fabrics that have come in contact with a person with head lice. Use hot water and dry with high heat. If the item is not machine washable, wrap it in a plastic bag and keep it away for 2 weeks, the lice will suffocate in there. [9] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source
- Immerse combs and brushes in hot water (at least 50°C) for 5-10 minutes, or put them in the dishwasher with hot water.
- Vacuum floors and change upholstery. Head lice cannot live long if they are not fed with human blood, but vacuuming will remove the scattered lice to prevent them from spreading to others.
Using Tea Tree Oil to Treat Head Lice
- A mixture of tea tree oil and lavender essential oil has been shown to kill lice and its eggs. [12] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source You should be looking for pure lavender essential oil.
- While many shampoos and conditioners contain tea tree oil, it’s often not concentrated enough to be effective. The essential oil content must be at least 2% to be able to kill lice eggs. [13] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
- Look for essential oils extracted from the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifpia) that are produced using the “water distillation” technique.
- If not, you should also buy a magnifying glass, to assist in checking the scalp after treatment.
- Use an eyedropper and drop 2-4 drops of essential oil into a small bowl.
- Add 2-4 drops of lavender essential oil.
- Add 96-98 drops of shampoo, which has a slight drop in content. (If you want a visual estimate, pour in enough shampoo to make a dime-sized puddle.)
- Add a few drops of olive or coconut oil to help suffocate the lice. [14] X Research Source
- Mix well until completely blended.
- If itching or burning occurs during treatment, it may be due to an allergic reaction of the body. [15] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source You must quickly wash your hair with warm water and wash it again with a very mild shampoo. Use a towel to dry your hair and let it air dry naturally. Wash again if the scalp is still itchy or red.
- This is a step to take slowly! If you do not catch even a few eggs, they will hatch within a few days and start a new wave of lice.
Advice
- If your child has head lice, notify the school where they attend so they can warn other parents. It is very easy for young children to spread lice, so widespread preventive measures are needed to ensure that lice do not re-emerge. [16] X Research Source
- Head lice live only on the human scalp and they are not transmitted by pets.
- Avoid giving your child head-to-head contact as much as possible (no head-to-head contact, no sharing pillows when sleeping in someone else’s house, etc.). Remind your child not to share clothes, hats or other items with friends. This will reduce the chance that your child will get lice from other people. [17] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source
Warning
- Tea tree essential oil can cause poisoning if ingested, do not apply the oil near the mouth and do not drink.
- Tea tree oil has not been tested for safety in pregnant or lactating women, so its use is not recommended.
- Some people are allergic to tea tree oil, so if you experience redness, irritation or itching, you should stop using it immediately.
- Tea tree oil may cause hormone-related side effects in prepubertal boys, such as abnormal breast growth (male gynecomastia). Although the relationship between tea tree oil and this health condition cannot be determined for certain, it is strongly advised not to give tea tree oil to boys. [18] X Research Sources
Things you need
- Tea tree essential oil
- Lice comb
- Magnifying glass
- Mild shampoo and conditioner
This article was co-written by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a licensed naturopath in Washington. She received her ND degree from the National Medical University in 2007.
There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 3,034 times.
Head lice are very small, wingless insects that only live on the human scalp by attaching and laying eggs in the hair. Contrary to popular belief, head lice are not contagious and poor hygiene is not the cause of head lice. They are spread through person-to-person contact. If you or your child is infected with lice, it can be treated with tea tree oil.
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