Having lice is very annoying, but instead of scratching you have to try to eliminate them as soon as possible.
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What are lice?
Lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp . They can easily pass from one person to another by direct contact, regardless of the degree of hygiene, and their reproductive cycle is very fast.
These insects generate small eggs that can be seen with the naked eye, which are called nits. Sometimes they are confused with dandruff, and these small whitish bodies remain firmly anchored in the hair.
When the eggs hatch, new lice are born, which develop their adult lives on the skin of the head. There they find the humidity, warmth and discretion they need to live and reproduce.
Head lice are species specific, meaning those of humans cannot be spread from animals. Luckily there are different ways to know how to get rid of lice thanks to different treatments, rules and tips.
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How to remove lice? 5 tips and tricks
Once the lice are installed on the scalp, the question is to get rid of them , and there are many tips and tricks to know. Most of them hardly eradicate the problem on their own, but improve the effectiveness of treatment with other pharmaceuticals.
These are presented at the end of the article, but those wondering how to get rid of lice should first consider the questions below.
1. Use a nit comb or lice comb
The first thing to do is to thoroughly check the hair to confirm its presence . The technique consists of combing the hair, from the roots to the ends, using a special lice comb.
These are called nit combs, and it is the best form of inspection for lice, allowing you to remove some manually.
2. Washing frequency
There are people who believe that having lice is due to a lack of hygiene, and this is false . It is not necessary to alter personal hygiene, and in fact for the health of the hair it is better not to wash it every day.
It has been shown that lice are capable of settling in any hair, although they may even have more ease in clean hair than dirty hair; the natural sebum of the hair can make it difficult for this insect to anchor.
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3. Use natural products
Some natural products help create an unfavorable environment for lice . This is the case of vinegar, because for decades washing your head with warm water and vinegar was a widely used resource. Today the use of certain essential oils such as tea tree oil seems more effective.
4. Repeat the process
Natural products, as well as treatments, must be applied more than once to be effective . In the case of remedies such as essential oils, it is very effective to put a certain amount in the shampoo bottle. In this way it is possible to harm the lice, although it is not a definitive solution.
5. Be patient
Lice do not go away overnight . We must accept that its elimination is a process that can last days. In the case of medicines, it is necessary to make more than one application. In most cases, two with a difference of about 7 days are enough. The reason is that the adults present on the scalp are killed first and then those that have hatched after the eggs are killed.
Treatments
The most effective way to get rid of lice is to resort to modern medicines . For those who wonder how to get rid of lice, they should know that there is no more effective treatment. We are mainly talking about permethrin, dimethicone, cyclomethicone and benzyl alcohol
Everything you need to know to eradicate them using them is explained below. It is the best selection of treatments to never have to worry about them again.
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6. Permethrin
Permethrin is currently the most recommended treatment to eliminate head lice . It is a toxic medicine for these insects, so washing the head with this product can be the definitive solution. However, it can irritate the scalp and should only be applied twice.
7. Dimethicone and Cyclomethicone
Dimethicone and cyclomethicone are less aggressive options for the skin . They are products indicated for people with allergies or sensitive skin, and their effectiveness is also very high. They consist of products similar to Vaseline or silicone, and their action against lice is not chemical but physical.
8. Benzyl alcohol
Benzyl alcohol is the newest alternative out there . It can cause some skin irritation just like permethrin, but it is a very safe product. In fact, it can be resorted to even in children with 6 months of age. It is the third most lice medical treatment.
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Bibliographic references
- Hoell , HV , Doyen , JT and Purcell , AH (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity (Second Edition). Oxford University Press.
- Gullan , PJ ; Cranston , PS ( 2014 ). The Insects: An Outline of Entomology. Hoboken (New Jersey), USA: Wiley.
- Mumcuoglu, K.Y. (1999). Prevention and Treatment of Head Lice in Children. Pediatric Drugs. 1 (3): 211–218.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.