How to treat lice as kids return back to school – the 95p remedy is already sitting in your kitchen
WITH kids back at school now, parents have been urged to be aware of the heightened risk of head lice – but there’s an easy remedy that’s found in your kitchen.
Many of us have memories of the head lice checks that were carried out in our schools – and now, as parents, many find the thought of having to deal with teeny insects quite unsettling.
Last year, figures released by NHS England showed an increase in visits to the health advice page on head lice and nits in the month of September.
Lice infestations can be an itchy nuisance, however, there are various treatments available to eliminate these teeny parasites – with some of them costing as little as 95p.
And if you’ve tried using store-bought medications and treatments but to no avail, you’ve come to the right place.
Wet Combing
According to the experts at K-Health, there is a solution to banishing the blood-sucking insects without spending a single penny – by wet combing.
The method – which is the only way to deal with lice for children aged two months and younger – works because wet tresses keep lice from moving as they cling to the hair follicles.
If you find the locks are too difficult to brush through, it’s worth using oils or leave-in conditioners.
While hair is still wet, use a fine-tooth lice comb to remove larvae, nymphs, and nits, before wiping the comb clean after each pass through the hair.
This will ensure you’re not accidentally redepositing nits or larvae back onto the scalp, experts warned.
For best results, it’s advised to repeat the process every 2-3 days for a period of 9 days to two weeks.
Although this alternative can be time-consuming, it’s an effective way to tackle the issue without relying on medicated treatments.
Mayonnaise
Perfect for dipping your chips in, turns out mayonnaise works wonder for tackling lice, according to the team at Monadnock Community Hospital.
The cupboard essential is assumed to suffocate the pesky parasites due to its thick consistency – so it’s best to ditch the fat-free alternatives that won’t be as effective.
Using 100% mayonnaise, saturate the hair and scalp with a thick layer of the condiment and cover the tresses with clear plastic wrap or a shower cap for at minimum of three hours.
Once the time is up, the mayonnaise – available at Aldi for 95p – can first be removed with paper towels, then a lice comb, before jumping into the shower for shampooing.
However, whilst some may swear by the hack, there’s no solid proof that this method works, the experts at Health Line reported.
They explained that ”you might see reduced activity in your scalp temporarily, but the lice will likely come back”.
How to spot head lice
As lice often appear on the scalp, one of the biggest signs of head lice is itching,
Itchiness can occur on the scalp, neck and ears and is the most common sign that lice are present, said Dr Grant.
He added: “Additionally other telltale signs of head lice include; a tickling or crawling sensation, visible lice on the hair and red bumps on the scalp or neck.
“Head lice can also impact sleep, as the lice become more active in the dark, making rest uncomfortable for individuals.”
Olive Oil
Another purse-friendly lice remedy calls for olive oil – a cheaper alternative to chemical-laden treatments.
Its consistency aids in lubricating the tresses, making it easier to remove the lice and nits with a comb.
Moreover, when a generous amount is left on for an extended period, usually around eight hours, the rich salad essential suffocates the lice.
However, it’s worth noting that the affordable treatment won’t kill the eggs, Lice Doctors warned.
”Nothing penetrates the hard shell of the nit, including olive oil. The nit, which is the egg that houses the baby bug, has an impenetrable shell.
”Once the baby bug, also called a nymph, matures it will break out of its shell.”
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has long been hailed a miracle for long and healthy locks – but can it treat an itchy head?
If you’d like to try to treat lice with this method, you’ll need a plastic shower cap, enough coconut oil to cover the hair, and a fine-toothed comb.
Begin by rinsing your hair with hot water and letting it dry. The oil should then be at room temperature so that it’s in a liquid form – this will make the applying process easier.
Once it’s generously applied throughout the tresses, leave the cap on for eight hours – or more – to suffocate the lice.
When the time is up, use the fine-toothed comb to get rid of the dead head lice and any nits that you can find – however, you may need to repeat this treatment more than once.
If you’re on the lookout for natural remedies to tackle the pesky parasites, it’s good news, as there is some promising research into how coconut oil can treat lice, Health Line reported.
One study performed in Brazil, for instance, found the rich oil to be more effective than harsher chemical treatments.