Your child has brought home some little "visitors" from school - head lice. In this article, we explain how to deal with the little critters in order to get rid of them once and for all. Although in the last ten years, head and pubic lice have been developing resistance to the most common chemicals used to kill them, there are alternative treatments.
Olive oil, vegetable oil or conditioner applied to the child's head is a popular alternative treatment to get rid of head lice. Mayonnaise is also a popular choice. The oil or cream if applied and left overnight, covered with a shower cap, suffocates the lice. These can be removed by combing the hair with a lice comb.
Another treatment is tea tree oil, which is a unique oil derived from an Australian tree known for its anti-vermicidal and anti-fungal properties. Although there are several obtainable commercial preparations of tea tree oil, a conditioner with a high content of tea tree oil is suggested. The application method is similar to the one for mayonnaise. Leave the tea tree oil sitting overnight and then comb out the head lice.
Those preferring a natural approach to controlling head lice may want to try adding things as simple as yeast and garlic to what their children eat. While they can be eaten with safety and can taste just fine, when metabolized they make the skin exude substances that repel lice and make them want to leave. This can help as part lice control, but real eradication will still demand removing nits many times over for a complete cure. Still, garlic and yeast can offer help.
The manual treatment for removing head lice requires more manual labor but is effective and does not involve the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Just repeatedly and completely comb the child's hair looking for lice and nits. It should be done each day for fourteen days. Although the squeamish will not like this method it is effective. Best results are obtained on children with short hair.
With time and patience, you can rid your home and child's head of head lice with traditional, herbal, oil-based or manual treatments.
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Head lice and pubic lice has developed resistance against common treatments, so mayonnaise is often used. Other oils or conditioners can be used by coating the hair and leaving it in all night, which smothers the lice. Tea tree oil has the same results. Adding brewers' yeast to the diet is said to help but scientists are skeptical.
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Article Title: Head Lice: Tips For Treatment And Prevention
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