The thick consistency of coconut oil may suffocate the lice and eggs. The viscous coconut oil may prevent the lice from spreading too. It contains fatty acids, which make the hair strands slippery thus making it difficult for the lice to grasp the strands.
Of the tested remedies, the team found that pure coconut oil was the only effective treatment. Within 4 hours of applying the oil, an average of 80% of the head lice were dead. The two most effective medicated shampoos killed 97.9% and 90.2% of lice in the same period.
“Coconut oil is often difficult to wash out and will leave the hair greasy for several days, which is actually helpful. Lice do not like an oily living environment and will find it hostile,” says Taft. “Even though it may not look very appealing, coconut oil will make it more difficult for lice to cling to the hair.”
Some studies have shown lice are repelled by the smell of coconut. If you're attached to your shampoo brand, you can simply add a few drops of coconut oil to it for a similar effect. If you keep up this scent treatment you and your family should be able to prevent an outbreak from occurring in your household!
Coconut oil relies on its viscosity (attributed to its fatty content) to suffocate head lice by choking their breathing systems, and in the process killing them. There is a documented proof of it. That being said, when you talk about nits (lice eggs), they are immune to the action of a suffocating agent.
Washing, soaking, or drying items at a temperature greater than 130°F can kill both head lice and nits. Dry cleaning also kills head lice and nits. Only items that have been in contact with the head of the infested person in the 48 hours before treatment should be considered for cleaning.
Spinosad topical suspension, 0.9%, was approved by the FDA in 2011. Since it kills live lice as well as unhatched eggs, retreatment is usually not needed. Nit combing is not required. Spinosad topical suspension is approved for the treatment of children 6 months of age and older.
The ladybug is the natural enemy of the louse.
Coconut, tea tree oil, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon grass, and peppermint are scents popularly believed to repel lice. Using any coconut scented shampoo and conditioner is an easy way to increase your defense. At 1% concentration, tea tree oil killed 100% of head lice after 30 minutes.
Olive Oil smothers and kills active head lice, making nit removal easier and moisturizing the hair and scalp.
Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp). Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes. Do not share combs, brushes, or towels.
Lice can be prevented due to the same antiseptic properties through the use of lavender shampoo or by adding lavender oil to other shampoo. Because of the lower concentration of terpenoids, lavender oil shampoos are much safer to use than tea tree oils and provokes very few skin irritations.
Left untreated, head lice can lead to secondary infections, which can be serious. Bacterial infections, such as impetigo, can occur when scratched bites become infected; this can have serious consequences if not treated properly.
Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Lice Shampoo & Conditioner
Opt for a lice-repellent shampoo like Fairy Tales. It's formulated with rosemary, citronella, and tea tree oil, all of which are natural lice repellents, and it's free of harsh chemicals and sulfates.
Superlice and regular lice only differ in their response to treatment. If lice are still present after treating with a traditional over-the-counter product, they may be superlice. Nix® Ultra is highly effective for killing lice, superlice and their eggs.
Piperonyl butoxide with pyrethrins is an ingredient found in medicines to kill lice. Poisoning occurs when someone swallows the product or too much of the product touches the skin.
A person gets head lice because the insects crawl from person to person by direct contact or by sharing items — including combs, brushes and hats — with another person who has head lice. Poor hygiene doesn't cause head lice.
Suffocate the Lice
Soak your child's head in olive oil or coconut oil. Cover with a shower cap for at least 2 hours (or preferably overnight). When ready, remove the shower cap, and separate the hair into small sections, then use a metal nit comb to carefully remove the lice and eggs. Rinse the hair well with shampoo.
Olive oil is one of the most effective natural remedies for head lice because it acts as a suffocating agent. When using olive oil, select the least expensive grade.
Can vinegar kill lice eggs? Vinegar is one of the classic home remedies for lice. However, if you are trying to find out how to get rid of nits using vinegar, you should know that using vinegar to kill nits or lice eggs is totally ineffective. Vinegar has no negative effect on the lice eggs.
Eggs from head lice, also called nits, are incredibly difficult to remove. Female lice lay eggs directly onto strands of hair, and they cement them in place with a glue-like substance, making them hard to get rid of.
Many people with head lice have no symptoms at all. It's impossible to diagnose head lice based on symptoms alone since the only symptom that matters is the presence of lice. However, experiencing the following symptoms suggests it is time to check the scalp: frequent unexplained itching of the head or scalp.