After being told that she had headlice, your daughter came home from school crying. You quickly went to the chemist, just like a good parent. You thought that was it. Wrong! You are not alone! Everyone in the house is now scratching. You spoke to a friend with children who said that she tried every product on the chemist’s shelves and was frustrated.
Home remedies
Are you ready to try some old-fashioned home remedies to headlice? Both sides of the Atlantic have seen headlice get worse in recent years. One study in the UK found that 80% of headlice was resistant to common treatments. A second study found that a finer comb was four times more effective than using lice shampoo to treat your hair. Many parents are now looking into home remedies for headlice due to concerns about side effects and side effects of drug treatments.
Take note
The following home remedies have been proven to work:
- Soak your hair in antiseptic toothpaste, then cover it with a shower cap for at least 2 hours. This should kill the bugs. The eggs are held to the hair with very strong glue. After removing the glue, apply white vinegar to your hair. This will allow you to brush the eggs out.
- Tea tree oil is another treatment that some people find effective. This product is available in many different formats and brands. It should be possible to purchase it from a chemist, or shop that sells aromatherapy oil. Different people have found success with it in their regular shampoos, or spraying on their hair with a spray formula.
- This home remedy for headlice includes the physical removal of the nits. This can be done with a headlice comb. It has very fine teeth and can be used to remove eggs, adults, and juvenile lice. It can also remove eggs that have been hatched. This is necessary to ensure that you don’t think you have a new infestation.
