How to get rid of lice at home

Pediculosis is a common and very unpleasant condition. Lice and nits infest children and adults alike, both from disadvantaged and wealthy families. But getting rid of these parasites is possible. Today, there are numerous treatments for this condition—quick, effective, and time-tested.

Treatment of pediculosis at home

You can get rid of lice and nits at home without visiting a doctor.

Treatment is carried out according to the algorithm:

1. preparing the room and necessary tools;
2. applying the selected product to the hair;
3. distributing the substance along the entire length, holding it for a certain amount of time under a plastic cap and a towel;
4. washing your hair with shampoo and rinsing it with a vinegar solution;
5. combing out lice.

The remedies can be divided into two groups: folk methods and medical drugs.

Medical cosmetic products are easy to use and produce effective results. These medications are available in various forms:

• emulsions;
• lotions;
• sprays;
• shampoos;
• creams;
• ointments;
• pills.

Emulsions

Emulsions and lotions are considered the most effective treatments. They are sold in concentrated or ready-to-use forms. After use, they require rinsing with regular shampoo to prevent the active ingredients from remaining on the scalp. Furthermore, these treatments should be handled with care, as they are quite toxic and can cause allergies and chemical burns. The high concentration of active ingredients will eliminate insects after just two treatments.

The most effective drugs include:

• Pedilin is a malathion and permethrin-based product. It's convenient because it doesn't require long contact time—just 5 minutes.
  

  Pedilin should not be kept on the hair for long, this is especially convenient for treating children

• Medifox is a concentrated permethrin-based emulsion. It kills not only head lice but also pubic lice. Leave it on the hair for 40 minutes. This product is approved for use on children 1 year and older and on pregnant women.
• "Medilis-Super" is a fenthion-based emulsion that requires dilution. It is also effective against all types of pediculosis.
• Benzyl benzoate in emulsion form has proven effective against adult insects and their eggs. Leave the product on for 30 minutes. Not recommended for use by pregnant women or on wounds or abrasions on the head.
• "Foksilon" is a product based on isopropanol and benzyl benzoate, also effective against lice and nits. It is highly allergenic;
• "Nittifor" is a concentrated solution of permethrin.

Sprays

Sprays are easier to use than emulsions, and they have far fewer contraindications. Not all products contain insecticides. Most sprays are made with natural ingredients that suffocate insects with an airtight film. They only kill adult insects, so they must be used repeatedly.

The spray treatment procedure does not require any special preparation – the products are applied to dry hair along its entire length.

• "Para Plus" spray based on malathion and permethrin, effective in the fight against all types of lice and nits;
• "Paranit" is a natural and safe product that kills adult insects and requires repeated use;
• "Lice Guard" is the safest product, completely non-toxic. It can even be used on infants. However, it must be left on the hair for several hours;
• "Full Marks" is an oil-based spray that contains two insecticides: cyclomethicone and isopropyl myristate;
• Nuda is an effective product containing dimethicone. It suffocates insects but is harmless to humans.
  

  Nuda promises to get rid of lice in one application

• "Pediculen Ultra" is a spray containing anise oil and alcohol that destroys lice and nits in one treatment;
• Lavinal is a non-toxic product that, thanks to vegetable oils, heals lice bites.
  

  Lavinal spray not only kills insects, but also heals skin wounds.

Shampoos

The most common remedies against lice and nits are shampoos:

• "Paranit" is a non-toxic shampoo based on natural clearol oil, acts gently, requires multiple treatments;
  

  Paranit is a gentle and effective remedy against lice.

• Veda and Veda 2 are highly effective lice treatments. Permethrin begins working after 30 minutes on the hair, requiring no repeat application. It also has a beneficial effect on the skin, softening it without causing itching.
• "Higiya" is an effective treatment for head and pubic lice. It contains substances that break down the adhesive bonds of nits;
• Pedelin is an effective and inexpensive product containing malathion. It has a strong odor and should be left on for 10 minutes. It may cause allergies and nervous disorders.
• "Nit-Free" is a safe shampoo based on peppermint oil. It is used to treat head lice in children over one year old and in pregnant women. It can also be used for prevention.
  

  Nit Free products are designed for both humans and animals.

• "Parazidoz" is a shampoo with phenotrin, applied for just 6 minutes. Use on the first and second days;
  

  The product is used twice, with a one-day break.

• Anti-Bit is a sumitrin-based product. It is applied twice—on the first and second days;
• "NOK" is a permethrin-based shampoo. After treatment, ventilate the room.

Cream

Creams and ointments are no less effective and are considered the most inexpensive of all medical treatments. Creams are made with oils, making them more difficult to wash off after treatment.

• "Nix" is a cream with permethrin, it is effective, has a pleasant smell, but causes allergies;
• "Nittifor" requires multiple treatments, without side effects, but with an unpleasant odor;
• Benzyl benzoate ointment is a highly effective, low-cost product that kills parasites at all stages of development.

Pills

Quite often, treatment with cosmetic products doesn't produce the desired results. In such cases, after a medical examination, the doctor prescribes oral medications.

This treatment is effective and does not cause itching, burning, or allergies. The active ingredients make the blood unattractive and harmful to insects.

Most often, doctors prescribe tablets:

• Albendazole is an effective drug, but it has many contraindications, including children, pregnant and lactating women;
• Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug. It is considered to be as effective against lice as benzyl benzoate.
• Levamisole is used in the treatment of children and is also an immunomodulator;
• Butadion is prescribed on an individual basis; there is no universal dose.

However, it's important to exercise equal caution when using oral medications. Tablets have serious limitations, such as kidney and liver disease. These medications may also have side effects such as intestinal and stomach upset, dizziness, weakness, and vertigo.

Combs against lice

Combing is an integral part of getting rid of parasites.

After treating your hair with medicinal products, it is necessary to thoroughly comb each strand to remove dead and living insects and eggs.

As already mentioned, treatment without subsequent lice removal will not be effective, which cannot be said about combing itself - you can get rid of parasites with a comb without using any products.

The Neat Free shampoo comes with a special comb.

The mechanical treatment of pediculosis is safe, but has its own characteristics:

• First, wash your hair with regular shampoo. Then rinse with a vinegar solution (1 to 1) to dissolve the glue that holds the eggs to your hair.
• Instead of vinegar, you can use conditioner - generously lubricate your hair along the entire length;
• Brush over a sheet or apron to avoid spreading insects throughout the house. It's best for the person brushing to cover the hair with a scarf or cap.
• gather your hair into a bun or elastic band and select thin strands at a time, combing them with a special comb;
• After each strand, rinse the comb under running water. Once finished, disinfect the comb in boiling water;
• Flush the collected insects down the toilet.
  

  It is necessary to comb out parasites thoroughly, otherwise the use of drugs will be useless.

Combing should be done daily for 7-10 days. The process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it certainly won't cause any side effects. Therefore, it's the best treatment for lice for allergy sufferers.

The special AntiV comb will allow you to easily comb out nits

Choosing the right comb is crucial. Regular combs won't produce the desired results. Shampoos usually come with special combs, but they can also be purchased separately at pharmacies:

• Wooden or plastic fine-tooth combs. Unlike regular combs, they are treated with an antiparasitic agent, making them more effective;
• Specialized medical-grade stainless steel combs—AntiV, Nit Free, Lice Guard. The teeth are serrated to remove nits and destroy the shell.
• Electric combs deliver a weak electric current that kills insects. They require no special preparation—they're used on dry hair. They're not effective for combing long hair. The most popular and proven products are Robi Comb and Caremaxx.
  

  There is no need to wash your hair with other products before using the electric comb.

Folk remedies

Many people refuse to use medications, preferring folk methods that have been used to treat pediculosis for decades.

This treatment is accessible and inexpensive, as all the ingredients can be purchased at pharmacies or any store. The main drawback is the time it takes to work—most folk remedies are left on the hair overnight. These remedies are ineffective in killing nits, so they require repeat treatments. Furthermore, not all folk remedies are safer than specialized medications—some methods are significantly more toxic and aggressive.

These are treatment recipes using kerosene and dichlorvos. These remedies eliminate parasites in a single treatment, but can cause allergies and irritation:

Although treating hair with dichlorvos produces results, it can be very dangerous to health.

• Kerosene is mixed with oil in a 1:10 ratio, the hair is treated, and wrapped in plastic wrap. In the morning, the hair is washed with soap and the lice are combed out;
  

  Kerosene kills insects in one session, but can cause scalp burns and irritation.

• turpentine is mixed with oil 1 to 8, left on hair for 40 minutes;
• Dichlorvos or another insect repellent aerosol is sprayed onto the hair and left for 1 hour.

A solution of vinegar and table salt is equally popular. It's made according to an old recipe: add 40–50 grams of salt to a glass of vinegar solution, stir well, and then add a teaspoon of alcohol. This solution should be left on the hair for two days, periodically renewing the compress. It will not only kill the insects but also relieve irritation at the bite sites.

Folk remedies often resort to the use of ointments:

• sulfur ointment diluted with water in equal proportions;
• boric ointment;
• mercury and mercury ointment.

The ointment is applied to the hair 2-3 times a day for 10-15 days. The mask is left on for 30 minutes and washed off with regular shampoo. These treatments are very effective, but they are toxic and harmful, especially the use of mercury and sulfur-mercuric ointments. Therefore, doctors do not recommend this treatment.

You can make an ointment from herbal ingredients:

• Mix angelica and bird cherry powder with equal parts vegetable oil or butter. Apply the ointment to your hair for 30 minutes and rinse with shampoo or soap. Results are visible after a week of use.
• Grind hellebore roots and wild rosemary stems and mix with oil in a 1:3 ratio. Leave in a warm place for 12 hours. Apply the mask overnight, then rinse thoroughly. One or two treatments are enough to get rid of parasites.

The use of essential oils is very common:

• tea tree;
• lavender;
• plantain;
• mint;
• geraniums;
• calendula;
• cypress;
• rosemary;
• sage;
• anise;
• carnations.

A few drops of essential oil are mixed with burdock or sunflower oil, applied to the hair, and left for 40 minutes under plastic wrap. Essential oils repel insects with pungent odors, enveloping them in an airtight layer, thereby killing them. One drawback is that they are difficult to wash out of hair.

Among folk remedies, the use of plant juices is common:

• fresh cranberry juice is applied to hair for at least 10 days;
• pomegranate juice (200 g) and mint (2 tablespoons) are boiled for 10 minutes, cooled and then rubbed into the scalp;
• Steep 5 tablespoons of crushed elecampane in 1 liter of water. Apply the cooled infusion to the roots and hair, leave for 10 minutes, and rinse. Repeat every 7 days.
  

  Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and a little mint is one of the old recipes for hair masks against lice.

• Chop the onion and garlic and squeeze them. Apply the resulting juice to your scalp and keep it on for several hours under plastic wrap. If a burning sensation occurs, rinse immediately.

Birch tar, widely used to combat dandruff and hair loss, is also used to get rid of insects:

Tar shampoos are used for cosmetic purposes and to get rid of lice.

• Wash your hair with soap or shampoo to remove grease;
• generously lather your hair with tar shampoo and leave it for 1 hour under film and a towel;
• wash off the foam and comb out the insects.

Using hellebore water is just as effective as tar shampoo—it kills insects and eggs while disinfecting bites. Leave the hellebore water on your hair for 30 minutes, rinse, and comb through.

How to choose a product?

There are many remedies for treating head lice, and it is very difficult to choose which is the best.

When purchasing medications, pay close attention to age restrictions. The most suitable medications for children are:

• "Nyuda";
• Paranit;
• Lavinal;
• "Pediculen Ultra";
• Knicks
• "Lice Guard".

These drugs have moderate efficacy and low toxicity.

However, there are medications that are not recommended for use because children have delicate scalps: tar soap or shampoo, hellebore water, benzyl benzoate, as well as kerosene, gasoline, and alcohol.

All products are used externally, so they cannot harm the fetus during pregnancy. However, a woman's body becomes very sensitive, so it's best to avoid products with strong odors, such as those containing malathion, phenothrin, and benzyl benzoate. Products such as NOC, Nittifor, Nuda, and Lavinal are approved for use during pregnancy.

The best solution would be to consult a doctor who will select the appropriate medication based on the general condition of the pregnant woman and possible risks.

It's also important to remember that even the most effective medications are highly toxic and can cause allergic reactions and discomfort. You need to decide for yourself whether you need fast or safe treatment.

The use of even the most toxic and harmful drugs will not lead to dire consequences if you follow safety precautions and instructions.

Reviews

I second that. We couldn't get rid of them in my children for almost a year. In fact, one daughter had much more of them, and for some reason they kept appearing more often. I tried everything, including various expensive products. One day, I accidentally bought Nuda—there simply wasn't another one available at the pharmacy. It helped immediately, and the infection hasn't reappeared.

When I was a kid, they treated my blemishes with vinegar or dichlorvos (that was brutal). They'd put a plastic bag over my head and spray dichlorvos into a small hole. It worked the first time...

Lavinal helped us, and it's also available for prevention. Basically, if the kids are in school or kindergarten, someone wears it.

There's a Pediculen spray. It really helped us in the summer, practically the whole family got rid of it in just two treatments. It came with a comb.

Buy Nittifor or Veda at pharmacies and avoid the hassle of manually removing them. Just be sure to check before purchasing whether these products target the lice themselves, just the nits, or both. Some of these shampoos are not recommended for pregnant women, while others are not recommended for small children. Follow the instructions carefully. Using specialized shampoos is convenient and reliable. Save yourself the hassle.

Today, almost any disease can be treated, and pediculosis is no exception. Treatments can be purchased at pharmacies, you can ask your grandmother for a recipe, or you can skip them altogether by opting for mechanical scalp treatment. Each method has its own unique characteristics, but following all treatment guidelines is crucial, and you'll easily overcome the parasites.