Learning how to treat head lice is crucial if you start to notice symptoms of intense itching on the scalp of your head. In fact, such infestation problems are more common than you may realize as this condition is extremely contagious and can easily transmit between individuals. The following are methods that you can implement right away when it comes to how to treat head lice.
Get all family members checked if one person is affected
While many people will often times go straight to their local drug store to get prescriptions or over the counter treatments. However, such methods often tend to get expensive but chances are your case can easily be treated at home using simple measures. If one family member is known to have lice, then it is highly recommended that all other members get checked and diagnosed just to be safe.
The eggs that head lice lay typically hatch after 7 days and require a host to feed blood from so dealing with it right away is important so the colony does not multiply. Measures such as pharmacologic treatment by using an approved pediculicide are generally not necessary to eliminate head lice. In fact, supplemental measures can be combined together for maximum effect.
Machine wash all clothes and bedding with hot water and high heat
When it comes to how to treat head lice, grab all clothes and bedding that you have used or worn in the time period when the infestation was first noticed. Then proceed to machine wash them by using hot water in addition to letting it dry on high heat for 30 minutes. The exposure alone to hot temperatures will quickly eradicate these pests from hats, pillow cases, clothing, stuffed toys and more.
For those items which you suspect are infected, you can also make use of plastic bags to wrap the object for two weeks which will starve the lice. It is highly recommended that you also do not share hats or towels with other individuals who may have been affected. Be sure to also thoroughly vacuum your entire room including your mattress, carpet, furniture and all other areas.
Apply lice medicine and use a fine tooth comb to remove the nits
How to treat head lice starts by applying lice medicine through your entire hair but be sure to read the instructions on how long it is supposed to be left for. After you shampoo and dry up, you will then need to put on clean clothing. If after several hours you still notice a few more live lice, then you may need to wait a little longer as some treatments may require up to a full day.
However, be sure when using a home remedy for head lice that you use a fine tooth comb to manually remove those that are alive and their eggs. If necessary, you may need to take a more aggressive approach if the lice are still persistent by contacting your health care provider. Be sure that after each treatment you use a comb to remove nits and lice about every couple of days to ensure the infestation is eliminated.
Over the counter treatments are also effective
There are also over the counter treatments that you can purchase at a local drug store without a prescription. One of which is pyrethrins which is generally safe but only works to kill live lice and not eggs that are not yet hatched. Permethrin lotion is also an effective treatment for head lice and is even approved by the FDA but be sure only to use it as directed and when necessary.
Before using such methods, there are several factors that you will need to keep in mind as the last thing you want is worsening symptoms. If the symptoms are not getting any better, then do not treat the infected area more than 2-3 times. If this is the case, then seek advice from your doctor or take an alternative medication but be sure not to combine difference drugs at the same time.
Be sure to identify them so you know for sure it is lice
When it comes to how to treat head lice, it’s important to note that this does not necessarily mean that you are dirty or a bad parent or whatever. If your children are infected, be sure to gently remind them that they did nothing wrong as they should not get punished. Perhaps the biggest symptom is the itching sensation due to the lice by injecting their saliva in your scalp.
Before you rule out that you have lice, it’s important that you know what they look like as they are their sizes ranges from that of a pinhead to a tiny sesame seed. They can even be clear sometimes but they are usually white or brown but using a magnifying glass will be able to you see them clearly. Nits (eggs) are oval and tiny in comparison to the actual lice but they need to be treated before they hatch.
Summary of steps that need to be taken
For getting rid of head lice, you will need to do a thorough comb through so you may need the help of another individual in a well lit room and a magnifying glass. Use a fine comb to remove as many lice and nits as possible and to repeat as many times as necessary. Those individuals who have long hair may have a harder time but it is essential to remain patient when it comes to how to treat head lice.
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