If lice appear on the head, treatment should be started without delay. These insects multiply very quickly, and a week of inactivity will provide the infected with several hundred new parasites on the head. In addition, lice are the cause of a serious skin disease - pediculosis, and in very rare cases, these parasites can even be carriers of deadly infections: endemic and typhus. Therefore, knowing how to be treated for head lice is not only useful, but also simply necessary for every future or already established parent.
As practice shows, not everyone correctly distinguishes between the concepts of lice and nits. Actually, lice are called adult insects and their larvae. The latter are smaller in size, but outwardly similar to adults and also feed on human blood. Nits, on the other hand, are lice eggs, motionless and simply glued to the hair by females so that a person cannot shake them off.
Accordingly, the treatment for head lice consists in the destruction of adult insects and the removal of nits from the hair.
On a note
The everyday expressions “treatment of lice on the head” or “treatment of nits” are incorrect from the point of view of a parasitologist. Lice do not get sick and do not need to be treated.It is necessary to treat the disease that they cause - lice in a folk way, or pediculosis - in a professional way.
Symptoms of lice
Treatment for lice should only be started when it is clear that the patient is concerned about these parasites.
On a note
Pediculosis symptoms are caused by different types of lice. The head louse parasitizes on the head, on the body under the clothes - clothes (the same species, but a different form), and in the groin and occasionally - in the armpits and even on the eyelashes - the pubic louse.
The main symptoms of infection with these parasites are:
- Constant itching on the head, body or in the groin area (depending on what kind of lice the person is infected with).
- Bite marks in the form of small swellings with puncture points in the center. They can be seen in the mirror. The photo below clearly shows how lice bite.
- Sometimes an allergic reaction appears in the form of a rash on the body and small blue spots near the bites.
- And, of course, the presence of insects and nits themselves, which can almost always be detected upon careful examination.
If the louse itself was caught, then there can be no doubt about the cause of the disease. If insects cannot be detected, but the above symptoms are present, you should consult a dermatologist, since such reactions of the body can be caused by both other parasites and skin diseases.
The procedure for the treatment of pediculosis
The most effective treatments for lice are to kill adult insects with head and skin treatments containing insecticides, as well as to mechanically remove lice and nits from the hair.
The sequence of how to be treated for a lice infestation is usually as follows:
- The infected area of the body is treated with pediculicides.Head and pubis - shampoos, body - lotions. Then the insecticidal agent is washed off.
- Hair is carefully combed out with special hard metal combs to remove dead parasites and nits.
- Hats and clothes of the infected person are boiled or washed at a high temperature, preferably bed linen.
- A week later, a control treatment is carried out to destroy the larvae that will hatch from the survivors after the first treatment of the nits.
On a note
Previously, having noticed a louse, they used the most effective method of treatment - they cut their heads or shaved other parts of the body baldly. By the way, therefore, the absence of pubic hair in women was considered a sign of promiscuity - usually workers of the most ancient profession, who regularly caught pubic lice on duty, had to shave the causal place.
Today, this method has not lost its relevance, and for boys, especially in the spring-summer season, it is useful to complete the treatment for lice and nits by trimming the head. This will not only reliably get rid of parasites, but also heal the skin under the rays of the sun.
Sometimes, after getting rid of lice and nits, it is necessary to treat the consequences of their activity - allergies, ulcers, pustular irritations, very rarely - typhus itself. Preparations for such treatment of the consequences of lice are prescribed only by a doctor, and this treatment itself can be much longer and more complicated than actually getting rid of parasites.
In parallel with the treatment for lice, measures should also be taken to protect the rest of the family from infection. To do this, you need to treat lice immediately upon detection, and before that, stop direct contact with the patient - hugs, kisses, games. Do not use clothes and hats of a person infected with lice.
Ideally, treatment of lice on the head or body should be carried out immediately in all family members, even when some of them do not experience obvious symptoms of infection. It is possible that parasites already live on them, but in small quantities, and if you are too lazy and treat only one infected person for nits and lice, you can get a constantly updated “pediculosis conveyor” in the house when an already cured patient becomes infected with lice in a week from him an infected other family member.
Important!
Pediculosis is a disease that does not tolerate secrecy. It is impossible, for example, to treat lice in children and not inform the school or kindergarten about it. In these institutions, it is imperative to inform other parents about the possible infestation of children with lice in order to help them take action in time. Silence about the fact of infestation with lice contributes to the spread of these parasites and is irresponsible!
In general, the main thing to do in order to quickly and effectively recover from lice is to choose the right drug and use it wisely.
And further: Killer remedy for lice and nits for 40 rubles - hellebore water (the article has more than 60 comments)
Lice shampoos
Shampoos are one of the most popular treatments for head and pubic lice. They allow for effective treatment of lice in humans in just a few hours, and at the same time do not require serious effort and are quite safe.
The principle of treatment for lice with shampoos is that in addition to aromatics and detergents, these preparations also contain effective insecticides - poisons that poison lice, but are relatively safe for humans.Only in rare cases can they cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.
It is necessary to treat lice with shampoos by applying the product to wet hair and lathering it thoroughly.
After that, the foam is kept on the head for one and a half to two hours (the exact time is prescribed in the instructions), and then washed off. It is advisable to cover the head with a plastic bag while aging the shampoo to enhance the effect.
After a week, the treatment for lice and nits with shampoo should be repeated to destroy the larvae that have hatched from the surviving nits.
The most famous and, judging by the reviews, the following lice shampoos are effective:
- NOC is a product based on Permethrin, one of the most powerful insecticides today. Used to treat head lice. NOC shampoo is applied to the head for 30-40 minutes, after which it is washed off with running water. The product, when applied to the skin, can cause a burning sensation, if it gets into the eyes, they should be washed with plenty of water, and if it gets into the stomach, drink boiled water and activated charcoal. According to the instructions, NOC is not applicable to infants: treatment for lice is possible only in adults and children over two years of age. NOC is also contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation.
- Veda and Veda-2 are an analogue of the NOC from another manufacturer. Treatment for head lice with the help of Veda is carried out in almost the same way as described above for the NOC.
Photo of shampoo Veda from lice:
- Nyx is also a remedy with Permethrin as an active ingredient, but mainly aimed at treating pubic lice on the hair in the groin and anus. Nix is applied to dry clean hair, and after half an hour it is washed off with clean water.To consolidate the result and reliable treatment for nits, it is used in several repetitions with a break of 5-7 days. The drug is not used to treat lice and nits for children, it can not be used regularly and as a prophylactic. The price of one bottle of this lice treatment is 320 rubles.
- Biosim is another shampoo that allows you to quickly recover from lice, including children and adolescents. It is applied to the head for 15 minutes, about 20 ml of shampoo is required for one treatment.
Not everyone knows, but effective treatment for lice can also be carried out using flea shampoos for pets. However, it is necessary to treat the head from lice with these drugs carefully and stop using the drug at the first signs of allergic reactions.
Special pediculicide solutions and creams
These lice treatments are the most common because they are versatile and can be applied even to areas of the body where there is no hair. Usually they are simply applied to infected areas, kept for an hour and washed off with clean water.
And further: It's time to finally get those annoying nits out of your hair (the article has over 100 comments)
The most famous of them are the following.
Medifox, which is a solution of Permethrin and allows you to treat a person from lice in one session.
Medifox is considered one of the most powerful pediculicides. However, the drug, generally speaking, is not recommended to especially smear the head, since it is used mainly from clothes and pubic lice.
Review
“My son brought us lice from school.I think he got infected with them a long time ago, but only now they have become especially noticeable, and he began to behave differently. He scratches his head all the time, cannot concentrate on anything, does not communicate with the guys. I climbed onto the forum to look for how to carry out treatment, how lice are generally removed. There, everyone advises Medifox and writes how to treat lice and nits with it. Someone wrote that they can’t process their heads, but I decided to take a chance. Bought, divorced, as advised, smeared on the Teme. Lice climbed straight from him in a crowd. There are so many of them that I was just horrified. They held it under the bag, waited an hour, washed their hair ... And they forgot what it is! Very powerful thing, I advise everyone. "
Anna, Tver
Nittifor is a remedy that allows you to treat lice both on the head and on the body. The lotion is rubbed into the places of infection, and after half an hour of exposure, it is washed off with running water.
An analogue of Nittifor is Paranit. This tool very effectively allows you to cure a child or an adult from lice and nits, but has one small drawback - it is difficult to wash off the head with water. Shampoo for oily hair is best for cleaning the head from it.
Lice sprays
Lice treatment sprays work on the same principle as lotions. Their plus lies in the fact that with the help of sprays a more complete treatment of the scalp is achieved - in a finely dispersed form, the spray penetrates even where it is problematic to rub the lotion.
Sprays such as Lavinal, Para-Plus and LiceGuard have proven themselves well. After applying the drug, you need to wait about half an hour, preferably under a scarf, after which you can wash off the product.
Combs in the fight against lice
Combs can be seen as a means of additional control of lice and nits, greatly enhancing the overall effect. It is most reliable to comb their hair after treatment with insecticidal preparations.
However, sometimes, especially if you do not want to treat adults or children for lice with various chemical agents, combs are used on their own. In this case, with their help, it is also quite possible to get rid of lice, but such treatment requires at least a week of time and very thorough combing of the hair.
Today, special lice combs are produced from the brands AntiV, NitFree, Robi Comb (from Lice Guard) and some others. The effectiveness of all of them is about the same.
A feature of such combs is the dense placement of the teeth, between which only a few hairs pass, but the insects themselves and large nits no longer fit. In addition, the rigidity of the teeth themselves does not allow them to diverge, as on a regular comb.
Combs should be carefully combed hair strand by strand from the very roots several times a day. Usually, with careful combing, already on the third or fourth day, there are practically no lice left on the head.
Folk remedies against lice
And finally, folk remedies for lice. It is unlikely that any dermatologist today will advise using one of them for the treatment of lice, but people have been treated with these remedies for many centuries, and in many remote areas they continue to be treated today.
The effectiveness of some folk remedies can be quite high, comparable to that of special insecticides. Among such means:
- Kerosene, which is rubbed on the hair and aged for 1-2 hours, and then rinsed. Works no less effectively than modern shampoos.It is only important to properly dilute the kerosene so as not to burn the skin on the head.
- Hellebore water sold in most pharmacies. Used in the same way.
- Tar soap, which does not always give a 100% result, but is quite affordable and inexpensive. With due perseverance, it completely allows you to remove lice.
- Vinegar not only kills lice, but also softens the attachment of nits to the hair, as a result of which it then becomes easier to comb them out of the head.
- Cranberry juice is also said to be particularly effective against nits.
- A decoction of tansy and wormwood.
The advantages of all these tools are almost complete safety for humans. Unless vinegar and kerosene can lead to irritation and burns of the skin, which, however, happens quite rarely and only if they are used incorrectly.
In conclusion, we note that it is useful to avoid contact with people who show obvious symptoms of head lice. This is the main requirement for prevention against lice, and if it is observed, treatment for parasites will not even be required.
Unsuccessfully treated for lice? Consider important details...
Useful video: details about lice and how to treat them
How to get rid of lice and nits by combing them out with a special comb
It is a pity that there is not a word about the Paranit remedy. And it's strange, because it's a very good tool. I brought out three "sick" lice here. Two children and a husband. For some reason, I managed not to pick it up myself))
Nothing helps, including kerosene and vinegar. 3 weeks applied advice. There are no lice, and nits are not removed. They also washed and combed with shampoos - 6 hours a day. As a result, a specialist was called to the house. It took 2 hours.
I also did not fool around with self-treatment and called a specialist to the house. For about three hours he conjured. First, a balm on the head, then combed it with a special comb. As promised, after the first procedure, the problem was solved.
And where in Kaliningrad to get such a specialist?
In Moscow
An alternative to chemistry is only combing. I would even say that without it, you still can’t cope with lice. Chemical agents act only on adult insects, and the eggs remain. So, after some time, this infection will still manifest itself. The way out is the mechanical removal of both lice and nits. We used Antive's medical comb. It has long teeth with special notches, it even captures nits. To make them easier to peel off, the hair must be smeared with a special balm. We ordered it with a comb. Yes, you have to comb your whole head thoroughly several times. It is better to repeat the procedure after a few days, but the result is guaranteed!
Lena, tell me, did it help you? I use everything, but it does not help me! The lice die, but the nits remain.
My son has a lot of nits
And I just combed and washed. And… ta-dam… I have nothing.
If anything, then I washed Veda, here she is in the picture.
I am a mother of a 6-month-old child, I got these nits on my head - it was passed on from a relative. What should I do, can I use pediculene or other means?
I have lice and nits, how to cure?
Hello, please tell me which doctor can I contact because of lice and nits?
The best remedy for lice and nits is Nitfree products, comb, spray, mousse, shampoo, they help perfectly.
Nitfri is smelly only, it is not clear why they add odorous oils to the products when there are mineral ones. Pediculen ultra is the same. Probably, only paranit from non-toxic preparations is neutral in smell.
Who knows how old dimethicone products, like Paranit, can be for children ?! Is it possible at three years old?
Natalia can. There are children from 3 years old.
I tried a lot: Nyuda, hellebore water, Veda, hair dyes, vinegar. Nothing really helped. The head continues to itch. Tomorrow I will buy kerosene, the last hope for it. I remember that in childhood, my grandmother destroyed lice with kerosene.
And we suffered, suffered, until a neighbor suggested the service of combing out these parasites. In a few hours, they got rid of lice and nits. Never in my life would I have guessed that there is such a service))
Are there lice specialists in Bishkek?
What can be used while breastfeeding?
Girls, I just dyed the child in her own color (she is light blond), and then walked out of the pharmacy with a comb. There are a few nits left, but dry. In the evening, I again walked with a scallop and that's it!
And Medilis permethrin helped me perfectly! Both lice and nits have died, they have been gone for three years already!
I bought permethrin from a pharmacy. Very good product, it helped.
Permethrin, on the other hand, spoils hair very much, bakes the scalp. For small children and for those who have sensitive skin - not only will not help, but is contraindicated. We also used a pharmacy product, but safe. Pharmacy remedy D-95 - it is made on the basis of dimethicone, it is liquid silicone. This substance blocks the function of the airways by blocking them. And parasites die of suffocation.
Personally, only Benzyl Benzoate helped me. Once and for all got rid of these creepy insects.
Our family was saved from lice with pediculin shampoo. Fast and efficient. And most importantly, without harm to yourself and your hair.
My mother and I (she is 80 years old) cut our hair bald and several times etched the scalp with hellebore water - it seemed to help, but the bed lice exhausted ((