Head Lice are tiny blood-sucking parasites that live in the scalp of children who are under the age of 10. The eggs of lice are known as nits. They are highly contagious and can be difficult to get rid off. The medical term for infestation with head lice is known as Pediculosis capitis. It causes irritation and itching sensation to the infected person.
Head Lice is not caused because of poor hygiene or a health hazard. These are quite common among kids and may spread to the rest of the household as they are contagious. Adult head lice are about one-eighth of an inch long, female lice are larger than the male. Female lice generally lay 6-8 eggs each day. These eggs get attached to the shaft of the hair due to secretions by the female louse. The eggs generally take a weeks time to hatch into nymph (immature form of head louse). The nymph may take 10-12 days to mature into an adult louse. An adult louse may live up to three to four weeks Head Lice may vary in colour from black to brown to white.
What Causes Head Lice
Head Lice are very tiny parasites that live on the host and extract blood from the scalp. Transmission of Head Lice is by direct contact from one person (who is having head lice) to another. Transmission is mostly within family members or among children who have a contact at school or at play. Other modes of transmission may be:
- Brushes or combs
- Hair Accessories
- Hats and Scarves
- Headphones
- Pillows or Bedsheet
- Towels
- Upholstery
Mostly young kids are at higher risk of transmission. It is mainly spread due to head-to-head contact. Itching is the most common symptom of infestation. Other symptoms include:
- Tickling sensation on the head.
- Irritated scalp due to continuous scratching
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Sores on the head.
- Swollen lymph nodes/glands
- Reddish eyes.
Why Should you use Coconut Oil for Treating Lice
Coconut Oil is being widely used for treating a lot of skin and hair issues, and of course, it has many beauty benefits also. Coconut Oil is considered as 100% safe and a natural remedy for treating lice and nits compared to off the counter hair shampoos or soaps which can be costly as well as loaded with harsh chemicals. Coconut Oil contains Lauric acid which is helpful in killing lice. This treatment may not be as effective but is not toxic as OTC shampoos are. Additionally, Coconut oil comes with a bunch of hair benefits. Coconut Oil is a great option for people who cannot withstand harsh chemicals. Coconut Oil has anti-inflammatory properties due to which it is very effective in soothing the irritated scalp. It’s antibacterial and antifungal property which helps to kill head lice and nits. Coconut Oil treatment is found to be highly effective when mixed with essential oil. Now you might be wondering how coconut oil can kill lice. The answer can be explained in three points:
- Coconut Oil has thick consistency on hair due to which it can suffocate the lice thus helping to eradicate the lice and nits.
- Coconut Oil is viscous in nature which prevents the lice from spreading from one person to another through towels, pillow, bed sheet, hair accessories and brushes etc.
- Coconut Oil is known to contain Fatty Acids like Lauric Acid and Caprylic Acid that can make your hair slippery due to which hair lice lose the grip on hair and can be easily combed out.
How to Use Coconut Oil for Treating Lice
1. Raw Coconut Oil
Because of anti-inflammatory property and presence of fatty acid coconut oil is effective in treating head lice. Moreover, it helps to condition your hair by making it smooth and soft.
Ingredients
Coconut Oil
Directions
- Apply coconut oil on your scalp.
- Gently massage the oil with your finger tips.
- Let it stay for 1-2 hours.
- Comb your hair with a fine toothed comb to get rid to lice and nits.
- Wash your hair with a suitable shampoo.
2. Coconut Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar
When it comes to home remedies we have to mention Apple Cider Vinegar as it has numerous benefits for healthy hair, skin, nails etc. Apple Cider Vinegar dissolves the sticky substance that head lice secrete to attach themselves to the hair shaft.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Directions
- Take equal quantities of Coconut Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar
- Mix it well
- Apply on your hair
- Massage on the scalp as well
- Let it remain for 15-20 minutes
- With the help of nit comb, comb out all the lice and nits
- Wash your hair properly using a mild shampoo.
3. Coconut Oil and Garlic
The thought of applying garlic on your hair may be a bit scary for some of you. But garlic when mixed with Coconut Oil is very beneficial for treating lice because garlic has got antifungal and antiparasitic properties.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil
- Garlic juice
Directions
- Mix few drops of garlic juice to 2 tablespoons of Coconut Juice.
- Apply this mixture on your scalp
- Let it be for one hour.
- Comb out the head lice and nits from your hair with nit comb.
- Wash your hair.
4. Coconut Oil, Lemon, Garlic and Green Tea
All the above mentioned ingredients are very effective in treating head lice. Coconut Oil conditions your hair and makes it slippery for the lice to hold on to your hair. Lemon juice makes it inevitable for the head lice to stick on to your hair. Garlic has antifungal and antiparasatic property as discussed earlier. Green Tea benefits the hair by reducing the harshness of lemon juice on your scalp.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Garlic Juice
- Green Tea
Directions
- Take all the ingredients in equal quantities and mix it well
- Apply this mixture on your hair and scalp
- Let it remain for one hour.
- With nit comb, comb out all the lice and nits from your hair.
- Wash your hair with a herbal shampoo.
5. Coconut Oil and Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is considered very effective for skin care and hair care. When mixing with coconut oil its effect gets double. Tea Tree Oil makes your hair smooth and shiny and also helps to get rid of lice.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
Directions
- Mix a few teaspoons of Coconut Oil and a few drops of Tea Tree Oil well. (check dilution guide for mixing essential oils in carrier oils)
- Apply this mixture generously all over your scalp and hair.
- Leave this mixture overnight.
- Next morning comb your hair with nit comb to get rid of lice and nits.
- Wash and condition your hair.
6. Coconut Oil and Oregano Oil
Among essential oils, Oregano Oil is considered very effective in treating head lice. When mixed with coconut oil, it becomes a wonderful remedy for treating head lice and nit.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil
- Oregano Oil
Directions
- Take a few teaspoons of Coconut Oil and a few drops of Oregano Oil and mix
- Apply this mixture well on your hair.
- Let it stay for 15 minutes
- Comb out the lice and nits from your head
- Using a good shampoo wash your hair.
7. Coconut Oil and Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is another great oil to take care of lice problems.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil – a few teaspoons
- Lavender Oil – a few drops
Directions
- Take a few teaspoons of Coconut Oil and a few drops of Lavender Oil and mix
- Apply this mixture well on your hair. Keep it covered with a shower cap if needed.
- Let it stay for 15-30 mins.
- Comb out the lice and nits from your head
- Using a good shampoo wash your hair.
Are there any risks or side effects of using Coconut Oil
Main purpose of using Coconut Oil for treating Head Lice is that it has almost no known side effects. You just need to know that whether you are allergic to Coconut Oil or not. You can do this by simply doing a patch test on your skin. If no reaction on your skin you can very well go for it.
FAQs
Is Lice Contagious?
Lice are highly contagious. They are transmitted from one person to another through head-to-head contact or hair-to-hair contact. Head Lice are most commonly found among kids who are below 10 years. They get transmitted during group sitting or group activities in school, parks etc.
How to know the difference between a Lice and Dandruff?
Lice or nits and dandruff may look similar as both are tiny white substances found on the scalp or the on hair shaft and both may cause itchiness. But they are two different conditions that affect the scalp. Head Lice are tiny parasites which live on the host by sucking its blood and dandruff are dead skin cells or white flakes which tend to fall off the skin due to dryness. Dandruff can be controlled with home remedies too.
What are the different types of Lice?
There are mainly three types of Lice:
1. Head Lice
Adult Head Lice measures between 2.0-3.3 mm in length. Mostly found on head and neck regions and attaches its egg to the base of hair shaft.
2. Body Lice
Adult Body Lice measures between 2.2-3.6 mm in length. They are mostly found on clothing and furniture and go to the host body only to feed.
3. Pubic Lice
Adult Pubic Lice measures somewhere between 1.0-1.8 mm in length. They are mostly found on the hair of the pubic area and sometimes also on coarse hair of other parts of the body like eyebrow, eyelash, beard and arm pit etc.
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