Combing wet hair with a fine-toothed nit comb may remove lice and some nits. Studies show that wet-combing results vary. Start by wetting the hair and lubricating it with hair conditioner or olive oil.

Comb the entire head from the scalp to the end of the hair at least twice during a session. The process typically should be repeated every 3 to 4 days for several weeks — at least two weeks after no more lice are found.

Small clinical studies have suggested that some natural plant oils may kill lice by depriving them of air, but effectiveness is uncertain. These products include:. Essential oils aren't required to meet safety, efficacy and manufacturing standards used for drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA , and can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

A number of household products are used to treat head lice. These products are thought to deprive the lice of air when generous amounts are applied to the hair, covered with a shower cap and left on overnight.

Products used for this purpose include:. Another option is a machine that uses one application of hot air to kill head lice and their eggs through dehydration.

The machine requires special training and is currently available only at professional lice treatment centers. The machine uses air that is cooler than most hair dryers and at a much higher flow rate to kill the lice by drying them out. Don't use a regular hair dryer to accomplish this result as it's too hot and could burn the scalp.

Flammable products, such as kerosene or gasoline, should never be used to kill lice or to remove nits. Lice usually don't live past one day without feeding from a human scalp. And eggs can't survive without the temperature near the scalp. Therefore, the chance of lice surviving on household items is small.

As a precaution, you may clean items that the affected person has used in the previous two days. Cleaning recommendations include the following:. See your family's health care provider or pediatrician if you suspect that your child has head lice.

The provider will examine your child's scalp and look for a live nymph or adult louse to determine if he or she has head lice. The provider can carefully inspect your child's hair.

If necessary, the provider can examine suspect items under a microscope before confirming that head lice are present. On this page. Self care. Preparing for your appointment. Identifying nits Your health care provider will also look for nits in your child's hair.

Nonprescription products Medications available without a prescription include: Permethrin Nix. Ivermectin Sklice. Ivermectin is toxic to lice. The lotion is approved for use in adults and children age 6 months or older. It can be applied once to dry hair and then rinsed with water after 10 minutes.

Prescription medications In some regions, lice have developed resistance to nonprescription medications. These include: Spinosad Natroba. Spinosad is approved for adults and children age 6 months and older.

It can be applied to dry hair and rinsed with warm water after 10 minutes. It kills lice and nits and usually doesn't need repeated treatment. Malathion is approved for adults and children age 2 or older.

The lotion is applied, left to dry naturally and rinsed out after 8 to 12 hours. The drug has a high alcohol content, so it can't be used with a hair dryer or near an open flame.

Malathion can be reapplied 7 to 9 days after the first treatment if necessary. Ivermectin Stromectol. In addition to the nonprescription lotion, ivermectin is available by prescription as a tablet to be taken by mouth.

It can be given to children weighing more than 33 pounds if other topical treatments don't rid the scalp of head lice. Request an appointment. Wet-combing Combing wet hair with a fine-toothed nit comb may remove lice and some nits.

Essential oils Small clinical studies have suggested that some natural plant oils may kill lice by depriving them of air, but effectiveness is uncertain. These products include: Tea tree oil Anise oil Ylang-ylang oil Essential oils aren't required to meet safety, efficacy and manufacturing standards used for drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA , and can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

Smothering agents A number of household products are used to treat head lice. Products used for this purpose include: Mayonnaise Olive oil Margarine or butter Petroleum jelly However, it's unclear if these treatments are effective.

Dehydration Another option is a machine that uses one application of hot air to kill head lice and their eggs through dehydration. Dangerous products to avoid Flammable products, such as kerosene or gasoline, should never be used to kill lice or to remove nits. Females lay 50 to eggs, which hatch in 5 to 14 days.

The life cycle, egg to sexually mature adult, normally requires about three weeks to complete. Lice are spread from person to person mainly through physical contact, sharing clothing especially hats and beds. Control of lice is achieved only through the diligent and persistent insecticidal shampoos and creams, baby or mineral oil, nit combs, short hairstyles, and by avoiding infested persons.

Daily laundering of clothes and bedding for the first few days after the initial treatment will eliminate lice that have fallen off their host and prevent them from re-infesting family members.

An effective non-chemical method of controlling lice is baby oil or mineral oil. Simply saturate the hair with the oil at night, wrap the head with a towel to avoid staining sheets and pillowcases, then in the morning, and shampoo the hair to remove the oil.

The oil must remain on the head for at least 8 hours to be effective. Even though it is very likely that a single application of the oil will kill all stages eggs, nymphs and adults of the lice, I recommend retreatment about 7 days after the initial treatment. A blend of seven essential oils proven to prevent, treat, and defend against lice.

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Years of research and formulation and a unique blend of ingredients that keep your family lice-free in a safe and healthy way.

Our products contain no sulfates or parabens, but they do include a proven blend of essential oils — guaranteed to keep your child lice-free! We believe in transparency, which is why we always list the ingredients for our all-natural essential oil lice treatment products. We want you to choose products that keep your child safe from lice and from chemicals while producing the best results you expect possible.

Protect eyes with a washcloth or paper towel. Apply Lice Knowing You ® Lice Removal Knock-Out Serum to hair, making sure to thoroughly comb through hair. Let Serum remain on hair for 30—45 minutes. Comb through hair with a wide-toothed comb, making sure all tangles have been removed.

Use the Lice Knowing You ® Lice Removal Terminator Comb and begin removing all the lice bugs and eggs out of the hair by combing rapidly through the hair, front to back, side to side, wiping into a paper towel as you go.

Once you feel like all lice have been removed, divide hair into small sections and remove any remaining nits from hair.

Some essential oils have been tested for treatment of lice. Aniseed, cinnamon leaf, and tea tree oil have shown promising results. Mixing a few drops of any of these essential oils in coconut oil could help kill the lice and neutralize their eggs. Using coconut oil to treat lice is not a proven home remedy.

Speak to your doctor about the least toxic, most effective ways to treat head lice. Besides making your hair messy and oily, mayonnaise is unlikely to treat head lice.

Here's why, and what you can try instead. Super lice are parasites that are resistant to traditional lice treatment. Learn how to prevent the spread of super lice and what you can do to treat…. Fractionated coconut oil is different from regular coconut oil, and it has several health benefits and uses.

This article provides a detailed review…. You may only have a few head lice. How many lice and lice eggs may depend on how long they've been there. The color of a nit lice egg can tell you how close it is to hatching. Learn what the different colors mean.

The tools and techniques you use to get rid of lice can make a big difference in the effectiveness of combing. Here's what you need to know. Using smothering agents, essential oils, and pediculicides, you can remove lice nits from your hair without a lice comb.

A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Coconut Oil for Lice. Nit Wits Oil Treatment quantity. SKU: NWL-Oil Treatment Category: Products Tags: lice , lice oil treatment , oil treatment.

Massage Nit Wits Oil Treatment onto scalp with hair dry or damp. Leave product in while combing. Part hair into sections and comb from root to tip using the Nit Wits Terminator Comb. Overnight shipping available, call for rates.

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