What Are The Most Effective Ways To Cure Lice?

By Author: M. Gordon.
Total Articles: 6
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If your child has head lice, you will want to know the fastest and easiest way to kill them. Here are several options to achieve a lice cure.

If your child has head lice, you will want to know the fastest and easiest way to kill them. Here are several options to achieve a lice cure. Some are easier than others, but all have been proven to work and are safe for your child. Be sure to avoid toxic shampoo for head lice. Shampoo for lice that contains pesticide poisons such as Pyrethrin or pyrethrum are considered dangerous and ineffective. Remember, however, that killing head lice is really only step one. After the live lice are dead, you must remove their eggs (nits), or repeat the “killing process” with a natural shampoo every few days—or the eggs will hatch and the cycle will begin again within a few days. On the box or label of some shampoo for lice, it may claim that lice and eggs will die with the treatment, but this is almost always NOT the case. Finding a safe lice cure is tricky, so make sure you follow all the steps in the process so you can successfully end the cycle.

The mayonnaise or olive ...
... oil method: This one is messy and can be a little smelly, but it is economical and safe for your child. Of the two products, olive oil is the best choice. It is easier to rinse out and better for your child’s hair (and not as stinky). It does not have to be extra virgin olive oil! Just get the cheap stuff at the supermarket. Saturate the head with the olive oil. Work it onto the scalp and pull it through to the ends of the hair. Tie long hair up in a bun and cover head with a cap. Leave the olive oil on for at least eight hours. (Please be mindful of using a plastic cap while your child sleeps. It may be safer to put towels over the pillow.) This is key, otherwise the lice may still be alive. The oil will slowly suffocate the lice, but they can hold their breath for up to eight hours! After the eight hours, comb through the slick hair with a metal nit comb to remove dead lice and eggs. Rinse out oil with baby shampoo (clarifying shampoo), or even a little liquid dish soap will help remove the oil. Repeat this process every three days for fourteen days to ensure a lice cure.

The Cetaphil method: Purchase a 12 oz. bottle of Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser at the pharmacy. You will use the entire bottle (or more for long hair) for one treatment. You will also need an empty plastic squirt bottle to make applying the product easier. Using the squirt bottle, work the Cetaphil into the scalp and bring it through to the end of the hair. After the whole bottle has been applied, use a metal nit comb to comb out any eggs and bugs you can. You will want to remove as much of the Cetaphil as possible while you are combing. Next, blow dry the hair completely. Expect this to take a very long time. The Remaining Cetaphil will create a “cast” around the hairs, catching any lice bugs and trapping them until they suffocate. Again, leave the product in the hair for eight hours. Rinse hair and repeat every 3 days for two weeks.

The natural shampoo for head lice method: The most effective treatment of lice is a nontoxic shampoo for lice that contains enzymes as its active ingredient. Although it may cost a bit more than the above methods, this shampoo will cure lice easily. It applies like a normal shampoo and lathers easily so that it can be well saturated into the scalp. Once the treatment for lice has been applied, it should soak in for another ten minutes. Next, rinse and use a metal nit comb to remove dead lice and nits. Repeat the process every 2-3 days for two weeks.

Remember, if your child is found to have head lice, be sure to research a natural shampoo for head lice. Learning what kills lice best can be overwhelming, but there is no need for the knee-jerk reaction of purchasing OTC products that may harm you child. Head lice are not dangerous, but the shampoo for lice that you choose may be.
Resource: http://www.happyheadsproducts.com/