|
|
|||||||||||||||
Head lice, Treatment tips and adviceContrary to common belief, getting head lice is not a sign of un-cleanliness, poor health habits, or inappropriate grooming. Head lice can occur at any age and to either sex. My own daughter has been plagued with them WHAT ARE HEADLICE? Head lice are tiny insects that live in human hair. Lice hatch from small eggs, called nits, which often live at the base of individual hairs on the scalp. Nits are not contagious. A female louse can lay as many as six eggs in a single day. Once the eggs have been laid, it takes only 7-10 days for a nit to hatch into a louse. Head lice feed on blood from the scalp of humans. WHAT DO LICE LOOK LIKE? Head lice are clear in color when they are first hatched and then quickly turn a reddish-brown color as they begin to feed. Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed. They have six legs. Claws extend out the bottom of each leg, allowing lice to easily grasp hair. HOW ARE LICE CONTRACTED? Head lice can be transmitted from person to person in a number of ways. Direct physical contact; borrowing combs or brushes from those afflicted with lice; wearing hats, ribbons scarves, or caps of those with lice; and sharing towels and bedding are all common ways that lice spread from one host to another. SYMPTOMS 1. Persistent itching on the head 2. Itching on the back of the neck 3. Infected scratch marks on the scalp 4. Scalp rash 5. Nits attached to hairs HOW TO SPOT LICE While mature lice are large and dark enough to view with the naked eye, it is still a difficult task. Using the aid of a magnifying glass, fine toothed comb, and strong light, look near the scalp for lice or nits. Lice will be sesame seed-size and dark in color. Nits will be whitish-yellow or clear, will be oval in shape, and will be attached to individual strands of hair. If you suspect nits, try to remove one from the hair shaft. Dandruff will easily pull away from the hair, whereas nits will not. WHAT LICE CANNOT DO Lice crawl. They do not jump, hop, or fly. Lice cannot live on pets. TREATMENT Traditional. Once head lice is found, it needs to be treated immediately in order to prevent spreading to other members of the family. Traditional, chemical based, over-the-counter preparations are available and provide an easy way to bring the problem under control. Holistic. Several natural oils can also be used in the treatment and prevention of head lice if you're uncertain about using a chemical-based product. Purchase natural alternatives containing a mixture of olive oil and coconut oil, lavender and tea tree oil, or coconut oil and ylang oil . You can also make your own chemical free treatment by following the recipe below. CHEMICAL FREE TREATMENT Ingredients: 2 ounces vegetable oil 20 drops tea tree oil 10 drops rosemary oil 10 drops lavender oil 10 drops lemon oil Directions: Apply mixture to infected person's head and cover with towel for one hour. Follow with regular shampooing. Repeat this process next day. HOUSE Even after all lice has been removed from the hair and scalp, there is still a danger of re-infestation if your living space has not been treated. Lice can survive in home environments for up to four days. Nits can lie dormant for several weeks, then hatch and re-infect the family. All articles of clothing, bedding, towels, and furniture that the sufferer used should be washed in hot water and detergent, machine dried, or dry cleaned. Combs and brushes can be disinfected by soaking in a solution of bleach and hot, soapy water. On items that cannot be washed, use the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum draperies, upholstery, carpeting, mattresses, and any other area where you fear lice and their eggs may have been deposited. Be sure to wrap the vacuum bag in a plastic bag after cleaning and immediately discard. PREVENTION If an outbreak of lice occurs, it's important to avoid sharing personal items. Never share: Combs Brushes Hair accessories Jewelry Hats Towels Clothing Bedding The following was also sent into easyways Add approx. 12 drops of Australian Body Care pure Tea Tree Oil to about 1/4 pint of water. Using a spray bottle, "mist" hair each morning. Lice do not like this, so hair is kept free of unwanted guests!! The following was also sent into easyways I do know an excellent way to get rid of head lice if your child does get them. (without chemicals) Saturate the hair and scalp with extra virgin olive oil, and then wrap the hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap. Leave it on for at least 30 to 45 minutes, and then remove the dead lice and nits with a nit comb. It washes out easily, and leaves the hair soft and shiny! Another thing I've found is that if you use a hair dryer every day, you won't get lice because they can't survive the heat! Hope this helps someone! The following was also sent into easyways A doctor recommended this for lice. Use mayonnaise. It's the safest thing to use. Messy yes, but safe. And it's also a great conditioner. Just make sure it's real mayonnaise and not the generic stuff. More Children Tips tips
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
© Copyright 2005 by Easyways.net All rights reserved. All the easyways |
|||||||||||||||
If there
is a way then there must also be an Easy Way