This article will help you to know the ways to check for lice. The lice, or it is also known as louse, are parasites that feed on human blood. The problem of head lice is quite common among the children. Adults also face it but it’s less in comparison to children. It is generally visible as the small creatures crawl in your head. Lice also makes your scalp itchy. It is very embarrassing when you have to scratch your head again and again in a public place. There are various ways to treat lice at home. Bur, for that you will need to check for lice. But before going for the home remedies, you will have to know if your itchy scalp is due to the lice problem. Also, you need to be careful with the fact that if someone in your friends or family has been infected with lice, it might have chances of you being affected too. That is because lice can be transferred from one head to other through various means. When you come in close contact with the infested person, you have chances of getting lice in your head.
Later, you can read articles on tea tree oil for lice, home remedies to cure hair fungus naturally, and best shampoo for dry hair.
Symptoms of Head Lice:
- Itching on scalp, neck and ear.
- Sometimes it creates a feeling of tickling on your head.
- Red rashes/bumps on affected area (head, neck and ear).
- Affected portion turn into sores with too much of scratching of the scalp.
How to Check For Lice?
Contents
1.) Recognize the Itching of Your Scalp
The very first step for you to follow is to recognize the itching. It means you need to check if the itching on your scalp and the nearby areas of head is due to dandruff or lice. If the itching on your scalp is due to lice, then you need to move on to next step to confirm it. This is way to check for lice.
2.) Check out for Lice
In this you will need to wash your head properly with your regular shampoo. Do not let your hair dry out completely. When it’s still in wet condition, pick a lice comb to check for lice. Spread a white towel on your lap. Part your hair into two and use the lice detecting comb to comb your hair. If you have lice, then it will fall off on the white towel while you comb your hair. This is one of the best ways to check for lice.
3.) Look Out for the Nits
Nits are eggs of lice that are mostly found attached to your hair shaft. Nits are difficult to notice as their appearance is same as of the hair color. But there is a spot where they are mostly found. Nits tend to be available near you ear and neck area. So, do not confuse them to be dandruff. Thereby, while you check for lice, also look out for nits.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Lice:
1.) Apply Tea Tree Oil to Get rid of Lice
Tea tree oil for lice is one of the top most recommended home remedy to treat lice. Tea tree oil has been used for various skin related issues. It has anti-bacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. It can treat and heal your lice infested scalp. You can use tea tree oil directly on your hair or with some other ingredients. For direct usage, you need to apply the oil directly on your scalp and leave it overnight. Keep a towel on your pillow not to get it stained. Wash your hair the next morning. Alternatively, you can also add a few drops of tea tree oil in your shampoo bottle. That will be helpful when you wash your hair. This remedy will help you to get rid of head lice.
2.) Apply Vinegar to Treat Lice
Vinegar will work its charm by erasing the lice and nits from your hair. It will help to kill head lice. Vinegar is helpful because it has ascetic acid content in it that can’t be resisted by the lice. It will also clear the nits from your hair shaft. Thereby you can make a diluted solution of vinegar with water. Depending on your hair length and the affected portion of your scalp, add equal amount of vinegar and water. Now, apply it on your scalp. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes to get it absorbed into your hair and scalp. After which, wash your hair with a mild shampoo.
3.) Apply Lemon Juice to Treat lice
Lemon juice contains the citrus and acidic content. These natural qualities of lemon juice will help to kill the lice from your head. You can pick different ways to use lemon juice on your head. Take a lemon and cut it into half. Take the parted potion and directly scrub it on your scalp. Now, wash it with vinegar. Later, wash your hair with lukewarm water. You can also use the juice with crush garlic cloves and apply it on your hair. And wash it after 15 minutes with normal water.
4.) Use Coconut Oil to Get Rid of Lice
Coconut oil is not only good for your hair but also has medicinal qualities. Coconut oil has natural properties that helps to kill the lice and the nits. To apply coconut oil on your scalp, firstly heat some amount of coconut oil for 2 minutes. While heating it, add some crushed camphor in it. Now, keep it aside for a minute to be less warm but don’t let it cool down completely. Apply it on your scalp and give a gentle massage. Leave it overnight. While sleeping place a towel on your pillow to protect it from the stains. Next morning, wash your hair with a mild shampoo and let your hair dry. After that, comb your hair with lice comb to clear off the dead lice.
5.) Use Onions to Get Rid of Lice
Onions are among good source of natural home remedies to treat lice. To use onion, you will have to grind 4 to 5 onions to make a paste out of it. Now, try to extract the juice from the prepared paste. Now, you will need to apply the extracted onion juice on your infested scalp. Leave it for 15 minutes and cover it with a shower cap so that the smell of the onion does not spread. Later on, wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Wait till your hair gets dried. Now, comb your hair with a nit comb to let the dead lice fall off.
6.) Sesame Seed to Oil to Treat Head Lice
The insecticide and anti-fungal properties of sesame seed oil will help you to get rid of head lice. All you need to do is mix one fourth cup of sesame seed oil in one eight cup of lilac oil. Add one teaspoon of tea tree oil, one and a half teaspoon of eucalyptus oil and 10 drops of lavender oil. Now, wash your hair with apple cider vinegar and allow it to dry completely. Now, massage this oil on your hair and scalp. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave it for 10 hours. Next morning, comb your hair to remove dead lice. Repeat this treatment daily for 2 weeks to get rid of lice completely.
7.) Petroleum Jelly to Get Rid of Lice
This is one of the best remedies to get rid of head lice. Petroleum jelly has a suffocating effect on the moving lice. All you need to do is apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly on hair shaft and scalp. Wrap your hair in a shower cap and leave it overnight. Next morning, remove petroleum jelly from your hair with the help of baby oil. Now, use a nit comb to remove the dead lice. Repeat this treatment daily until you get rid of head lice completely.
8.) Garlic to Treat Head Lice
The strong smell of garlic suffocates the lice due to which they die. All you need to do is grind 8 to 10 cloves of garlic to make a thick paste. Mix 3 teaspoons of lemon juice in this paste. Apply this paste evenly on your hair and scalp. Wash your hair with warm water after half an hour.