Everyone can get head lice, because this disease is very easy to spread. However, don't worry. There are various ways to get rid of head lice and their eggs that you can do, both naturally and with medical treatment.
Head lice are parasitic insects that live on the scalp. Head lice can reproduce and produce eggs which are usually left attached to the hair shaft until they hatch.
Head lice infection can interfere with daily activities because it can cause tingling, itching, and redness of the scalp. Therefore, head lice and their eggs need to be treated in the right way.
Tips to get rid of head lice and their eggs
The main way to get rid of head lice and their eggs is to use a fine comb. A fine-tooth comb is a fine-toothed comb that is specially made for removing head lice.
However, you can also use a variety of materials to help trap lice on your comb, such as:
1. Conditioner
Applying conditioner to your hair and then combing it with a fine comb is an effective way to get rid of head lice and their eggs.
This method is also easy to do, and here are the steps:
- Wash hair with shampoo until clean.
- Apply conditioner all over the hair and scalp.
- Comb the hair while it is wet with a fine comb, starting from the roots to the tips of the hair.
- Remove any lice, eggs, or dirt trapped in the comb by placing it in a bowl of warm water.
Do this wet brushing regularly, i.e. 2-3 times a week, until the head lice and eggs are completely gone.
2. Olive oil or almond oil
Combing your hair with a comb that is smeared with olive or almond oil can also be used as a way to get rid of head lice and their eggs. Here are the steps:
- Apply olive oil or almond oil to your hair.
- Separate and pin the hair into sections.
- Comb each section of hair using a fine comb, from the roots to the tips.
- Remove any lice, eggs, or dirt trapped in the comb by placing it in a bowl of warm water.
- After you finish combing your hair, wash your hair with shampoo until clean.
Repeat this method every day until the head lice and eggs are completely gone.
3. Essential oil
A number of essential oils have been shown to be effective in helping to treat head lice and their eggs. The example is tea tree oil, lavender oil, neem oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, menthol oil, cinnamon oil, and nutmeg oil.
Here are the steps you need to do when you want to use essential oils to get rid of head lice and their eggs:
- Mix 4 tablespoons of olive or coconut oil with 15-20 drops of essential oil.
- Apply the mixture to the scalp and the entire surface of the hair, then leave it on for 12–24 hours. If you want to apply it at night before going to bed, you can use shower caps.
- After letting it sit, comb the hair from the roots to the tips of the hair with a comb.
- Remove lice, eggs, or hair debris trapped in the comb by placing it in a bowl of warm water.
- Wash hair with shampoo until clean.
Do this until your hair is free of lice and their eggs.
4. Flea medicine
Removing lice and their eggs can also be done using flea medication that you can buy over the counter without a doctor's prescription, either at pharmacies or supermarkets. This flea medication is generally available in the form of a lotion or spray.
To treat lice and their eggs with medication, follow the instructions for use listed on the drug packaging label. However, apart from that, there are several things you need to pay attention to before using flea medication, including:
- Avoid using conditioner before using flea medication.
- Use a fine comb to remove lice and their eggs from the hair after 8–12 hours of using the lice medication.
- Avoid washing your hair for 1-2 days after using lice medication.
If after 2 days of using the medicine, the lice are still active and not dead, this means that the medicine you are using is not working properly. If so, discuss this with your doctor.
Your doctor may prescribe an antiparasitic medication to treat a tick infection, such as: ivermectin, permethrin, spinosad, or malathion.
On the other hand, if after 3 weeks of treatment, both natural and medical, you can see no live lice, it means that you have recovered from the head lice infection. Although sometimes the shells of nits are still left behind, over time the eggshells will disappear by themselves.
Keep in mind that head lice are highly contagious. Therefore, to ensure that head lice and their eggs are completely eradicated and prevent them from coming back again, people who live in the same room or house with you also need to take the steps above to get rid of head lice.