How to Get Rid of Head Lice Fast

Head lice are a nuisance and very commonplace. On the positive side they don’t carry disease and are not dangerous. However, when your kid’s hair is crawling with them you will want to know how to get rid of head lice fast. There is no shortage of ideas put forward by well intentioned folk from plastering your youngster’s scalp with food and condiments from the kitchens cupboard to more dangerous solutions. The use of kerosene and other toxic substances is even mentioned but using any of these treatments is plain wrong.

When it comes right down to finding something effective and quick there are certain things a parent must do. First you have to know your enemy:

  • Head lice crawl from one infected person’s hair to another by close enough proximity. They don’t fly or leap about. They also infect clothing such as hats etc. and can infect others that way.
  • They can infect fabrics wherever a head touches such as bed linen, cushions, clothing etc. These must be washed above 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill them and stop the spread.
  • Clean hair, dirty hair, greasy, blonde, long, cropped, it doesn’t matter to the creatures. Any kind of hair is home to them even eyebrows and lashes. A thorough inspection is vital to get them all.
  • Use ONLY shampoos and treatments bought over the counter from a trained pharmacist or recommended by a trained medical professional. Don’t take chances as some household cleaning solutions are toxic and dangerous.
  • Dedicated shampoos are designed for that purpose and this is how to get rid of head lice fast. Some solutions kill the adults lice and their eggs (nits) some just adults. In that case the eggs which are stuck to hair shafts, must be removed or the infestation will continue as the nits hatch.
  • Use a proper lice comb to remove all the nits. An ordinary comb is useless as the teeth are too wide apart. An electronic comb such as a Robicomb makes the job easy as it bleeps and zaps the eggs it locates.

 

The bottom line is it is not difficult to eradicate a head lice infestation and stop it dead in its tracks. You need to take your time and be thorough in what you are doing. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. When combing the hair, do it methodically and in small sections to ensure you do not miss any of the critters.

Read More Post!