Head Lice and Vinegar

While a head lice infestation may sound pretty awful, but if you are between the age of 3 years to 12 years and suffer from head lice, know that it is a fairly common problem. Lice are tiny, wingless insects that live by sucking blood from the scalp. They reside within the hair and lay eggs that are attached close to the base of the strand of hair. While they do not present any danger or spread disease, they are downright irritating and cause the scalp to become itchy and inflamed.

As head lice infestations usually take place in children, parents may be wary of using over-the-counter products such as shampoos and lotions. For this reason, there are many home remedies that people try for getting rid of head lice. Vinegar, mayonnaise and olive oil are those that are commonly used. However, they are not believed to be effective, and parents are advised to use products made especially for the purpose, for most are made keeping in mind the fact that they are to be used on children.

Signs of Head Lice

If you find your child frequently scratching his or her head, you should check for head lice. On close examination, one will either spot some lice, or their eggs (called nits) that are attached to the base of the hair. The eggs are white and appear like flakes of dandruff that won't brush off. A lymph is a growing louse that has not reached adulthood and is similar in appearance to an adult louse, only smaller, and possesses a yellow to rust color. An adult louse is of about the size of a sesame seed and after feeding, has a rust brown color. Other signs of head lice are small, red bumps (from the bites) on the scalp, neck, and shoulders.

Head Lice Treatment

There are plenty of over the counter products that are meant specifically for the purpose, and one may use any of them. Whichever medicated shampoo, cream rinse, or lotion you use, it is very important to follow the instructions, or it may not be effective. Lotions and shampoos containing 1% permethrin (Nix) are usually effective and can be bought without a prescription. However, if they don't work and you need a stronger product, you will probably need to get a prescription for it. While some products may kill all the lice and some of the nits, other may just knock out the lice for a while. For this reason, it is extremely important to comb lice and nits out of the hair using a fine tooth comb after washing.

Vinegar for Head Lice

Treating head lice with vinegar is a home remedy often used. The reason for it is that vinegar is known for its ability to dissolve strong adhesives, similar to the one the louse uses to attach the nit to the shaft of the hair. Thus, the only way that the use of vinegar for head lice can be effective is by assisting in the removal of nits by loosening them. While removing nits is an important part of head lice treatment, one must understand the vinegar is not a cure for head lice. To clear up a few other misconceptions, the frequent suggestion of using mayonnaise or olive oil to smother the lice does not work either. While olive oil may make the removal of nits easier, it does not suffocate or kill the lice.

In order to minimize chances of a re-infestation, one must take care to keep aside the combs and brushes used by the person, as well as towels, pillow cases, bed linens and clothes worn up to two days before the treatment. They should either be sealed in a plastic bag and kept that way for two weeks, or they should be machine washed and dried using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Dry cleaning is also an option. If you've been given a strong recommendation of treating head lice with vinegar, check with your doctor before trying it out.