What oil kills lice eggs?

How to get rid of head lice the naturally?

1 out of 3 children between 5 and 10 years old is lice infestated*! The back-to-school period is an ideal time for lice to spread due to close contact between children. Transmission occurs directly via head-to-head contact or indirectly using shared brushes, combs, hats, …etc. Cleanliness has nothing to do with lice which are very resistant to soap and water. Real nightmare for parents, the invasion, sometimes recurrent, must be treated effectively!

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A LOUSE

The life cycle of a louse lasts approximately 50 days. The lice multiply rapidly, so you must act quickly.

1. NIT: A nit is the egg laid by the female louse. Nits hatch after approximately 7-8 days. It produces a «cement» (glue) that allows it to attach to hair. Female lice lay 5 to 10 eggs a day.
2. LARVA: This is the «baby» louse. The larva will reach adulthood, capable of laying nits in 2 weeks. Already at this stage, it is able to move and contaminate an individual. It goes through 4 moulting periods before reaching adulthood.
3. LOUSE: It breathes through 9 pairs of respiratory openings called «micropyles». A louse that is capable of laying nits, lives on average for about 30 days in this larval stage until the end of his life. Outside of the head, it dies within 4 to 12 hours.

Does my child have lice?

Itchiness and scratching of the head are often the first signs of head lice. Scalp irritation caused by scratching may suggest the presence of lice.

What should I look for?

Lice and nits near the scalp, particularly behind the ears and near the nape of the neck, along the hairline.

What does a louse look like?

A head louse is a small insect, visible to the naked eye, about the size of a sesame seed (2 to 3 mm), which lives on the scalp and feeds on human blood. It has six legs armed with pincers used to cling to the hair, they move very quickly, which explains why it is so hard to catch them.

How can I tell the difference between nits and dandruff?

Nits are lice eggs. They are transparent white, easily spotted by the naked eye, and difficult to remove when they are alive. Unlike dandruff, nits do not come out with brushing or washing.

Are lice a sign of poor hygiene?

Do not feel that you are responsible if your child has head lice; it has nothing to do with your family’s hygiene habits. Cleanliness has nothing to do with lice, which are very resistant to water and soap. Taking time off school is not necessary.

How did my child catch lice?

The back-to-school period is an ideal time for lice to spread due to close contact between children. The transmission of the lice occurs directly through contact between two children (touching hair). Indirect transmission is possible if items such as combs and brushes are shared. Remember: Lice cannot fly, jump or survive longer than 4 to 36 hours away from the scalp.

How to get rid of lice?

There are two types of solutions against lice: treatments with the use of repellents and products which act mechanically. Just like microbes with antibiotics, for the past 10 years, lice have developed resistance to repellents. Usually, these repellents are neurotoxic, very aggressive and irritating to the scalp. The new generation of anti-lice act mechanically by asphyxiation, suffocating the lice. The lice are coated with greasy substances which obstruct their respiratory openings. Lice are unable to develop resistance to this type of product.

How to choose the right product?

The product must be effective, practical, natural, harmless and act quickly. It needs to kill lice, larvae and nits by mechanical asphyxia. Its efficacy must be proven by laboratory tests. The formula must be gentle to the hair and scalp (no neurotoxic repellents), from 100% natural origin and harmless to the environment. Ideally, it should be effective from the first application, easy to use and with a pleasant fragrance. It should act quickly to avoid a long exposure time.

FOR A 100% NATURAL AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION DISCOVER THE PURESSENTIEL ANTI-LICE RITUAL IN THREE STEPS:

1: TREAT TO ELIMINATE HEAD LICE, LARVEA AND NITS

The Puressentiel Anti-lice Treatment Lotion is the effective and natural treatment against head lice. Proven efficacy in 10 minutes ¹ ! Its neurotoxic insecticide-free formula combines 6 plant oils (sweet almond, calophyllum, coconut, jojoba, castor and sunflower) and 4 essential oils (tea tree, clove, true lavender and rosat geranium) with soothing and repairing properties, ideal for relieving itchy scalp. The round bottle makes it handy and easy to use. The applicator nozzle enables precise targeting, section by section.

Exist in 100ml, 100ml + comb and also 200ml + comb

The Puressentiel Anti-Lice 2 in 1 treatment Shampoo is the natural solution to kills lice, larvae, and nits as well as wash and clean hair. Its gentle formula with coconut plant oil acts mechanically by obstructing the respiratory tracts. Active from 30 minutes — From the first use ² . A fine-toothed comb is included to help remove the dead larvae, nits and lice. In vivo test: clinical study conducted in real-life conditions, on patients aged 3 to 15 with lice ³ .

2: WASH AND PROTECT THE HAIR

To complement Puressentiel Anti-Lice Treatment lotion: POUXDOUX® Organic Daily Shampoo with pure and natural organic essential oils of lavender, lavandin, ylang-ylang and geranium is formulated to cleanse the scalp and help to remove dead nits and lice. This gentle shampoo helps to rinse Puressentiel Anti-Lice Treatment lotion out of the hair. Protects the hair and soothes the scalp.

The Puressentiel POUXDOUX® Protecting Conditioner with organic, pure and natural essential oils from lavender, lavandin, ylang-ylang and geranium is formulated for easier detangling and removal of dead nits and lice. Protects the hair and soothes the scalp. It leaves the hair feeling soft with a pleasant smell. Used daily: Protects the hair. Hair is soft and shiny with a pleasant smell.

3: REPEL HEAD LICE AND PREVENT INFESTATION

In the event of an outbreak, the Puressentiel Lice Repellent Spray is ideal to keep lice away and prevent infestation of the scalp, Based on a powerful active ingredient of vegetal origin (Citriodiol®), derived from lemon eucalyptus essential oil), with no neurotoxic insecticide, the spray offers effective protection for up to 24 hours ⁴ .⁴ Very practical and easy-to-use, it leaves the hair smelling fresh and pleasant. And it’s free from synthetic fragrances or propellant gas! **

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¹Anti-Lice Treatment Lotion: Test ex vivo: Carried out on wild lice taken from infested patients, by an independent parasitology laboratory.

²Repeat: 3 days after the first application, then again 7 days after the first application if necessary

³Clinical efficacy and tolerance study conducted as a double-blind study under dermatological supervision on 11 infested patients with a 30-minute application.

⁴24H efficiency tested in laboratory.

**Can be used from the age of 3 years and prohibited for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

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PEPPERMINT OIL FOR LICE: CAN PEPPERMINT OIL KILL LICE?

The most basic question that families dealing with head lice ask is what can kill lice. Another question is what can prevent lice. We will tackle the second question first. While there is no guarantee that despite your best efforts your family will never have to deal with a case of lice, there are a few things you can do to lessen your chances of contracting lice. Peppermint oil for lice prevention can be very effective.

DOES PEPPERMINT OIL PREVENT LICE?

Peppermint essential oil for lice prevention is one option families can use. Some studies have shown that peppermint and tea tree oil for lice may be an effective repellent against lice. We prefer keeping it simple and just using the peppermint-scented products as repellents. Peppermint extract for lice, when applied regularly, can and does repel lice — thus reducing the chances of contracting lice when exposed to a person with an active lice infestation. LiceDoctors offers a Peppermint Repellent Spray on our online store which helps to ward off lice.

CAN PEPPERMINT OIL KILL LICE?

If peppermint extract for lice prevention is effective at reducing the chances of getting a case of lice, does peppermint oil kill lice? Unfortunately, the answer is no. While peppermint extract for lice has been proven to be a powerful tool against lice infestation, it has not shown effectiveness when treating lice or killing lice bugs. This is a common misconception as some all-natural lice treatments include peppermint oil in their solution, however, it is not effective at killing live bugs on the head. Lice do not like the scent of peppermint, hence its role as a deterrent, however, there is nothing lethal about peppermint for lice. In order for a product to kill lice, it has to get in the breathing apparatus and stay there for hours to suffocate lice. There are more viscous options for that that work better than peppermint oil with fewer chances of side effects.

DOES PEPPERMINT OIL KILL LICE EGGS?

If peppermint oil for lice prevention can be used, it is reasonable to question if peppermint oil can have any effect on the lice eggs. Again, peppermint oil for head lice is not an effective treatment against an active infestation. This includes the lice eggs. Nothing penetrates the shell of the lice egg to kill the unhatched nymph, so peppermint oil, including peppermint oil spray for lice, is not able to kill lice eggs.

PEPPERMINT AND TEA TREE OIL FOR LICE

Many home remedies tout the effectiveness of using peppermint and tea tree oil in conjunction with one another as an effective treatment option for head lice. This, however, is not effective. The only 100% effective method that is proven to get rid of lice is the removal of all live bugs and eggs from the hair. With these remedies, you will find that peppermint and tea tree oil are added to a carrier oil that is used to lubricate the hair to aid in the removal of lice and their eggs from the hair. So while these oils can be used as a lice treatment, they are not effective on their own at killing lice and eggs. The viscous carrier oil is the key to killing the lice, not the other scented oils. In addition, the mixture of peppermint oil and tea tree oil may cause scalp irritation or other reactions.

SOME CAUTIONS BEFORE USING PEPPERMINT OIL

With the rise of home remedies for head lice, many families after doing research and finding that peppermint for lice prevention is effective will attempt to concoct peppermint lice spray recipes that can be used. Be alert to any reaction your family may have to any treatment, including those using essential oils like peppermint oil, especially in young children. If mixed in too potent of a concoction, serious reactions can occur. To avoid this, try finding a pre-mixed repellent spray, like LiceDoctors Peppermint Repellent Spray, that can be applied and may reduce the chances of any undesirable side effects.

CONCLUSION

Peppermint oil can be an effective tool in your lice prevention tool kit. However, if despite your best efforts, your family finds itself plagued by a case of head lice, consider professional lice treatment by LiceDoctors. The treatment is all-natural, effective, and safe for everyone. Appointments are available day or night, 365 days a year!

The Most Popular Home Lice Treatments

From peanut butter and mayonnaise to vodka and kerosene, parents have turned to anything and everything to treat lice on their children—some more effective than others. It’s easy to see why lice shampoo is a go-to solution, but many readily-available treatments are filled with harmful chemicals. Some products can also have potential side effects, which is why non-toxic treatments can be as effective and safer for your child. We’ve compiled a list of common treatments—from OTC to DIY—and some info about how effective they really are.

Over the Counter Medications

• Pyrethrin & 1% Permethrin lotion

Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower and is safe and effective when used as directed. Permethrin is a synthetic version of pyrethrin and can be found over the counter in 1% lotion. Both work by disabling the nervous system of lice, but unfortunately they don’t kill unhatched eggs (nits).

In order for it to be effective, the CDC recommends using a second treatment 9 to 10 days after the first treatment to kill any newly hatched lice before they can produce new eggs. The only problem is that some lice have become resistant to pyrethrin and permethrin.

Home Remedies

Whatever your pantry weapon of choice, most of the below options work by clogging breathing holes and suffocating the louse. But since lice can survive without breathing for hours, be sure to apply overnight and cover with plastic wrap or a shower cap.

• Olive Oil and Essential Oils
  Grabbing a bottle of olive oil might seem like a great first bet against lice—it’s all natural, doesn’t smell as bad as mayonnaise, and won’t harm skin. However, olive oil alone can only kill lice and not unhatched eggs. That’s why some people recommend adding a few drops of essential oils for the mask to actually work.

A study in 2004 found that a number of essential oils are actually more effective in killing lice than phenothrin and pyrethrum (active ingredients found in OTC lice treatments). Of the 54 oils tested (including eucalyptus, marjoram, pennyroyal and rosemary) the two deemed safest and most effective are tea tree and lavender oil.

According to the Mayo Clinic , tea tree oil is a natural insecticide and antibacterial that can help treat acne, athlete’s foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites. When used in combination with lavender oil, the two can kill lice in the nymph and adult stages of life. Tea tree oil treatments also reduced the number of lice eggs that hatched. A 10:1 olive oil to essential oil ratio was found to be even more effective than commercial treatment and helped eliminate 97% of lice.

Vinegar & Vodka

Some people believe that vinegar or vodka can help remove nits by breaking down the bond between the egg and hair shaft. The acetic acid in vinegar can also help to remove excess oil after smothering the scalp overnight. While there’s no known evidence of vinegar having a clinical benefit, many people recommend using white vinegar—straight up or diluted with water—to remove lice eggs.

Similar to vinegar, the alcohol in vodka is believed to kill lice eggs by breaking down their shells. It’s recommended that you use at least 80 proof liquor for it to really work. To use, fill a spray bottle with vodka and a few drops of cinnamon leaf essential oil, then spray directly on the hair and scalp while you comb for nits.

Tools

• Hair Dryers
  Adding heat to your lice-removing arsenal has been proven to be highly effective in killing nits, but less so in eradicating live lice. One study found that an old-fashioned bonnet dryer killed nearly 89% of nits but just 10% of lice, while a blow dryer using direct-heat got rid of nearly 98% of nits and 55% of lice.

Remember to use a hair dryer only on freshly washed hair. Some chemical lice treatment products are highly flammable, and the extra heat can be dangerous.

Lice Combs

• No matter which treatment you use, a good, high quality lice comb is absolutely necessary when it comes to nitpicking. A metal comb with fine, close teeth will help crush the nit shell and pull them off from the hair shaft. Lice hatch about eight days after the eggs are laid, so it’s a good idea to comb every day until you’ve gone at least eight days without seeing any nits or live lice.

For an added punch, use an electric comb like the RobiComb® Lice Zapping Comb to quickly kill lice and eggs. The RobiComb® uses MicroCharge technology to zap lice on contact with a safe electric pulse that kills lice but doesn’t hurt kids. Simply run the RobiComb® through clean, dry hair. If you listen closely, you’ll actually be able to hear lice being eliminated on contact. Best of all, it’s clinically-proven to work and is completely safe.

• Jul 19, 2018
• LiceGuard Webmaster