Before over-the-counter head lice treatments were available, there were only old wives' remedies to rely on. Some of these, such as shaving the head, are now considered unnecessary and extreme, while others, such as applying kerosene to the hair, are extremely dangerous. One homespun remedy that has endured over the ages is that lice and their eggs can be smothered by use of oil treatments.
Old Wives' Cures
There are any number of home remedies using oil-based products that purport to kill lice. Some of these include olive or cooking oil, mayonnaise, petroleum jelly, and margarine--sometimes even peanut butter. There are also herbal oils that purport to kill lice, such as rosemary and tea tree oils. Home remedies using these methods involve drenching the hair in the oil-based product, covering it with a shower cap or wrapping the head in plastic wrap used to prevent food spoilage and leaving the oil on overnight.
Will oil treatments work? Experts at the Harvard School of Public Health doubt it. The theory in using oils is that the lice will be "smothered." However, oil treatments are backed by anecdotal evidence, not scientific studies. Lice don't "smother" easily and can survive under water for more than 15 hours. Using oil-based treatments probably won't kill lice or their eggs, but they do make manual lice and nit removal using a fine-toothed comb easier, as they coat the hair shaft and make it more slippery.
If you're treating a child for head lice, these home remedies can be very unpleasant. A quicker resolution to treating head lice is to follow the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which advocates use of an over-the-counter chemical treatment, such as a shampoo or rinse that contains pyrethrin or permethrin. Common brands are Nix and Rid. These treatments are only dangerous when directions are not followed exactly.
What Works Better
Over-the-counter lice treatments are approved by the AAP, Mayo Clinic and Centers for Disease Control as the most effective first-line treatment for head lice. When used appropriately, these pose no dangers to children over the age of two (the Mayo Clinic recommends wet-combing for toddlers and infants). These treatments require re-application after seven to 10 days to kill any remaining lice. Additionally, combing out nits using a nit comb is required to ensure that the product works successfully.
Over-the-counter treatments fail when directions are not followed exactly. Some people may not comb out nits, use enough of the product for it to be effective, or fail to complete a second treatment. In rare cases, lice can be resistant to over-the-counter treatments, in which case a doctor may prescribe a stronger topical medication. However, because these can have adverse side-effects, they may not be appropriate for children or women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Traditional treatment using over-the-counter measures also may fail because a person becomes re-infested from the same source. A child may get a new case of head lice if a playmate's lice have not been treated. Also, head lice can survive for up to two days without a human host. Laundering clothing, towels, bedding, and clothing in hot water and drying them on hot air reduces the risk of reinfestation. Anything that cannot be laundered can be stored in plastic containers for two weeks or thrown away. Grooming aids, such as combs and brushes, should be disinfected in hot water.
Follow-Up
After using an over-the-counter treatment, most nits (louse eggs) won't hatch, and removal using a nit comb is usually for aesthetic purposes. But if you're using an old wives' oil treatment, you'll need to remove all live lice and their nits mechanically every day for at least two weeks or until you see no more nits or live lice. The hair should be damp to make sure that live lice attach to the comb more easily and aren't accidentally airborne when flicked off the comb. Applying a conditioner also helps slow lice down and makes them easier to capture with a comb.
Tags: head lice, kill lice, lice their, live lice, directions followed, directions followed exactly