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White Vinegar for Lice Treatment
If you're one of those resourceful people who've used white vinegar to clean the kitchen counters, deodorize the garbage disposal and soothe a child's sunburn, it comes as no surprise that you can use vinegar to treat lice too. This economical, environmentally friendly kitchen staple is, in fact, one of your best weapons in the battle to get rid of lice. Learn how to use it, and you'll be well on your way to winning the battle.
The Facts
Lice are parasitic insects that consume human blood to stay alive. Three types of lice can cause infestations, namely body lice, pubic lice and head lice. Head lice live in your hair, close to the scalp. They secure their eggs or nits to hair shafts using a sticky substance. One of the most difficult parts of head lice removal involves detaching these eggs from the hair. Any eggs that you miss could hatch and re-infest your hair. Signs of a head lice infestation include an itchy scalp, red bumps on your scalp or neck and extremely small, dandruff-like white specks -- lice eggs -- near the roots of your hair strands, according to MedlinePlus from Nemours.
- Lice are parasitic insects that consume human blood to stay alive.
- Signs of a head lice infestation include an itchy scalp, red bumps on your scalp or neck and extremely small, dandruff-like white specks -- lice eggs -- near the roots of your hair strands, according to MedlinePlus from Nemours.
Function
How to Prevent Dandruff in Black Hair
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According to Joan Sawyer, coauthor of “Head Lice to Dead Lice,” white vinegar doesn't kill head lice, but instead eases the chore of removing nits 2. It dissolves the cement-like solution that secures the lice eggs to your hair. Once loosened, these lice eggs become easy to remove, especially if you use a nit comb, which has closely spaced teeth that prevent the lice eggs from slipping through and remaining in your hair.
Considerations
Don’t rely on white vinegar alone as your treatment. In most cases, you should use a proven lice treatment plan that gets rid of the adult lice; options include medicated shampoos, rinses and the tried-and-true solution of manual removal. Talk to your doctor before using any lice treatment, especially if the infestation occurs in an infant or young child.
Method
Lice and Dreadlocks
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Coat lice-infested hair with your chosen medicated shampoo or a natural alternative, such as olive oil. If you use a medicated shampoo, follow the package directions for washing and rinsing. Leave olive oil soaking in your hair for approximately two hours before rinsing with white vinegar, recommends Joey Green, author of “Joey Green’s Amazing Kitchen Cures.” Follow up by removing the nits; dip a nit comb in white vinegar, combing it through your entire head of hair one small section at a time 3. As a rule, dilute the white vinegar with an equal amount of water before use.
- Coat lice-infested hair with your chosen medicated shampoo or a natural alternative, such as olive oil.
- If you use a medicated shampoo, follow the package directions for washing and rinsing.
Warning
Sawyer says that white vinegar could irritate your eyes, so exercise caution when applying the vinegar to your hair. In some severe cases, head lice infestations may involve your eyelashes; if this happens, white vinegar isn't an option. Talk with your doctor.
Related Articles
References
- Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: Head Lice
- “Head Lice to Dead Lice”; Joan Sawyer & Roberta MacPhee; 1999
- “Joey Green’s Amazing Kitchen Cures”; Joey Green; 2002
- “Healing Remedies”; Lydia Wilen & Joan Wilen; 2008
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Head lice: Overview. 2008 Mar 5 [Updated 2018 Dec 13].Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279329/
- Rassami W, Soonwera M. Epidemiology of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012;2(11):901–904. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60250-0
- van der Wouden JC, Klootwijk T, Le Cleach L, et al. Interventions for treating head lice. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2018(5):CD009321. Published 2018 May 22. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009321.pub2
- Bin Saif GA, Ericson ME, Yosipovitch G. The itchy scalp--scratching for an explanation. Exp Dermatol. 2011;20(12):959–968. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2011.01389.x
- Head lice infestations: A clinical update. Paediatr Child Health. 2004;9(9):647–657. doi:10.1093/pch/9.9.647
- Izri A, Chosidow O. Efficacy of machine laundering to eradicate head lice: recommendations to decontaminate washable clothes, linens, and fomites. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;42(2):e9–e10. doi:10.1086/499105
- Değerli S, Malatyalı E, Mumcuoğlu KY. Head lice prevalence and associated factors in two boarding schools in Sivas. Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2013;37(1):32–35. doi:10.5152/tpd.2013.08
- Greive KA, Barnes TM. In vitro comparison of four treatments which discourage infestation by head lice. Parasitol Res. 2012;110(5):1695–1699. doi:10.1007/s00436-011-2687-7
- Devore CD, Schutze GE. Head lice. Pediatrics. 2015;135(5):e1355-65.
- Devore CD, Schutze GE; Council on School Health and Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics. Head lice. Pediatrics. 2015 May;135(5):e1355-65. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-0746
Writer Bio
Regan Hennessy has been writing professionally for 11 years. A copywriter and certified teacher, Hennessy specializes in the areas of parenting, health, education, agriculture and personal finance. She has produced content for various websites and graduated from Lycoming College with a Bachelor of Arts in English.