What are lice afraid of and how to use it in the fight against these bloodsuckers

Hello! I very carefully watched the health of my daughter in the first years of her life.

Now imagine how I was worried when in the kindergarten she went to, one girl caught a head lice. I then took a whole range of measures to protect the child from potential infection.

Maybe it was too much, but there were no lice on my head. Want to know what lice are afraid of? How to protect yourself or loved ones from this parasite? Then read carefully, now there will be valuable information.

Head lice - what they like and what they fear

Often, parents who are tired of fighting head lice in children try to defeat the attack in such popular ways as rinsing hair in vinegar, hot air, frequent washing of the head, etc. Everything is unsuccessful. Where and how do these parasites actually live? What is deadly for them, and what they do not react to at all?

Without human blood, lice can survive, as a rule, no longer than one day. Contrary to popular belief, head lice can neither jump nor fly. They crawl from head to head when the hair touches.

Shampoo just makes lice clean. It is still a widespread misconception that frequent shampooing helps kill these small parasites. However, cosmetic shampoos for lice do not harm at all. Frequent washing of the hair makes only the lice themselves cleaner, but does not clear their head.

Head lice are not afraid of water. Even under water, lice can firmly grasp human hair with their tenacious paws. However, since water does not penetrate the airways of lice, they can withstand several hours under water. It is also impossible to wash off water and nits.

For this reason, lice almost always live in their hair and do not pass, contrary to misconceptions, to hats, plush toys or upholstered furniture. Head lice not found on the human head are usually already dead.

Vinegar is powerless against lice. Vinegar is not able to destroy lice. But rinsing in vinegar can still facilitate the combing of nits after treatment with a pediculicidal agent.

Head lice are not afraid of hot air. A favorite place for lice on the head is the warm spots behind the ears or on the temples.Therefore, these areas should be especially carefully checked in cases of suspected infection with pediculosis. Hot air does not harm lice. The opinion that lice can be removed in a sauna or with a hairdryer is wrong.

How to get rid of head lice, why be afraid of lice and nits, what smell is terrible for them?

Pediculosis is infection with head lice. Lice are very small (4 mm tall) blood-sucking parasites that live exclusively on the human body. These insects have the ability to multiply rapidly in favorable conditions (the larva develops 5-7 days) and reliably protect their offspring (nits) from any external influences.

For many years of struggle with lice and nits, people have invented a lot of ways to quickly and effectively get rid of these insects in the shortest possible time.

Pharmacy preparations

Industrial or pharmacy preparations are very convenient to use, they accurately calculated the proportions of all the ingredients, and if you follow the instructions, then the treatment will be quick and effective.

Means for combating pediculosis are available in different forms, they are all equally effective and each buyer can choose the most suitable method for treating the head.

Shampoo. Parents of small children prefer to use. In order not to frighten the child with various ointments or aerosols, the head is treated in the usual atmosphere for the child, in the form of a simple head wash.

As a rule, after the first treatment all adult insects die and after a short period of time (5-7 days) it is recommended to repeat the treatment.

Aerosol or spray. A very convenient form of the drug to use, you can carry out the head treatment procedure yourself without resorting to anyone else's help. It is enough to evenly apply the product on the entire surface of the head, withstand the time recommended in the instructions and rinse off.

Creams and ointments. Tools such as creams and ointments are suitable exclusively for short hair, as they have a greasy structure and are poorly washed. The processing principle is not complicated: just apply evenly on the entire surface of the head, withstand a certain time and rinse.

Folk methods

No less popular than pharmacy drugs. They have high efficiency and in many cases a budget price. The most effective include the following:

The principle of application is simple:

1. Distribute evenly over the entire head and hair.
2. Wrap your head tightly with cling film.
3. Hold for 30-40 minutes.
4. Wash off with shampoo.

Advantages: instantly kills live lice and weakens the attachment of nits, after such treatment they are more easily removed from the hair.

Disadvantages: if the acid concentration is incorrect (more than 5%), there is a high probability of a chemical burn.

Advantages: High efficiency, budget price. Disadvantages:

Dust soap. A very powerful tool that instantly kills lice and nits, but belongs to the category of poisons that tend to accumulate in the human body, are not independently derived from it. Poisoning DDT can be fatal. It is forbidden to use in many countries.

Disadvantages:

• Powerful, aggressive poison dangerous to humans.
• Not on sale.
• Strongly not recommended for children and people with poor health.

Hair dyeing, hair spray and laundry soap. Ineffective ways to get rid of head lice. They can be used as primary methods of controlling parasites at the initial stage of infection.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Alcohol Compress. Hydrogen peroxide, like alcohol, is used to treat the head in dilute form. They are highly effective in destroying living individuals, but are absolutely safe for nits.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Mechanical methods of struggle

In the treatment of pediculosis, mechanical methods of control are used without fail - special combs.

Types of ridges:

1. Classical. Plastic comb with frequent teeth.
2. Metal. The peculiarity of this comb is that at the ends of the teeth it has special notches. When hair with a nits passes through such teeth, a notch cuts the nits, it instantly kills the larva and removes it from the hair.
3. Electric. Ineffective comb, kills only live lice, not suitable for long hair. To combat nits is useless.

What are parasites afraid of? In order to avoid pediculosis infection, it is important to know what can scare away blood-sucking parasites.

External factors

The most important factor for the life and breeding of lice is air temperature.

Unfavorable - temperature above 40 degrees and below 10. In the cold, a louse dies in a matter of minutes. When the air temperature drops below 10 degrees, the insects move slowly, are not able to lay eggs, at zero air temperature they hibernate for a long period of time (up to 60 days).

If the air temperature rises above 40 degrees, the parasites also fall into a stupor: they move slowly, are unable to reproduce, and eat poorly. At temperatures above 50 degrees, they instantly die.

You can weaken lice by drying hair and the entire surface of the head with a hot hairdryer for at least 15 minutes. Insects will become slow, and it will be easier to remove from the hair with a comb.

Smells

All animals and insects react negatively to harsh specific odors, lice are no exception. You can scare away parasites from the hair with the help of essential oils:

Parasites primarily populate the temporal and occipital parts of the head, therefore, for preventive purposes, it is recommended to apply essential oils over the ears and on the back of the head.

Substances

Chemicals that adversely affect lice are part of pharmacy drugs, these include:

• permethrin;
• malathion;
• phenotrin;
• dimethicone.

All of them act on insects in different ways: some paralyze the nervous system, others corrode the chitinous carapace, others act as suffocating, but ultimately lead to the rapid death of adults.

For preventive purposes, in the summer, you should constantly examine the head for lice and nits, since absolutely anyone can become infected with head lice regardless of its cleanliness.

What are head lice afraid of, as well as linen and pubic

There are many ways to get head lice out. These are recipes passed from generation to generation, and chemicals that can completely cure head lice.

What species and where parasitize on humans

In medicine, there is the concept of pediculosis, caused by parasitization of the head, pubic, and clothes on the human body.

Head louse - usually chooses a victim with long hair. It feeds on blood, piercing all layers of the epidermis and making its way to the blood vessel.

Pubic - develops vital activity in places with coarse vegetation - in intimate areas, eyebrows, armpits, beard and mustache. The transmission method is contact, in the literal sense of the word. During intimacy, the insect clings to the partner's hairs. You can get infected through bedding or a towel.

Blue spots form at the bite sites - a consequence of the breakdown of hemoglobin. Wounds can be complicated by a purulent course.

Pubic parasite is a source of STDs. Having found pubic lice, it makes sense to be examined for the presence of genital infections.

Clothes lice (bed) - parasitize in the folds of clothes, in the lines of the seams of bed and underwear. The insect feeds on the host's blood, moving to the victim in search of food. Adults can cause typhus.

What can scare away bloodsuckers, and what does not affect them? By the way, there are many myths that, allegedly, bloodsuckers can be deduced with the help of conspiracies and prayers.

Plain water

There is a belief: water has a destructive effect on lice.

It is enough to lie in the bath, immerse long hair in water and all lice will separate from the hair and die. In fact, parasites can swim and survive in water for up to 2 days.

One of the most common ways to get lice infested is in the pool or sauna. It is from the water that the parasite jumps onto the head of the new host.

Are bloodsucking afraid of pungent odors

They do not like lice with pungent odors. The fact that a person has an attractive aroma repels the bloodsuckers.

In order to die out insects, you need to wrap your head: with such actions you block the access of oxygen to pests, their airways will be burned with a sharply smelling substance. How to affect hair so that bloodsuckers suffocate?

Your locks will be protected from infection for 7 days. Before applying, make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the concentrated substance. Perform a sensitivity test by dropping a few drops on the elbow. In the absence of redness and itching, you can add oil to shampoos.

Lice do not withstand substances such as birch tar. They are dying of tar soap. Wash your hair with a sharp-smelling detergent and comb out your head with a comb with frequent teeth.

Decoction of tansy, wormwood, rosemary herb, lemon juice, cranberry juice, hellebore water - have a choking effect on individuals and help to remove the nits. One of the funds is applied to curls and incubated for 30 minutes.

After the procedure, the hair is rinsed and combed thoroughly. Be sure to audit the head for nits. If one egg is missed, pediculosis will return in a week.

In order to protect yourself from infection, it is enough to wash the curls once a month with anti-pedicular shampoo. It is not necessary to withstand the exposure time indicated on the bottle. You do not treat the disease, but act as a preventive measure.

Kerosene has been used for many decades. The tool is inexpensive, but effective. At least, so many who have encountered the disease think so. Kerosene acts as a toxic substance that has a choking effect on bloodsuckers. In relation to children and pregnant women, a folk remedy is not used.

The fuel has one drawback - the unpleasant odor from the hair does not disappear for a long time. No cosmetic preparations will kill the persistent smell of fuel. Note: we would not recommend kerosene.

The substance itself does not kill lice. The tool is suitable in order to prevent infection and improve the structure of the hair shaft.

It is known that the parasite cannot move on a smooth surface, since it cannot catch. After rinsing with a solution, the flakes of the rod are closed, giving the curls smoothness and silkiness. Even having penetrated the head, the louse will not be able to gain a foothold.

Salt and alcohol combined with vinegar will help relieve itching caused by head lice. The mixture is prepared by mixing a teaspoon of alcohol with 3 tablespoons of salt. Add 3% vinegar and apply as a compress. Apply to clean hair, do not wash off for 2 days.

In no case do not use bleach in the fight against parasites. A chemical compound may save from pediculosis, but as a result of contact with the skin and respiratory organs of a person causes a severe burn of the mucous membranes and irritation.

Temperature changes

There is an opinion: human head lice, as well as linen, are most afraid of changes in ambient temperature. Is it so?

Not always the effect of high temperature will help get rid of bloodsuckers. There are temperatures at which individuals will feel quite comfortable.

Zero temperature does not lead to the death of individuals, but to a state close to suspended animation. The insect falls asleep for several days.

Fear of pests of cold and frost. Temperature below zero leads to the extinction of bloodsuckers. Death occurs in 30 minutes. But not all types of parasites. Freezing is used in the fight against linen lice.

If you decide to go for a walk without a hat in the cold, hoping that the head parasites die - this is an absolutely unreasonable act. Your body temperature will not drop to zero, the insect will be warm enough from the scalp, but you run the risk of catching meningitis.

You can not get rid of pubic bloodsuckers, swimming in the hole. For insects, the water temperature from - 1 to + 4 is quite acceptable to last 10 - 15 minutes. And more in ice water people can not stand. As a result of exposure to low temperatures, nits also survive.

Slow down the development of nits and the vital activity of adults dry dry air. With a hairdryer, getting rid of pests is impossible. To destroy bloodsuckers and nits, you need to use a hairdryer with a stream of hot air for at least an hour.

The bathhouse, likewise, will relieve lice of only very persistent comrades: after all, not everyone is able to survive in the steam room at high temperatures. Moreover, it is known: a hot bath is very harmful to hair.

As a result of several trips with the aim of eliminating lice, everything may possibly work out, but only with parasites there is a risk of losing hair.

Linen insects are destroyed by heat treatment of things at a temperature of +70 C. It is enough to wash the laundry and leave to dry in the open air.

Hairdressing Tricks

A haircut. Without which head lice cannot survive, it’s without hair! That is why a radical and quick method of combating pediculosis in hospitals is to shave naked.

Hair dye. Women in the fight against bloodsuckers resort to the procedure of staining curls. The method works, but on certain conditions:

1. The paint should contain ammonia or hydrogen peroxide;
2. After applying the paint, the head is wrapped for 30 to 40 minutes;
3. The shelf life of the drug did not come out.

The method is effective against adults. The coloring pigment does not act on nits.

Starvation is afraid of both larvae and adult lice. If the insect has fallen from the host’s body, it will not last more than 3 days. The larva lives without food for no more than a day.

What methods do not work

Parasites are afraid of prolonged temperature changes, pungent odors and chemicals. Why aren't the bloodsuckers afraid?

Bloodsuckers are not afraid:

• Magical rites, conspiracies and prayers. If a person truly believes in the miraculous powers of the word, fix the result with an insecticidal preparation;
• Styling products. Hairspray will help if you act directly on the individual. Locking locks will not save you from the disease;
• Mascots. No charmed item hanging on the neck will protect you from pediculosis;
• Holy water. This method also does not contribute to recovery. We need hot water, and better - boiling water, in order to bring out a louse. After washing, linen lice die.

With regard to bloodsuckers, a hair clipper works. This is a conspiracy, and a talisman and a repeller. The device saves from head insects, but with pubic is not always effective.

Myths

There are many myths about bloodsuckers among the people. Consider which of them is true, and what is fiction.

Pediculosis affects the poor and hungry. Neither wealth in the family nor status in society protects against illness. The composition of blood is the same for everyone.

Bloodsuckers love blood type 4. Group affiliation does not affect infection.

From the dog you can catch lice. Not! Animals and humans have different types of parasites.

Bloodsuckers in a jump overcome 5 meter distances. Lice crawl at a speed of 20 cm per minute. Fleas are jumping.

Parasites love dirty hair. It is noted: it is neat people who often suffer from head lice. The lack of excess grease makes it easier to pierce the skin during a bite. Insects do not like a dirty head.

After successful treatment of pediculosis, complications do not arise. In fact, after treatment in children, people with allergic reactions and weakened immune forces, complications are likely.

The wounds can fester, ulcerate and do not heal for a long time. When infection penetrates, dangerous diseases of rash and typhoid develop. Simple calculations can develop into eczema and dermatitis.

Alcoholics and drug addicts do not suffer from head lice, as "tasteless" blood circulates in the body. The human body is designed in such a way that processes of renewal and purification occur every second.

Otherwise, we would have died after several breaths of urban air. The blood is cleansed of toxins formed as a result of taking alcoholic beverages, anyone can get lice.

The insect eats particles of skin and dandruff. Lice feed exclusively on blood, and dandruff and epidermal flakes are extraneous debris that interferes with piercing the epidermis.

Whatever people say, parasites are afraid of insecticides. It is better to carry out a single high-quality processing than to experiment with the body, each time, by various means.

In most cases, following traditional methods is ineffective and leads to severe infection. A person is forced to buy a special drug that helps get rid of bloodsuckers.

Every missed minute is a new nits in the head. If the result is one - why waste precious time!

My son has pediculosis in the classroom! How to protect yourself - that's the question!

"My son found pediculosis in the classroom, what should I do to protect myself from this trouble?" They say insects are "used" to the latter?

A person has known about pediculosis for a very long time, and therefore there are many ways to combat this disease.

Unfortunately, no one is safe from head lice infection, as well as from colds. Therefore, if someone in your family has lice, do not despair, much less be ashamed of it. To be sure of the absence - the presence of parasites, take a frequent comb and comb your head over a white sheet. If there are lice, then you can easily find them.

Description of the activity of head lice

Head lice are small blood-sucking parasite insects that live on the scalp. They don’t give any preference to straight or curly hair, blondes or brunettes and, contrary to popular belief, prefer clean rather than dirty hair.

Infection with lice occurs when the heads of the lice wearer and a person who is not infected with them come into contact, as well as through common towels, combs and other objects. Head lice are attached to the hair with claws and spend most of the time on or near the scalp.

After about 3 days, a young louse (nymph) hatches from the nits, leaving behind an empty shell of white color, firmly attached to the hair. For 7 days, the nymph eats the same way as an adult louse, 10 days - and she herself is able to lay off nits

Lice treatment

First isolate the child to avoid infecting other children. Wash, and even better, boil combs, clothes, and other things that come in contact with lice.

The most common “home therapy” method is kerosene treatment. Kerosene is mixed with vegetable oil and rubbed thoroughly into the scalp. After that, a bag is put on the head and left for 20-30 minutes. As a result of “kerosene torture”, the scalp may be damaged and the hair will become very stiff.

Another radical way that provides a one hundred percent guarantee of getting rid of lice is a “zero” haircut.

However, it is possible to offer a sparing hair health and a more effective way - the use of special anti-pediculosis drugs. Most drugs are effective against lice, but few are able to deal with nits.

Often after using such a drug, you will find dead lice and absolutely no nits.Therefore, it is very important to remove all nits from the hair. The speed with which lice breed is so great that you will have to work literally tirelessly to “overtake” and cope with these parasites.

Shampoos Pedilin and Anti-Bit contain deadly substances for parasites. It is recommended to apply on clean, damp hair, rubbing it well into the scalp.

Nittifor - lotion. The effect of the drug lasts for 2-3 weeks. In order to avoid the re-emergence of parasites after treatment, it is necessary to clean the head of nits as much as possible.

Vapor Plus - aerosol. As a rule, a single application allows you to achieve the desired effect. Requires careful use.

Cream Nyx - cream. The amount of cream needed to treat the head depends on the length and thickness of the hair. When using a cream, you should know that this drug should not be used by people who are allergic to chrysanthemums.

It would seem that everything is clear: treat the head and comb out the nits. But in reality, everything is much more complicated. Those who are faced with this problem have a lot of questions, we will answer some of them.

FAQ

How long do lice live outside the host? The question is, is it worth the whole apartment to be handled somehow (including the upholstered furniture of pillow blankets)? Can a head louse live and breed on clothes? Is it necessary to boil clothes or just wash it enough?

If a louse has fallen from its head onto a carpet, can it fall back? What and how many times is it necessary to carry out the treatment to be sure that they are no more? Can a louse live in a mattress (should it be processed)?

What is the reason for the limitation in the instructions for anti-pediculosis drugs: “no more than twice a month”, and why is it necessary to rinse the hair with vinegar after the product?

The time limit for the use of anti-pedicular agents is due to the toxicity of these drugs. Rinsing with a 5-8% solution of acetic acid is necessary: ​​this greatly facilitates combing out nits and dead lice and is a kind of disinfectant. After combing, it is also recommended to place the comb in a 5-8% vinegar solution for some time.

Why is it impossible to “bring out” lice from the first try? The use of almost all anti-pediculary drugs involves repeated application. This is due to the peculiarity of the life of lice (the period of maturation of nits is 3 days).

In this case, our task is to rid the child of parasites. After treatment, rinse your hair for a while with restoring balms or infusions of medicinal herbs (nettle, chamomile).

The fear of infection sometimes makes us look for unconventional and sometimes curious methods of treatment. True, in such a situation it is no laughing matter, but still it is worth refuting some allegations.

Is it true that the use of ultraviolet and solarium will help in the fight against insects?

Medicine knows only the antimicrobial effect of ultraviolet radiation. Unfortunately, a solarium does not help you get rid of lice.

Is it true that if domestic animals (cat or dog) live next to the infected person, then they can become infected?

No, pediculosis does not threaten “our smaller brothers”, since insects feed on human blood.

Is lice afraid of heat? Is it then possible to get rid of them with a hairdryer or curling iron?

Is it true that anti-pediculosis agents can be used to prevent infection?

Not. If there are no live lice, then it is not necessary to treat anti-pedicular agents. These drugs are toxic, they should be used only as necessary. Unfortunately, in the pharmacy assortment there are no such drugs that would help avoid infection with lice. The only remedy is daily combing with a frequent comb.

Preventive measures against infection with lice in children

There is an opinion that pediculosis is a disease of unscrupulous people who do not follow primitive hygiene rules. However, this is not entirely true, some managed to make sure lice can appear in absolutely any person.

Every person located in crowded places can face this problem. For many people, the question arises - what to do to prevent lice in children?

General measures for the prevention of pediculosis

Everyone, regardless of compliance with hygiene measures and social status, can become infected with lice. The probability of catching hair parasites is high, however, there are a number of general rules to reduce the risk of the disease. The main ones are:

Compliance with preventive measures is especially important for people whose professional activities are associated with a large number of different people. Workers in prisons, kindergartens, schools, boarding schools, and social services are at risk.

In this case, to reduce the risk of infection, you can use such tips that are relevant for children:

1. on the scalp you can apply a few drops of lavender tincture, which repels insects with its smell;
2. it is advisable to carry out a hair combing procedure with a thick comb daily to get rid of possible insects that have not yet had time to breed;
3. it is enough twice in 7 days to use a special, preventive hair shampoo to avoid the development of head lice.

It is important to remember that spending time on the prevention of pediculosis in children can avoid the appearance of an unpleasant ailment.

Folk remedies

It is impossible to completely get rid of the risk of infection with lice, however, there are simple, folk remedies that can scare off parasites from the hairline.

Lice are afraid of certain harsh and specific aromas, therefore, to prevent lice and nits at home, a few drops of a simple remedy should be applied to hair or whiskey:

For convenience, any of the oils can be diluted with boiled water. Apply 1-2 drops to the temporal region or behind the ear.

Not all oils can be used by young children. In particular:

• lavender and tea tree are used for babies from 1 year;
• eucalyptus and bergamot, have a more pronounced aroma, it is not recommended for children under two years of age;
• geranium oil is not used up to five years.

Pediculosis prevention measures for children

Children are significantly more at risk for lice than adults. For babies, general prevention rules may apply, but there are also your own.

As a prevention of pediculosis in children, you can use specialized shampoos for lice. It is enough 1-2 times a week, after washing the hair, apply a prophylactic to the baby’s hair and leave it for 10-15 minutes, after which, thoroughly rinse the hair with plenty of water.

Several times a week, you should comb the child’s hair with a thick comb, always looking at the scalp for bites and combs.

For baby's hair, you can choose a rinse balm. It will make the hair smoother (slippery), which will reduce the likelihood of lice clinging to the hair. The balm should be used only after normal washing of the head, during prophylactic treatment with special shampoo, it is not used.

Parents need to follow the hairstyles of their babies. It is better for boys to wear short haircuts, girls in public places (kindergarten, school), less to be with their hair loose.

It is important to inform the child that it is not advisable to use someone else's hairbrushes, hairpins, or headgear.

What lice living on humans cannot stand

Lice are very small parasites that, thanks to their high reproduction rate, can survive even in the most unfavorable places. However, like other parasitic insects, they have their own vulnerabilities that can and should be used to eliminate these pests.

Cold

Like other insects, lice very poorly tolerate temperature drops below optimal limits. In the best way, their vital activity is maintained at an air temperature of 25-30 degrees.

At 0 degrees, they practically do not show any signs of activity and fall into hibernation (in it they can stretch for several days).

Even in a small frost (-5-8) they can live no more than half an hour. With a further decrease in temperature, die in a matter of minutes.

Nits are slightly more resistant to such conditions, because they are protected by a special shell. It protects lice not only from thermal effects, but also insecticides, which are part of modern drugs for pediculosis.

Another question is that at this time they will be less active and it will be much easier to separate them from the hair.

Heat

High temperatures affect lice just like cold. They very poorly tolerate dry, hot air and at a temperature of 40-45 degrees cease to multiply.

At + 50 ° C they die within 1 hour. If the temperature effects on lice are short-lived, then they can survive at + 60 ° C.

To destroy these parasites and their larvae, clothes are washed at + 70 ° C and above. This allows you to destroy not only adults, but also eggs of parasites.

This method is most effective against clothes (lingerie) lice. They do not live on a person, but hide in clothes that they wear more than 1 time per week.

Folk recipes

Lice are very afraid of the effects of vinegar, kerosene, hellebore, geranium oil, cranberry juice and other folk recipes that have been used to kill these parasites for decades.

This means that for the complete destruction of pests will have to carry out several procedures with a frequency of 8-10 days. This time interval is necessary for all lice larvae to hatch from the eggs, which will then be treated with various substances.

What lice are not afraid of

Despite many misconceptions, no conspiracies, prayers and amulets will help get rid of lice. This is nothing more than self-hypnosis and such methods do not have any effect on insects.