• Head Lice Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • 1 What are the chances of getting back the lice once it is completely gone?

    Yes definitely if one again comes in contact with the person affected with lice then they can easily get re-infected. And even if a single nit still active in head can take you back to beginning of never ending itch scratch cycle. However with homeopathic treatment this recurrence can be prevented.

  • 2 Is there any particular diet for Lice?

    No, there is no particular diet. Maintain a healthy balanced diet to boost the immunity.

    Take a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. A diet rich in proteins prevents breakage of hair due to lice infestation.

  • 3 My elder daughter of 12 years has lice. What else can I do to deal with lice and make sure it does not affect my younger 9 year old daughter too?

    It is very essential to maintain a clean environment, so that lice do not get opportunities to breed and spread. Maintaining a very good personal hygiene is also important. Having bath daily, wearing washed and clean clothes, etc. are simple steps that go a long way in preventing a host of infections, including lice.

    Washing your hair at least twice a week ensures hair care along with regular application of oil.

    Nails should be trimmed regularly. Long nails can aggravate pain while scratching and precipitate secondary infection.

    Minimize sharing of combs, towels and clothes among each other.

    Person with lice should minimize physical contact with other people.

  • 4 What are special procedures or techniques that can be done alongside homeopathic treatment? Are there any special instruments or combs to help this condition?

    The age old nit picking procedure can be done if there are few nits here and there, and special lice combs in which the teeth of the comb are nearer and smaller than the usual combs are easily available in the market.

    It is better to apply the oils and then do the combing as the nits and lice become weak and easily loosen from the strands of the hair. You can also try applying tea tree oil as it is quite effective due to its anti-microbial properties. However, it does not have any residual action (protection against recurrence) and many people may be allergic to it. It is better to do a patch test before using it. Alternatively you can use olive/ almond/coconut oil as a base oil to which you can add 4-5 drops of tea tree oil.

    You can also try blow drying the hair help as it dehydrates the lice due to heat and injure them. But, it has its downside too, because hair tends to become very dry and brittle. Also do take a proper homeopathic treatment to get rid of them permanently.

    To get more information about general treatment of lice from our expert doctors, click on Treatment

  • 5 My 7 year old daughter has lice since she was 4. How can homeopathy help her become free of these scavengers?

    Homeopathy works wonders in the treatment of head lice because it is non-toxic and has no side effects. Homeopathic medicines work fantastic in both acute and chronic cases of lice. And the added benefit here is that it is also boosting the immunity of the person.

    Homeopathy also greatly helps in preventing the recurrence of this nuisance. Even after another round of exposure to lice from other people occurs, the person may not get lice because of the strong immunity. Plus, your child will love taking these sweet pills.

  • 6 Are there any safer ways to deal with Lice?

    Lice need to be treated both medically as well as mechanically in the form of some easy procedures and techniques.

    Homeopathic treatment is the safest mode of treatment for lice. It is seen that lice does not occur just any children. Often children with weak immunity tend to get lice. There is a certain predisposition in these children to be affected with life.

    Homeopathy helps in treating this predisposition and strengthening the immune system of the patient.

  • 7 Are there any shampoos or oils available to get rid of lice?

    There are many medicated shampoos, oils and lotions available for lice in the market. They are not much helpful as the nits/eggs are not affected by these chemicals. So these nits just grow to form lice which in turn produce many eggs.

    Hair needs to be re-treated every week with these medicated shampoos.

    However these so called medicated shampoos and lotions contain very harmful chemicals called Pyrethrum and Malathion. Any local application on skin gets absorbed in the blood circulation within 26 seconds.

    Imagine, now, these chemicals can directly enter your child's blood stream and can disturb the bodily functions. Plus, this treatment is also not a long lasting one as the moment it is stopped, and when there is another exposure to lice, they are all over the head once again.

  • 8 What should be done to prevent lice?

    Maintenance of good personal hygiene is absolutely necessary. Sharing pillows and combs of friends and relatives, head to head contact with friends who are affected with lice should be completely avoided.

    Hair should be plated tight as loose hair easily catches lice.

    If a member of the family is already suffering from lice, it is advised that the entire family does lice combing regularly.

  • 9 What happens when they increase?

    They actually spread like fire in the forest. Each louse lays 5-6 eggs a day and they hatch in a periods of 8-9 days. Gradually each of them multiply to six times more and spread all over the head like a jet. If they are controlled at earlier stages then it becomes easy and if they increase, the itching increases and the skin become thick, rough and leathery can break open and cause wounds leading to various infections, lack of proper sleep and psychological disturbances, lack of concentration in studies and poor performance at work.

  • 10 Who is most likely to get affected with lice?

    Lice are more common in children. Girls are more prone than boys due to longer hair which makes it difficult to remove lice. Generally girls with lice have friends with lice too.

    Apart from that, poor personal hygiene, overcrowding and inadequa8te sanitation promote the spread and growth of lice infestation.

  • 11 How does one get infected with lice?

    Lice can easily spread through personal contact in the children while playing at school or at home, who are infested with head lice. Sharing of hair bands or head gear with people who are infected with lice can also spread lice.

    Using pillows, bed, carpet, etc. of the infected people also causes head lice infestation.

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