Pantry items may not be the first thing that comes to mind if you need to treat hair lice; however, heavy, oil-based food products such as olive oil, cooking oil and mayonnaise are common old wives' remedies used to treat this parasitic infestation (which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes is called "pediculosis"). These treatment methods do not have the support of medical experts and are considered alternative in nature. If you plan to use mayonnaise for hair lice, follow the procedures outlined by public health professionals.
More About Head Lice
Hair lice infestations are common in school children, says the American Academy of Dermatology, but if your child has lice, this isn't a sign of poor hygiene. On the contrary, head lice prefer your child's clean hair over that which is dirty. Live, adult lice are around 2.1 to 3.3mm long, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lice lay their eggs (nits) close to the scalp; nits are problematic to remove, as they cling tightly to the hair shaft. Lice are spread by close, head-to-head contact, says the CDC, and they can only be spread from one human to another--pets don't cause lice. Although generally not harmful to your child's heath, his head might itch. If he scratches at his scalp too much, this could cause infection, cautions the AAD.
Conventional Treatment vs. Mayonnaise
The first-line treatment for children over the age of two is use of a nonprescription medical treatment called a pediculicide, says the CDC. These topical treatments, which typically contain pyrethrin or permethrin, have properties similar to an insecticide. Mayonnaise acts as a "smothering" agent which many people often turn to when conventional treatments fail or they don't want to use toxic substances, says the Minnesota Department of Health. Although the Minnesota Department of Health doesn't recommend mayonnaise for lice--or a similar suffocating agent--it does provide instruction on how this method is commonly used.
Mayonnaise Treatment
Apply mayonnaise liberally to the hair, says the Minnesota Department of Health, making sure the entire scalp and hair is coated. Cover the head with a shower cap and leave on for eight hours. It's unwise to use mayonnaise treatment during sleep, as the shower cap may cause the person being treated to suffocate--along with the lice. Take off the cap and shampoo the hair thoroughly. The Minnesota Department of Health surmises that a degreasing agent, such as Dawn dishwashing detergent, may be helpful. Proceed to wet comb the hair.
Wet Combing
Wet combing is an important second step to ensure that viable nits and remaining live lice are removed from the hair. You can use a fine-toothed lice comb, a flea comb used for pets or your fingernails, but combing is most efficient. Use a strong overhead light so you can get every nit and louse in sight. The Minnesota Department of Health advises tackling no more than a 1-inch-wide segment of damp hair at a time, placing the comb as close to the scalp as possible before running it through the hair. Wipe the comb on tissue paper or dip it in rubbing alcohol when several nits have been trapped by the teeth. Rinse thoroughly after wet combing to make sure no Mayonnaise remains in the hair.
Environmental Control
The CDC notes that hair lice are most commonly spread through close contact, but they can fall off the head and linger in personal belongings and the environment for up to two days. Machine wash clothing, bedding, towels and other items in hot soapy water and dry on high heat. Anything that cannot be washed (such as stuffed toys and down pillows) can be stored in plastic containers for 2 weeks, says the CDC. Soak combs, brushes and barrettes in hot water for five to 10 minutes. Vacuum carpets, rugs and furniture well; remove the bag and dispose of it outside of the home immediately after you're through.
Mayonnaise Effectiveness
The Minnesota Department of Health notes that alternative home treatments for hair lice need to be repeated and advises another mayonnaise treatment between seven and 10 days after the first to make sure that newly hatched lice are treated. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of mayonnaise as a lice treatment cannot be gauged due to lack of scientific evidence, says the Minnesota Department of Health. The Harvard School of Public Health conducted a preliminary experiment using olive oil, another suffocant. Live lice removed from the oil after an hour recovered, but those submerged for two hours died. The Harvard School of Public Health states that these results should not be used as solid evidence that olive oil is an effective treatment and does not recommend an oil-based suffocating agent to treat head lice.
