Just thinking about head lice makes some people start scratching their heads with a vengeance. And unfortunately, most families with young children experience head lice at one time or another. A variety of home remedies, including vinegar, is recommended for head lice. But before attacking those pesky little critters and their eggs, it's advisable to get as much information as possible.
The Facts
Head lice -- Pediculus humanus capitis -- are parasitic insects that infest humans and feed on their blood. Head lice infestations develop when adult lice lay eggs, or nits, on your scalp, using a sticky substance to secure the nits to the shaft of your hair strands. Generally yellow or white, these small, oval-shaped nits resemble dandruff or tiny grains of rice. Left in the scalp, the nits hatch within approximately a week and take about seven more days to grow into egg-laying adults. Lice typically die within two days of losing physical contact with their human hosts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Efficacy
Joan Sawyer, author of "Head Lice to Dead Lice," points out that anecdotal evidence suggests vinegar may help dissolve the glue that secures nits to the hair, but don't expect it to actually kill the lice. Unfortunately, few organized studies examine or definitively declare the effectiveness of this inexpensive home remedy, so be prepared to turn to other treatments if vinegar doesn't help get rid of the infestation.
Method
Michael DeJong, author of "Clean Cures," suggests that you soak your head in apple cider vinegar, wrap your hair with a towel and leave it in place overnight before rinsing the vinegar from your hair, repeating the process once daily until the lice are no longer present. If you would rather not have a wet head all night, Joey Green, author of "Joey Green's Amazing Kitchen Cures," recommends that you cover your hair with olive oil, leaving it in place for approximately two hours before a white vinegar head rinse and thorough comb-through with a nit comb. If you are concerned about the concentration of the vinegar, Lydia Wilen, co-author of "Healing Remedies," suggests diluting it with an equal amount of water.
Considerations
If you opt to use vinegar as a main part of your lice treatment program, consider taking extra measures to ensure that you get rid of the lice infestation completely. A thorough combing with a nit comb can help remove all the loosened lice eggs from your scalp. As a precaution, limit physical contact between the infested person and other family members up to a week after nit removal. Wash or soak personal items, such as combs, brushes, towels and bedding, stuffed toys, hats and clothes. Seal any hard-to-wash objects in plastic bags for approximately two weeks. For washing, use soap and hot water that's minimally 130 degrees Fahrenheit, as recommended by the Mayo Clinic.
Warning
According to the Centers for Disease Control, head lice commonly infest school-aged children, especially those between the ages of 3 and 11 years. Always ask your doctor before using vinegar or any other home remedy for head lice, especially if your child has recently been sick and may be affected by having a cold, wet head. Sawyer notes that vinegar could cause eye irritation; if your doctor does give you the go-ahead to use vinegar, keep the liquid away from your child's eyes. If your child has sensitive skin, consider testing several drops of the vinegar-water solution on her bare skin to ensure that she doesn't develop a reaction.
References
- CDC: Head Lice Life Cycle
- "Head Lice to Dead Lice"; Joan Sawyer & Roberta MacPhee; 1999
- "Clean Cures"; Michael DeJong; 2009
- "Joey Green's Amazing Kitchen Cures"; Joey Green; 2002
- MayoClinic.com: Head Lice Lifestyle and Home Remedies
