There are many calls that parents dread, and one of them is the call from school stating their child has head lice. The mere mention of head lice can send any parent into a panic. These little white insects, no larger than the size of a grain of rice, creep and crawl through the hair depositing their nits (eggs) on the hair and scalp, according to KidsHealth. When a head lice infestation arises, reach for the mayo instead of a chemical lice treatment.
Identification
Mayonnaise is a combination of eggs, vinegar, lemon juice and heavy oil that gives it that thick creamy texture, according to Bon Appétit. Continuous whisking while adding the oil to the eggs, vinegar and lemon juice creates an emulsified suspension that does not separate because the combination of liquids are fully absorbed. Head lice are no match for this dense solution once it is on the head.
Function
Kits are available in grocery stores and pharmacies to help kill the head lice and remove their nits. Unfortunately, these kits contain small doses of chemical pesticides that not every parent is thrilled about putting on their child's head. Slathering mayonnaise on the hair and scalp is natural solution. Applied generously to the head, mayonnaise stops the head lice in their tracks, suffocating them until they die, according to the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine.
Features
Covering the hair completely with mayonnaise is key to suffocating the head lice. Plastic wrap or a tight fitting shower cap is then required to cover the mayonnaise and hair. Mayonnaise treatments must remain on the head for at least two hours to kill the lice. After the waiting period, a fine-toothed comb run through the hair removes the dead lice and their eggs, explains University of Florida IFAS Extension. Washing out the mayonnaise afterward is often difficult and may take several shampoos to remove the mayonnaise from the hair completely.
Prevention
Head lice can jump from head to head quite easily. In fact, head lice infestations are very contagious. Holistic Health News explains that tea tree oil can help keep head lice at bay. A few drops of tea tree oil applied to a comb, rubbed into the teeth, and used to comb the hair can spread the oil onto the hair and repel lice. Tea tree oil also works when added to shampoo. About three to five drops of tea tree oil for every 1 oz. of shampoo can also help prevent head lice from infesting the hair.
Misconceptions
Head lice living in the hair have nothing to do with hygiene. It does not mean that the person is dirty or unkempt. It is also important to mention that head lice do not jump, nor do they fly. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln also reveals that head lice do not carry diseases as some people may believe. There is no shame in head lice. Acquiring head lice is so common in children that schools often perform routine yearly checks of student's heads.
References
- KidsHealth: Head Lice
- Bon Appétit: Making Mayonnaise
- University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine: Scabies and Lice
- University of Florida IFAS Extension: Head Lice
- Holistic Health News: Pediculosis -- A Pesky Problem
- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Head Lice Information Packet for Schools
