How to Remove Lice Eggs from Hair

Destroy all adult lice. Removing lice eggs will be ineffective if adult lice are still alive and capable of breeding on the hair. As long as they are alive, new eggs will continue to appear in the hair. These eggs will hatch into lice, which grow up and lay more eggs, perpetuating the cycle. This endless loop will not be broken unless all adult lice are killed.

• Soaking hair in water for long periods cannot suffocate the lice. Studies show that lice will cling to the hair and scalp when submerged in water and can survive for several hours. Chlorine in swimming pool water is not strong enough to kill lice.
• To eliminate lice, you must wash your hair with a lice treatment shampoo. In severe cases, you should use prescription lice treatment shampoo as advised by a doctor.

Follow the shampoo instructions carefully. You can use Pyrethrum, a product derived from chrysanthemums, which contains pyrethrin, a natural insecticide. Pyrethrin targets the nervous system of lice, although lice have developed some resistance to this compound over time.

• Apply the shampoo to dry hair. Wait for ten minutes, then add water, lather, and rinse. Afterward, try removing the lice eggs, repeating the process 7-10 times to eliminate any remaining lice.

Another method involves suffocating the lice. While there is limited clinical research on the effectiveness of this approach, some people believe it works. They argue that certain products can clog the lice's breathing passages, causing them to suffocate. Lice may survive for hours but eventually die.

• Use pure wax extracted from kerosene, like Vaseline. Apply a thick layer of wax to your hair and scalp, keeping it on for 8 hours to suffocate the lice. It is recommended to wear a shower cap to minimize air exposure. Keep in mind that Vaseline is nearly impossible to remove from eggs.
• Some people advocate for using regular olive oil. They suggest that olive oil can clog the lice's breathing passages, leading to suffocation. Like Vaseline, you should apply the oil to your hair and scalp, wear a shower cap, and leave it on for about eight hours before washing it off. A benefit of olive oil is that it helps the eggs detach from the hair, making them easier to wash away.
• Mayonnaise may also prove effective. The large amount of oil in mayonnaise appears to suffocate the lice. Apply the mayonnaise to the hair and scalp in the same manner as Vaseline and olive oil. Evidence suggests that regular mayonnaise with high fat content is the most effective.

Prepare the scalp area for egg removal. Sit in a well-lit space, whether under natural light or a lamp, as lice eggs are tiny and stick to the hair near the scalp. Next, drape a towel over your shoulders to catch any fallen eggs or hair.

Rinse with water and vinegar. The eggs are coated in a sticky substance that helps them adhere to the hair follicles. Research has shown that vinegar contains chemicals that can dissolve the adhesive, preventing the eggs from sticking to the hair.

• Kneel by a basin, tilting your head under warm water. Wet your hair thoroughly, then turn off the water and pour a generous amount of vinegar over your hair, ensuring every strand is soaked. Afterward, rinse your hair with warm water.
• Alternatively, mix water and vinegar in a basin at a 1:1 ratio. Submerge your hair completely in the mixture by either tilting your head down or leaning backward.
• Use a dry conditioner to detangle your hair. Try to smooth the hair thoroughly to make it easier to comb out the lice eggs.

Start combing the hair to remove the eggs. If you're infested with lice, you'll need someone else to help you. You'll need a metal lice comb with fine, stiff teeth, which works better than plastic combs. In the United States, lice combs are available at pharmacies for less than $10. A magnifying glass is also helpful since the eggs are tiny and can be hard to spot.

• A significant number of eggs are washed out when using vinegar. However, other eggs may still stick to the wet hair. Handle small sections of hair at a time—about the width of the lice comb—and slowly comb through the entire head.

Clean the comb after each section of hair. After combing a section of hair, you must clean the comb in a bowl of soapy water. Then dry the comb with a paper towel, making sure to wipe off any lice and eggs stuck to the comb’s teeth.

Repeat the process until you've combed through the entire head. After combing each section of hair, pin it close to the side of the head to prevent lice or eggs from reattaching to that section.

Shampoo the hair. After you've finished combing out the eggs, it's a good idea to shampoo your hair again. By now, all the eggs and lice should be removed, but you may want to wash again to feel extra clean. Consider using a lice treatment shampoo to ensure all lice and eggs are eradicated.

• Once your hair is dry, inspect it for any signs of lice or eggs. If you find any lice remaining, you’ll need to repeat the entire process from the beginning.

Sanitize your equipment. Wash the bowl used for cleaning the comb, or soak it in boiling water for about 10 minutes. You should also soak your regular hair combs, hairpins, etc., in boiling water, along with the lice comb. Just remember to clean the hair and eggs off the combs first.

• Temperatures above 54°C can kill lice and eggs within 5-10 minutes.
• Alternatively, mix two cups of boiling water with one cup of ammonia. Dip the lice comb into the ammonia solution for 15 minutes, then clean it with an old toothbrush.
• Each family member should have their own lice comb.

Completely wet your hair with Listerine. Listerine or similar mouthwashes contain a high alcohol content that can kill lice and dissolve the bond between the eggs and hair follicles. While some natural remedy websites recommend this method, it’s important to note that medical websites advise against it. Be cautious, as the alcohol in Listerine can burn your eyes and cause pain if it comes into contact with open wounds. Children may accidentally swallow Listerine.

• If you choose to use Listerine, thoroughly saturate your hair and wear a shower cap for 30 minutes or longer to kill the lice. Repeat if necessary.
• You can also apply Listerine to your hair and cover your pillow with a towel (to avoid wetting the pillow) before going to sleep, and follow the remaining steps the next morning.

Shampoo with warm water and vinegar. After soaking your hair, rinse all the Listerine out with warm water, then apply a generous amount of vinegar to your hair to loosen the eggs.

• Follow the steps above, apply a leave-in conditioner or detangler, comb through your hair, and use a lice comb to go through each section to remove the eggs.

Sanitize your workspace and tools. Clean the lice comb in a bowl of soapy water or place it in the dishwasher to dry. Pour Listerine into a spray bottle and use it to spray the surrounding items. This will kill any lice and help prevent re-infestation.

• You can also wash clothes, towels, or bedding in hot water. Remember, maintaining high temperatures can kill both lice and their eggs.

Tránh tiếp xúc đầu với đầu. May mắn là độ cơ động của chấy không cao, chúng không thể nhảy và không tồn tại lâu sau khi rời đầu người. Cách lây lan phổ biến nhất chính là qua tiếp xúc trực tiếp đầu với đầu. Vì vậy đối với trẻ em chấy thường lây ở trường học, khi chơi thể thao hoặc ngủ lại ở nhà bạn. Với người lớn, chấy có thể lây khi bạn tiếp xúc với người yêu có chấy.

Tránh tiếp xúc với phụ kiện quần áo của người bị chấy, sản phẩm vệ sinh cá nhân và ga gối trải giường. Chấy không kiếm được thức ăn khi rời đầu người và sẽ chết đói trong 1-2 ngày. Nhưng bạn cũng nên thận trọng. Tránh tiếp xúc với các vật dụng là nơi chấy hay trứng có khả năng ẩn nấp.

• Những vật dụng này bao gồm mũ, nơ cột tóc, kẹp tóc, khăn quàng cổ, áo khoác và đồng phục. Không dùng chung những vật dụng này, dù là lược, bàn chải hay khăn tắm.
• Nhúng tất cả lược, bàn chải và khăn tắm trong nước nóng trên 54°C trong 10 phút để khử chấy.

Giặt tất cả quần áo, khăn tắm và vải vóc trong nước nóng. Vải trải giường, gối, thú nhồi bông đã qua sử dụng có thể giặt trong nước nóng và sấy khô với nhiệt độ cao để khử chấy. Xin nhắc lại là nước giặt phải nóng hơn 54°C. Nếu quần áo không thể giặt hoặc sấy trong nhiệt độ cao thì đem giặt khô hoặc bỏ vào túi nhựa kín trong hai tuần.

Hút bụi sàn nhà và các bề mặt. Chấy hoặc trứng thường rớt từ tóc của người nhiễm chấy xuống sàn nhà, đi văng hoặc thảm lót. Vì vậy nếu được bạn nên hút bụi với túi lọc HEPA để đảm bảo trứng chấy được giữ lại trong quá trình hút.

• Chấy và trứng trên các bề mặt sẽ không thể sống lâu nên thường không lây lan. Tuy nhiên bạn vẫn nên thận trọng bằng cách vệ sinh ngay khi có thể.

Cẩn thận với hóa chất mạnh. Không cần thiết sử dụng thuốc hun trùng và các hóa chất mạnh khác để loại trừ bọ chét và trứng chấy. Mối nguy hiểm khi hít phải hay tiếp xúc với các hóa chất này còn tác hại hơn mặt tốt của nó.

• Cho dù bạn có thể tiếp cận với các phương pháp sử dụng hóa chất, nên nhớ hiệu lực của chúng đã giảm nhiều do việc lạm dụng trong nhiều năm qua. Trong nhiều trường hợp, côn trùng đã phát triển khả năng miễn dịch với hóa chất.

• If you have a severe lice infestation, you may need to use prescription medication. If you've followed the steps outlined above multiple times but still find lice eggs, consider seeing a doctor.
• Avoid frequent head-to-head contact with someone who might be infected to prevent spreading the lice.

• Lice treatment shampoo
• Warm water
• Vinegar, mayonnaise, or Listerine
• Lice comb
• Towel
• Conditioner