How To Get Rid Of Lice In South Africa

What are Lice?

The louse (plural: lice) is a parasite that attaches itself to human hair and feeds on human blood. The most prevalent kind of lice is head lice. An infestation with head lice is medically known as Pediculosis capitis.

Types of Lice

Common types of lice include head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.

Head lice

Head lice are obligate parasites. This means that they cannot survive without a human host. This species can live only on human hosts, so you cannot get them from your dog, cat, guinea pig, or any other kind of furry pet you may have.

Lice don’t have wings, so they can’t fly. They have six legs with claws at the ends — that’s how they attach themselves to hair.

Head lice can settle anywhere on the scalp, but they’re commonly found on hairs at the back of the neck and around the ears, where it’s warmest.

Body lice

Body lice are slightly different from head lice because they lay their eggs on clothing instead of on the body. Body lice also live in clothing and only move onto the body to feed. Body lice can carry a number of diseases, such as:

louse-borne typhus
relapsing fever
trench fever

Body lice are the only kind of lice known to spread disease.

Pubic lice

Pubic lice are a species of lice with large front legs, making them resemble crabs underneath a microscope. They are the smallest type of lice. Pubic lice are nicknamed “crabs” and are usually transmitted from one person to another during sexual activity. They live in the hair of their host’s genital area and can cause itching.

How To Get Rid Of Lice In South Africa

Most treatments include a topical spray or shampoo, as well as a fine-toothed nit comb, to enable you to comb the nits out of the hair. Clicks stocks a wide range of over-the-counter lice remedies. Ask your Clicks Pharmacist to recommend one that is best suited to your needs, as some can only be used on older children.

Here’s how to remove these insects once and for all:

Start by placing a white towel over your child’s shoulders.
Wet their hair thoroughly and then apply the treatment, taking care to follow the dosage instructions carefully.
Part the hair into sections and use the nit comb to carefully comb through each section of hair. Make sure you wipe off the comb on the towel after each combing motion. This will allow you to spot any nits that have come off with the comb.
After combing through the hair, leave it to dry naturally. Don’t use a hairdryer, as some lice treatments are flammable.
Don’t wash the hair for two days after you’ve treated it.
It may be necessary to repeat this process every three to four days.
Once you’ve got rid of all the lice and nits, try using a shampoo or conditioner containing tea tree or rosemary extracts to ward off new infestations because lice dislike these scents.

Try these lice remedies

Controlice Oil Spray and Controlice Head Rinse are natural lice remedies, which use essential oils to deter lice. The Controlice Lice Comb comes with its own magnifying glass to help you spot nits and lice.
Paranix Spray and Paranix Shampoo both come packaged with their own combs. Paranix Head Lice Repellant is a leave-in spray that can be applied to the hair to prevent new infestations.

Treat your home too

Lice can survive for short periods of time on items such as bedding, hairbrushes, hats, hairbands and upholstery. Wash all items that you can in a hot wash (60°C is ideal), and soak combs and brushes in boiling water.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What gets rid of lice the fastest?

Use heat. Wash any items used or worn by the person in hot water, and dry them on high heat. Lice and nits die when exposed to temperatures higher than 130 F for more than 5 minutes. Wash anything that touched the person’s skin or scalp, including jackets, hats, scarves, pillowcases, sheets, and headbands

How do you get rid of lice fast and permanently?

Clean all combs, brushes and hair accessories in hot water – at least 65°C. Wash all hats, pillowcases, cuddly toys in very hot water too, and then stick them in the dryer for at least 15 minutes. Place all non-washable items that may have come into contact with the lice in an airtight plastic bag for a few days.

How do you get rid of lice fast at home?

Wash any lice-infested item in hot water that is at least 130°F (54°C), put it in a hot dryer for 15 minutes or more, or placing the item in an air-tight plastic bag and leaving it for two weeks to kill the lice and any nits. You can also vacuum floors and furniture where lice may have fallen.

What happens if you don’t treat lice?

Untreated head lice may degrade the scalp and affects it health and that of the hair. If the follicles become blocked, then hair loss may occur. It is hard to have well-conditioned hair if it is covered in head lice eggs, lice and bacteria.

Why does my daughter keep getting lice?

There are two reasons for a recurrent lice infestation: The lice treatment you used didn’t work. You or someone in your family came in contact with lice again

What causes lice in the hair?

Items shared among friends or family members. These may include clothing, headphones, brushes, combs, hair decorations, towels, blankets, pillows and stuffed toys. Contact with contaminated furniture. Lying on a bed or sitting in overstuffed, cloth-covered furniture recently used by someone with lice can spread them.

Can lice survive a hair dryer?

There are recent studies that show that treatment of lice with heat can be quite effective in killing head lice. Products such as Lousebuster are very effective but even a home hairdryer can successfully treat lice.

How long do lice live on mattress?

Just like with mattresses, lice can only live on any bedding—whether it’s sheets, pillows, or comforters—for 1-2 days. Without a human scalp as a source for food (blood) for longer than 1-2 days, lice cannot survive.

Can lice go inside your ear?

You can find head lice on the scalp, neck, and ears. Body lice start out on clothing or in beds, but they move from those locations to people’s skin. Pubic lice are also called “crabs.” You can find them on pubic hair and skin.

How do you get rid of lice in long thick hair?

Going to the local drug store to pick up a lice shampoo is a popular option for treating lice no matter how thick the hair of the infested child. The problem with these products is that the pesticides in them have been used for so long that many lice have adapted to them.

Can you feel lice in your hair?

If you have lice, you might actually be able to feel the bugs crawling on your scalp. According to Healthline, lice can cause the sensation of something moving on or tickling your head. If you’re concerned your child has lice, ask them if they notice this sensation.

What time of year are head lice most common?

These children often spread lice to their families at home. The peak season for lice infestation is August through October and again in January. Head lice are tiny parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Lice come in three forms: nits (eggs), nymphs (baby lice), and adults.