By: Richard Bleuze
Although they may sound gross, lice (the plural of louse) are a very common problem, especially for kids ages 3 years to 12 years.
Lice aren't dangerous and they don't spread disease, but they are contagious, especially for school age children. Their bites may cause your child's scalp to become itchy and inflamed and persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.
Thus, you might consider using the following home remedy:
Add five to ten drops of pure tea tree oil to a shampoo and wash the child's hair, massaging the mixture thoroughly into the scalp. Do this every day until the eggs are removed. In addition, a few drops of the oil can be massaged into the scalp. Do not rinse out. To help sterilize and prevent further lice infestation, brushes, combs, bedding and towels may be soaked in a tea tree oil solution of 1/4 oz. of oil added to a tub of water. You may also wish to spray a dilution of tea tree oil in the clothes hamper to help control infestation.
Keep in mind that although tea tree oil is natural, that doesn't automatically make it safe. It can cause skin rashes in those prone to allergies, and it can be toxic if ingested. You'll want to keep it out of your children's reach, use it in reasonable quantities, and use your judgment as to whether it will be a good choice for your child.
You can buy a shampoo with tea tree oil in it should you not wish to try the above remedy.
