Getting Rid of Gooey Lice Remedy
Desperate parents are willing to try almost anything to rid their children of lice. Lice shampoo and nit combs are staples of the school year, but unfortunately in the past decade or so, lice have developed resistance to many of the lice shampoos.
The latest prescription product approved to treat lice is Ulesfia, a benzyl alcohol formulation that smothers the critters. It is pricey, though, at $45 for a bottle that is enough to treat one head of short hair. For long hair, you may need two or three bottles for a single treatment.
It is no wonder that home remedies to smother lice have become popular. In one version, the cleanser Cetaphil is used to drench the hair. Use a blow dryer to create a hard “shell” which is left on overnight. Shampoo it out in the morning.
One last resort remedy to suffocate lice is old-fashioned petroleum jelly. Let us warn you, though, that Vaseline is extremely difficult to get out of the hair. Here are some tactics parents have tried: “My toddler ‘washed’ her hair with Neosporin. I discovered that using Dawn dishwashing liquid cut through the greasy mess. It worked later to remove Vaseline that was used to remove bubble gum from her hair.”
The most complete advice comes from the mother who initially wrote us about Vaseline back in 1997: “Treat the head lice by coating the children’s hair with Vaseline overnight (with a shower cap). Remove the Vaseline as follows:
“1. Use baby oil to remove the Vaseline in the hair.
“2. Shampoo the hair as many times as necessary with a cheap dish detergent (no lotions) to cut through the baby oil.
“Dish detergent can sting the eyes so be very careful to make sure your child closes and covers the eyes with a wash cloth.
“The most frustrating thing about my experience was that I contacted the CDC and was told that some strains of lice had developed resistance, but not in this country. I was following all the instructions properly and being treated as if I was not doing anything right. Just a few years later the CDC announced that they were finding head lice resistant to common chemical treatments in the US.”
Another person shared his advice:
“I had an experience with motor oil, which has properties similar to petroleum jelly. Never mind how I managed to get motor oil in my hair but I will give one word of advice: Most motor oil comes in screw-cap bottles these days. USE THE CAP!
“After getting motor oil in my hair, I took a shower immediately and tried to wash the stuff out. It didn’t work very well and there was quite an oily residue remaining. Then I remembered Campsuds, a camping soap manufactured by Sierra Dawn products. I’ve used the stuff for 30 years and found that it works as a shampoo as well as for cooking utensils.
“The claim is that it will cut grease, even in cold water, so I tried it on my oily hair. It worked and worked well! I washed, rinsed, and washed again, using water that was as hot as I could stand. This washing removed all the oil.”
Other products people have suggested for removing Vaseline include the mechanic’s hand cleanser, Goop, and plain old Ivory soap. We conclude that even Vaseline should not be used without first considering the consequences!
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- DP
If you want to spend more money find a theatrical or clown
makeup and buy stage makeup/greasepaint remover. It is basically a
thin baby oil. Kryolan, Ben Nye, Mehron, and Pro Face are brand
names.
My hairdresser recommended using unscented KY Gel in the hair;
cover hair with a shower cap, plastic wrap or plastic bag; leave in
over night and wash out- don’t forget to put on some gloves and
slip the remaining nits off of the hair shaft. KY Gel washes out
easily and has no fragrance so kids don’t go to school smelling
like mayo or any other product.
We use it to get motor oil, bearing grease, silicone, and all
kinds of stuff you’d never believe out of cats, kids and other nosy
farm animals (ala goats).
If you have a Whole Foods or other naturally focused store
nearby, grab some Charlie’s Soap liquid or all-purpose cleaner. It
will remove mayo, vaseline, motor oil, stage/clown make-up,
silicone lubricants, almost anything. It was created to remove oil
and gunk from textile machines and textiles – right here in NC.
Hello Everybody. The most effective solution to lice is hot
vinegar (any kind, I use the cheaper one). You might warm as much
as possible the vinegar and wash your head, scalp and hair with it,
without get burned. Then you wash your hair with your daily
shampoo, do not use conditioner; brush your hair with a comb to rid
of the dead lice and nits; then use your favorite conditioner. I’ve
experienced this remedy. It is the only one that has worked for
me.
It also doesn’t irritate the scalp, so itching doesn’t cause
more problems. Leaves the hair soft and not dried out- and is a lot
less expensive than lice shampoo. The gel also loosens the nits on
the hairshaft so they can be removed easily. My hairdresser used
this remedy on her daughter’s hair- so I trust the information and,
as a school principal, let my nurse know and she has successfully
recommended it to parents for years.
One more thing, wash your hair brush, pillows blankets with hot
water, because lice like to hide in your bed and personal
stuff.
Swimming year ’round solved the lice problem for us. I don’t
know if it’s the water, the chlorine, or combination.
You may need to use TWO or THREE applications of baby oil. It
needs to be worked well into the hair and Vaseline. Baby oil a safe
solvent for the Vaseline. Use cloth or paper towels to absorb the
diluted Vaseline / Baby oil mixture. Apply the second/third
application of baby oil and remove BEFORE shampooing. Then shampoo
with baby shampoo. Good luck.