Effective Ointments for lice and nits - reviews and instructions for use

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Published: 07.12.2018

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Noticing severe itching, a large number of red dots on the body, in the groin or scalp, you should suspect head lice and look for an effective lice ointment. These drugs are available, effective, help to quickly get rid of parasites and their larvae.

Pharmacy products are safe, but they have contraindications, therefore, before starting to use, it is necessary to study the instructions in order to avoid strong adverse reactions.

... It destroys and sweeps out all known parasites from the body - from the brain and heart to the liver and intestines. None of the drugs existing today are capable of this.

Within the framework of the Federal program, upon filing an application until October 12. (inclusive) each resident of the Russian Federation and the CIS can receive one pack of Toximin IS FREE!

This is a drug with antiparasitic, antimicrobial action for external use. In addition to lice, it also destroys scabies mites.

Active substances practically do not penetrate into the systemic circulation, therefore the ointment is safe, negative reactions rarely occur. The tool can be used to treat children over 3 years old, the average price is 25-30 rubles.

The white substance has a slight specific odor.

For the treatment of children, a remedy with an active substance concentration of 10% is used, for adults - 20%.

The product must be applied to clean, dry strands and skin, gently rub in, remove the strands under a hat or kerchief, hold for half an hour, and with pubic lice - 10-15 minutes.

After that, it is enough to wash off the ointment, rinse the strands with a weak solution of vinegar, comb well with a fine comb. Repeat the procedure on the third and then on the seventh day. Further, the product should be applied as needed.

Pediculosis causes, symptoms, prevention

Head lice infestation is called head lice infestation.
Infection can be caused by a handshake, accidental contact, or traveling in crowded public transport.

Lice are also transmitted through personal belongings, so never lend your comb or hat, even to people you know, and try not to use other people's personal items.

Children are especially susceptible to the disease, outbreaks of head lice often occur in kindergartens, schools and summer camps. Often a child who becomes infected at school “brings” the parasites home.

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If preventive measures are not taken, after 1-2 weeks the whole family will be forced to urgently use drugs to remove lice.

The first symptom of head lice is an itchy scalp. When bitten by a louse, it releases poison, which causes irritation and inflammation, after a while scratches and crusts appear on the head.

If more than a week has passed after infection, then with a close examination you can distinguish accumulations of white bubbles in the root zone - these are nits, lice eggs.

It is the destruction of nits that is the main difficulty in the treatment of head lice. When laying eggs, the female secretes a viscous liquid, with the help of which the nits are attached to the surface of the hair.

It is thanks to this substance that nits are not washed out of the hair during normal washing.

For successful treatment of nits, it is imperative to comb it out with a medical comb, but getting rid of them without aids is quite problematic.

The most effective folk and pharmaceutical remedies for head lice contain substances that dissolve the sticky substance that covers the nits and make it easier to comb out.

For the prevention of head lice at home, some pharmacy products are used, in particular, pediculicidal shampoos and sprays without toxic additives.

The most effective folk remedies for prevention are essential oils.

Lice cannot stand the smell of anise, lavender and tea tree, so to prevent infestation, hair and headgear can be treated with ethers of these plants.

Reviews about this method of protection against lice are mostly positive.

What is head lice

Pediculosis is a parasitic disease caused by head lice. These insects live on skin or clothing. The disease is widespread, especially among children. There are several types of parasites of this type:

head louse - a parasite on the scalp;
body louse - lives and lays eggs in the folds and seams of linen or clothes, moves to the skin to eat;
pubic louse - lives in the pubic area, less often in the armpits, on the chest, in the beard.

Signs of infection

The first signs of lice infestation are determined after 4–5 weeks. You can determine head lice by the following symptoms:

Severe itching of the skin at the site of infection. With head lice, itching is felt on the scalp behind the ears, on the back of the head, or on the temples. The whole body itches when wearing a dress. With pubic lice (phthiriasis), itching and burning are felt in the groin or axillary region.
Disturbed sleep at night due to increased itching.
Skin rashes that appear several days after infection. With head lice, a rash is found along the edge of the scalp. Body lice bites cause rashes on all parts of the body. Pubic lice leave traces in the form of spots of a bluish shade up to 1 cm in size. Such spots are localized on the abdomen or thighs.
The appearance of traces of combs.
With prolonged infection, the combs become covered with purulent crusts.
Nits (lice eggs) are one of the main signs of head lice. Laying eggs means the insects are comfortable enough. In appearance, nits resemble silvery bubbles, tightly attached to the hair.

Differentiation from similar conditions

Lice infestation must be distinguished from seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff). There are several characteristic signs by which these 2 diseases can be recognized:

In both cases, the patient experiences severe itching. But if you scratch your head, the itching with seborrhea will quickly subside, and with head lice it will only intensify.
Dandruff particles are easily separated from the skin by brushing or shaking the head and fall on clothing. With head lice, the eggs are tightly glued to the hair, and it will take some effort to remove them.
The eggs are always about the same size - about 1 mm. Dandruff flakes can vary in size from 1 to 5 mm.
If you press down on a live egg, a click will be heard. When you press on the seborrheic scales, no sounds will be heard.
The number of nits at the very beginning of infection is small, and only over time is it possible to intensively colonize the entire head. Dandruff appears immediately in large numbers.
If you look at nits and dandruff under a magnifying glass, you can see structural differences. The egg is translucent; inside you can see a living creature. The empty shell of the egg is yellowish or gray in color. Dandruff is always white and irregular in shape.

contact - with close physical interaction with a person with pediculosis;
household - infection occurs through clothing or household items;
sexual - after sexual contact with a carrier (typical for phthiriasis);
through the water in places where there is a mass bathing.

Kerosene

Kerosene-based remedies for getting rid of lice at home are very popular. This remedy helps to quickly and effectively cure head lice in children and adults. It also has relatively few contraindications.

However, there is a possibility of scalp burns with this composition. Therefore, in order to get rid of head lice at home, kerosene must be mixed with any vegetable oil (preferably olive or burdock), in a ratio of 1 to 12.

How to get rid of head lice with this mixture? The composition must be evenly applied over the entire length of the hair, as well as on the scalp. Wrap your head and hair in foil to restrict oxygen access to them. From above you can put on a hat, wrap your head with a scarf. Leave this mask for head lice overnight.

In the morning you need to wash your hair. It is better to use gentle and mild shampoos for this. After washing, comb through hair thoroughly with a fine comb dipped in vinegar solution.

Another way to get rid of insects quickly is to mix with green soap. This remedy is less popular than the previous one, as it is more difficult to prepare.

In order to fight head lice at home, you need to do the following:

Mix kerosene, green soap and hot water in proportions 4 to 3 to 2.5;
Apply the composition to the hair and skin evenly;
Cover your hair with plastic wrap or foil;
Wrap your head with a towel, a scarf or put on a hat;
Withstand the mask for 15 minutes;
Then wash it off with a dry hair shampoo;
Comb the hair with a fine comb in order to quickly and effectively comb out dead insects from the hair.

Although the use of kerosene is an effective and simple way to treat head lice at home, nevertheless, not everyone can apply the method. Contraindication to it is sensitive scalp.

Also, kerosene should not be used in the presence of wounds and injuries on the skin, as well as in young children (up to 3-5 years old). Sometimes there are restrictions on such treatment of head lice at home in pregnant women. They should consult a doctor before using the composition.

Anti-lice oils

This product blocks the way for oxygen:

insects cannot breathe and die.

Any vegetable oil will do:

olive (benefits and harms, how to take),
mustard (the benefits of hair oil are written here),
corn,
sunflower (find out about the composition of unrefined here).

They are profusely smeared with hair, then wrapping with a film, for two hours. The oil has a double function - it clogs the airways of the parasite and makes it easier to comb out at the end of the procedure.

Tea tree oil

To prepare a medicinal mixture, you will need:

30 ml of alcohol (medical);
25 drops of oil;
20 ml of water.

Everything is mixed and applied to the head.
The hair is covered with a film, washed after 2 hours with shampoo.

Lice are combed out with a fine comb.

The procedure is repeated until the insects are completely removed, remembering that the oil does not kill them, but temporarily paralyzes them.

Geranium oil

It is believed that bloodsuckers are afraid of the peculiar aroma exuded by this flower.

A few drops of essential oil are combined with burdock, the composition is applied to the hair, wrapped in polyethylene. Wash off with shampoo and comb out the nits.

In addition to geranium and tea tree oil, you can take essential oils:

peppermint,
lavender,
plantain,
cypress,
rosemary (about the medicinal properties and contraindications is written here),
lemon,
calendula,
sage,
carnations and agave.

Lice and nits shampoos for children

Paranit

The good thing about the available shampoo is that it has a double effect. Adults are destroyed, the larvae become unviable. There are no toxic insecticidal additives in the composition. The shampoo comes with a scallop.Used from 3 years old. Thanks to Paranit shampoo, you can get rid of parasites in 10 minutes.

Paranit

Tar shampoo

The detergent has a beneficial effect on the scalp and heals it. Shampoo with natural tar makes the treatment of head lice more comfortable. Scratches and wounds on the skin do not become inflamed, and unpleasant sensations do not appear. The phenols in the composition help get rid of nits and lice faster.

Nok

The composition contains an effective insecticide - permethrin. Parasites are paralyzed without the possibility of survival. The anti-nit remedy also works, they are quickly rendered harmless. The exposure time of the product on the head is 10-40 minutes. Judging by the reviews, 70% of users recover from head lice the first time. The remaining 30% of users achieve the desired result after repeated sessions. Can be used in children from 2.5 years of age. Shampoo is contraindicated in people with pyrethrin intolerance.

Meadow shampoo

Detergent with herbal extracts formulated to treat animal skin parasites. The shampoo is said to have worked well for humans as well. The fact is that sometimes a reliable tool is required that disinfects the head in one go. Whether or not to use this shampoo for children is up to each parent to decide for himself, he takes responsibility for the result. In any case, this is an aggressive remedy and it is worth considering carefully whether it is worth the risk.

Pedilin

The shampoo works well with the vulnerable skin of children. Perhaps this is the best remedy for head lice for the little ones. An amazing cleansing effect is achieved due to the substance melation. It works against parasites at any stage of development. The active ingredients kill nits by penetrating through their strong shell. It is necessary to follow the instructions, as if used incorrectly, side effects occur.

Suitable for children

Lice can even develop in the hair of young children. This usually happens when visiting gardens and nurseries. It is forbidden to resort to potent drugs containing toxic substances for the treatment of children.

There are several remedies for the disease that do not affect the state of the child's body. They are made from permethrin and malathion. Usually children are treated with cream:

Nyx. It is allowed to be used for children from six months.
Lauri, Pedex is suitable for babies from one year old.
Pedilin. The medicine is prescribed after 2.5 years.

You should not expect a quick result from such funds. After the first use, the hair is combed out thoroughly and the procedure is repeated once a week. This should be done until you can completely cope with lice and nits.

The effectiveness of the remedy against lice and nits

In folk medicine, the most common and effective remedy against lice (and their eggs - nits) is mercury ointment, this is no secret to anyone. It has a strong toxic effect and cannot be considered safe for humans, but it is precisely because of its “harmfulness” that it is so effective against parasites. How to use: shave and wash the treated area, apply a thin layer of ointment, rub in. This procedure must be repeated within 1 week 2p. in a day. Due to the method of application, most often with mercury ointment they fight pubic lice, parasites on the head are destroyed in other ways.

Boric ointment can be used instead of mercury ointment. The method of application and action are the same. It is safer than mercury, but unfortunately, it is also much less effective.

Boric acid: instructions for use

Regardless of the dosage form, Boric acid is used only externally. It is applied to the area of localization of the infectious inflammatory process. There are such methods of using various dosage forms of the drug:

Alcohol solutions of 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% are used in the form of drops in the ear for acute and chronic otitis media (turundas / small narrow gauze swabs / moistened with a solution are injected into the ear canal), as well as for the treatment of affected areas skin with pyoderma (purulent inflammation of the skin), eczema, diaper rash. After operations on the middle ear, sometimes they use insufflation (blowing with a powder blower) of boric acid powder.
It is prescribed in the form of a 2% aqueous solution for washing the conjunctival sac (the cavity between the posterior surface of the eyelids and the anterior surface of the eyeball) for conjunctivitis (inflammation of the outer membrane of the eye); A 3% solution is used for lotions for weeping eczema, dermatitis (skin inflammation).
For pediculosis, 10-25 g of 5% ointment is applied once to the scalp, after 20-30 minutes, washed off with warm water, carefully combed out with a comb; for dry and cracked skin, the ointment is applied to the skin as needed.
A solution of 10% in glycerin is used to lubricate the affected areas of the skin during diaper rash, as well as colpitis (inflammation of the vagina).

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Ointment - applied to the mucous membranes in a uniform thin layer, with conjunctivitis, a small amount of ointment is placed under the conjunctival sac. The ointment is applied 2 times a day.

For dermatitis and weeping eczema, lotions are used using a 3% aqueous solution, which is prepared from a powder according to an extemporal formulation (i.e. immediately before use, in Latin - extempore).

In ophthalmology, a two percent solution is used to flush the cavity of the conjunctival sac of the eye.

In gynecology, powder is used for disinfecting vaginal douching. To do this, a tablespoon of boric acid is diluted in a liter of warm water (the optimum temperature is 37-40 degrees Celsius).

During the procedure, a woman should lie with bent knees, legs apart on a bed or couch. Esmarch's mug is filled with the required volume of fluid and suspended so that it is approximately 75 cm above the level of the vagina (this will provide a weak flow of fluid during douching).

After the air is released from the tube, insert the tip into the vagina to a depth of 5-6 cm and open the clamp.

For greater efficiency after the procedure, you should remain in the supine position for some time. At the beginning, douching is carried out twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, as the patient's condition improves, the number of procedures is gradually reduced: first to 1 per day, then to 3, 2 and 1 per week.

Alcohol solution, according to the instructions, is prescribed for the treatment of skin affected by eczema or pyoderma, as well as - in the form of drops or soaked in a solution of turunda - for otitis media. The duration of the course is usually 3-5 days.

To prepare an aqueous solution, use 3 grams of Boric acid in powder and 4-5 tablespoons of hot boiled water.

When the medicine cools down to room temperature, soak a gauze pad and cover the affected area of the skin.

For ears Boric acid in powder is used for insufflation (blowing) after surgical treatment of diseases of the middle ear.

Before treating the ear, it is necessary to clean the ear canal and the outer part of the ear from earwax and impurities with a piece of bandage soaked in 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or with a cotton swab.

It is also allowed to simply inject a few drops of peroxide into the ear, gently rub the auricle at the base of the tragus and, turning the patient's head to one side, remove all secretions from it.

Before instilling the boric acid solution into the ear, it must be preheated to body temperature. The patient's head is placed with the sore ear up, and then 3-4 drops of medicine are injected into the ear canal with a pipette.In order for the drug to be evenly distributed in the ear, you need to lie down with your ear up for 10 minutes.

The remains of the solution are removed from the outer part of the ear with a dry cotton swab. If necessary, boric acid is instilled into the other ear.

During the day, the procedure is repeated 3 to 5 times. The course usually lasts no more than 1 week and sometimes - according to indications - treatment is supplemented with the appointment of antibacterial agents for topical use. The latter are instilled into the ear canal one hour after the introduction of a solution of Boric acid into the ear.

In some situations, to prolong the effect of the drug, the doctor may recommend putting gauze flagella (turunda) soaked in a solution into the ear at night.

The use of Boric acid for acne is recommended for people with oily skin. For dry and sensitive skin, the product can be somewhat aggressive due to its drying effect.

To disinfect pores, remove blackheads and excess sebum, you need to apply the solution to a cotton swab twice a day and wipe problem areas with it.

Girls who used Boric acid for acne - reviews and photos are convincing confirmation - note that in the first days the skin condition often worsens, but after 5-7 days of regular use, the face is noticeably cleared, and the skin becomes smoother and smoother.

When the number of pimples and blackheads decreases, you can switch to a single wipe of the skin, point use of the solution.

The product is suitable for systematic care, since the effect of skin addiction to Boric acid is absent.

For the face, the solution can be used both in pure form and as part of "talkers". One of the most beloved by cosmetologists is a “talker” based on Levomycetin (2 g), Bornoi Salicylic acid (2 g each), 95% alcohol (up to 100 ml).

To prepare another “talker” for a face with problem skin, you should mix purified sulfur and Streptocide (7 g each) with Salicylic and Boric acid (50 ml each).

The use of boric acid in traditional medicine is indicated for otitis media, conjunctivitis, and a number of skin diseases. In folk medicine, the drug is also used as a remedy for sweating feet and for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.

Treatment of pityriasis or multi-colored (beach) lichen is carried out in a ten-day course, daily lubricating the affected skin areas with a solution of boric acid powder twice a day.

To prepare the medicine, pour 1 teaspoon of the powder with a glass of hot water and dissolve it until the solution is completely saturated (until the powder stops diluting and crystals fall out).

With hyperhidrosis, boric acid powder is abundantly sprinkled on the fingers and soles of the feet. To wash off the remnants of crystals, feet are washed every evening with warm water. To eliminate the unpleasant odor, 2 weeks of regular use of the drug is usually enough.

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Wikipedia points out that the applications for boric acid are very diverse.

In agriculture, it is used as a fertilizer (especially, the value of boron fertilization for grapes is great), as well as for spraying tomatoes and a number of other crops.

In laboratories, the substance is used to prepare buffer solutions, in nuclear reactors - as a neutron absorber dissolved in a coolant, in photography - as part of solutions and gels for developing and fixing a photographic image, in the food industry of some countries - as a preservative E284.

In foundries, boric acid acts as a link in acidic furnace lining and protects against jet oxidation when casting magnesium-based alloys. Jewelers add it to soldering fluxes.

In everyday life, boric acid is used to kill cockroaches and ants. In addition, it is used for fishing: it is mixed with bread and thrown to fish for feeding. According to the fishermen, the fish "gets drunk" from such a treat and floats to the surface.

Combs

When they talk about means to get rid of lice and nits, of course, they mention various shampoos, sprays, ointments. But the most effective anti-lice remedy is a comb. No matter how effective the agent used may seem, at the end of the procedure for its application, it is still required to carefully comb out the dead parasites and nits from the hair.

It is also possible to call a comb for combing out lice and nits one of the best tools in the fight against head lice because this method has a lot of advantages. They are as follows:

the comb does not pose a health hazard;
does not adversely affect hair or scalp;
does not provoke the occurrence of allergic manifestations;
can be applied an unlimited number of times;
has no age restrictions.

This remedy for getting rid of lice and nits can be used by everyone, without exception:

pregnant women;
elderly people and children;
allergy sufferers.

There are still disadvantages to this means of removing lice. Firstly, the main disadvantage of this method of getting rid of parasites is the high time required. It will take a long time to comb out live lice with a comb, but this may be necessary, for example, when the use of other means for the destruction of arthropods for various reasons becomes impossible.

Secondly, you will not be able to comb out the parasites with a comb yourself. When choosing this remedy for the treatment of head lice, help is needed.

Thirdly, a real high-quality comb, which has frequent teeth that do not move apart, can even cost more than an effective shampoo.

You also need to use the comb properly. To do this, before combing out, the head is treated with a special agent or washed with ordinary shampoo. You need to comb out lice and nits carefully - lock by lock. After each combing, the comb should be wiped with a napkin or rinsed with a stream of water to remove nits and lice corpses from it.

Precautions

During the treatment of head lice, in order to avoid unpleasant reactions of the body, it is necessary to use the medicines for lice correctly. First, you should study the instructions in order to avoid mistakes in therapy. In the process of processing the skin, you need to follow these recommendations:

avoid that the drug gets on the mucous membranes of the nasal and oral cavity, eyes and external genital organs;
carry out processing in protective gloves;
after application, thoroughly wash off the remnants of the preparation
at the end of the treatment, ventilate the room.

Expert opinion

Sidorenko Veronika Leonidovna

Candidate of Medical Sciences, St. Petersburg Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Pasteur.

If sulfuric ointment from lice or other medications have caused a negative reaction of the body, you should consult a doctor.

What are we doing wrong, how to fix mistakes

Why don't aerosols and shampoos help? The fact is that shampoos are more suitable for prevention than for treatment, since they are in contact with the hair and scalp for a short time.
Aerosols (such as Pedikulen Ultra, Nyuda, Paranit, Para plus), in turn, are difficult to apply evenly over the entire head, without getting into the eyes or mouth, so we, to play it safe, try not to spray these products close to face, skipping because of this place of accumulation of parasites.

But it is convenient to use the ointment, it will not get into the eyes or into the mouth by accident, it will provide long-term contact with the skin and hair.

That is why I advise you exactly these drugs against head lice. And about which creams are worth trying and how to use them, read below.

The principles of using traditional medicine against head lice

Some people think about whether it is advisable to use folk remedies against lice. This method of therapy is quite successful. In addition, only a few decades ago, for therapy with the appearance of nits and lice, non-specialized drugs were used, about which little was known, or they did not exist at all, but proven home recipes.

Using folk remedies has many benefits. Firstly, all the recipes are relatively cheap, since the components that are involved in them are quite affordable, and their price is low. In addition, everyone has many ingredients in the house.

Second is safety.

Folk methods are safe not only for adults, but also for children, which is very important. Some pharmacy specialized drugs are not always allowed to be used for the treatment of children.

But in home recipes for the treatment of children, you can use various components of natural origin, which are completely safe for them.

Thirdly, the ingredients that are used to prepare home remedies for lice not only get rid of, but also improve the condition of the hair, skin, and heal them. But pharmaceutical preparations, on the contrary, only worsen them because of their caustic composition.

Some people think about whether it is advisable to use folk remedies against lice.

Here are some tips from experts that are recommended to be considered during home lice treatment:

Only fresh and high-quality ingredients should be used to prepare home remedies.
To achieve the desired result, you need to carry out at least 2 treatments after a certain period (about 2 weeks). It is best to repeat the procedure after a while. If you ignore this, then the lice will breed again.
Before applying the product to your hair, it is recommended that you test it to make sure it doesn’t harm. To do this, you need to smear a small amount of home medicine on a place with thin skin (for example, your wrist or elbow). Then, during the day, you need to check the reaction of the skin. If itching, irritation, redness and other signs do not appear, then it is allowed to use the medicine for the head and hair. Otherwise, it must be replaced with another.
Even if you use potent agents (including being treated with pharmacy drugs), in any case, you need to comb out after the procedure, and very thoroughly. To do this, it is better to purchase a special comb with frequently spaced teeth.
It must be borne in mind that even among the folk remedies there are those that are prepared on the basis of rather aggressive components. For example, this is alcohol, vinegar, kerosene. They can cause irritation and burns. Such funds are not recommended for the treatment of children. As for adults, you need to keep track of the duration of the procedure and be very careful.

Traditional methods for lice are considered effective, cheap, affordable and relatively safe, so it is not surprising that people still prefer them to pharmaceuticals. But before using them, it is better to consult a doctor to be sure that there are no contraindications or other dangers.

Types and composition and application

White mercury ointment. It contains petroleum jelly, lanolin and mercury amidochloride (10%). It can be used to treat eczema, boils and pyoderma.

Gray mercury ointment. Made on the basis of animal fats, it has the highest mercury content - 30%. It is used in the treatment of parasitic skin diseases.

Yellow mercury ointment. The most widespread and widely known species. Created on the basis of sedimentary mercury (mercury oxide) and has two directions of action: eye and skin. In eye ointment, the concentration of mercury is minimal and is less than 2%.For skin ointment, a 5 or 10 percent concentration is used. Yellow mercury ointment has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antiparasitic effects.

Any of these types of ointment, due to its qualities and serious side effects, should be used exclusively as directed by a doctor, it is dispensed in a pharmacy only with a prescription.

Mercury ointment

Mercury ointment for the treatment of head lice
The drug is a very effective way to remove lice due to the presence of toxic substances in its composition. The most famous is yellow skin ointment, the mercury content of which is 5 or 10%. The product must be rubbed into the shaved scalp twice a day. The treatment lasts one week. The price of one tube of ointment ranges from 100 to 150 rubles.

Benefits:

mercury has a detrimental effect on lice and nits in a short period of treatment;
ease of use;
low cost.

Disadvantages:

contraindicated for use in children and pregnant women;
has a toxic effect on humans, which can lead to serious problems in people suffering from tuberculosis, indigestion, skin diseases;
among the side effects there is a risk of disruption of the nervous system, allergic reactions, liver damage;
treatment with mercury ointment provides for complete hair removal;
the preparation and sale of the ointment in pharmacies is currently prohibited due to its high toxicity.

Why is a body louse dangerous?

The fight against parasites should be started from the moment the bite is noticed. If this is not done, the wounds turn at the first stage into pustules, and the next stage - boils, ulcers. Subsequently, scars remain on the body.

Biting through the skin during a bite, the parasite injects an anesthetic secretion that prevents blood from clotting. Bites are accompanied by severe itching, and in a dream, a person scratches the wounds, which causes them to bleed. Severe damage causes excoriation. Regular bites cause coarsening and thickening of the skin, changing its color - yellow-brown.

The main danger from a bitten parasite lies in the transmission of infections:

quintan;
relapsing fever;
typhus.

special instructions

Boric or orthoboric acid, in accordance with the value of its dissociation constant, is a weak acid. The acidic properties are determined not by the elimination of the H-proton, but by the addition of the hydroxide anion.

Boric acid is easily displaced by most other acids from solutions of their salts (borates). Salts are produced, as a rule, from polyboric acids, the acidic properties of which are much more pronounced (for example, tetraboric acid Н2В4О7).

The formula of the substance is H₃BO₃. The name in Latin is Acidum boricum.

Boric acid has found wide application in the vegetable garden and garden as a micronutrient fertilizer for a wide variety of crops.

The use of boron preparations in horticulture and horticulture for pre-sowing seed treatment, the main introduction into the soil before planting the seed, spraying and foliar feeding of plants during the growing season helps to improve the nutrition of the ovaries and enhances the flow of sugars to the reproductive organs of plants.

Dicotyledonous plants, which include almost all fruit and vegetable crops, absorb 10 times more boron than cereals, which belong to the class of monocotyledonous plants. The greatest amount of a trace element accumulates in the pulp of apples.

The most sensitive to boron deficiency are grapes, potatoes, tomatoes, fodder roots, pears, apple trees, and sugar beets. With insufficient supply of it, the growth point is suppressed, internodes are shortened, the fragility of the leaf petioles increases, the tubers grow small and some of them crack, the stem growth point blackens in tomatoes and the fruits are covered with brown spots of dead tissue, fruit necrosis develops on apple trees and pears.

The efficiency of using boron as a fertilizer for plants is highest on sod-podzolic and peat soils.

Spraying tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, cabbage with boric acid helps to increase the ovary and stimulates the formation of new growth points, increases the concentration of vitamins in fruits and increases the resistance of crops to unfavorable meteorological conditions.

Fertilizing tomatoes and strawberries with boric acid (as well as a number of other fruit and berry and vegetable crops) reduces the likelihood of diseases associated with a lack of boron (including a hollow stem and red / brown rot in cauliflower; rot of the heart, scab and cork tissue in root crops, scab on root crops).

How to spray grapes and other fruit and berry plants? The greatest increase in yield can be achieved with double spraying: during bud setting and during flowering.

For processing, a solution of boric acid (5-10 g) and zinc sulfate (5 g) is used. Even a single carrying out of such a procedure before flowering allows you to increase the productivity of plants by 20-36%. The introduction of boric acid in a mixture with superphosphate during the softening period of berries contributes to an increase in sugar in berries and an improvement in their taste.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Lactic acid nail fungus

Boric acid from cockroaches is used in several ways. Each of them is based on the fact that the insect will eat this substance. When a cockroach enters the body, boric acid provokes dehydration. Death after contact with the powder or eating the bait occurs within 1-3 days (the poison acts most quickly on young individuals).

Most often, the product is simply sprinkled on all the baseboards in the house, as well as other places where insects can appear. If you succeed, you can sprinkle the powder on the cockroach: when it returns to the nest, it will “infect” its other relatives as well.

The correct way to use the powder involves spraying it in a thin layer through a special spray bottle or bottle.

If you are using a plastic bottle with a flat cap, put a few small coins on top of the powder (they will loosen the product every time you shake the bottle), then cut a small hole in the cap. Spray the product with rubber gloves.

Having closed the hole in the cork with your fingers, you need to shake the bottle several times (a mist of powder will float inside). Now you can remove your finger from the hole and lightly squeeze the bottle so that the powder particles from the bottle are sprayed onto the surface to be treated. You need to handle all cracks, cracks and baseboards (especially in the bathroom and in the kitchen), as well as the area around the sink and refrigerator.

Another popular recipe against cockroaches involves the use of powder (50 g) with 1 egg yolk. From the resulting mixture, balls are formed, which are then laid out in the favorite habitats of cockroaches.

In addition, you can fight cockroaches by spreading cardboard boxes sprinkled with a mixture of boric acid and flour near baseboards, water pipes and batteries. It is very important that insects do not have a chance to get to water: unlike ants, cockroaches cannot do without water. To do this, thoroughly wipe the sinks overnight and tighten all the taps well.

Boric acid affects ants at the level of the nervous system. After absorption in the intestines of insects, the substance begins to spread along their peripheral nerves and seriously disrupts the functioning of the nervous system. After a few hours, violations lead to paralysis and then to death of the ant.

There are various guidelines for how to kill ants. You can place baits with boric acid and glycerin, egg yolk or honey in the house, or you can simply sprinkle the ant paths with powder.

Grains of the agent cling to the legs of insects and, thus, fall into the anthill.That is, an ant that has run over a placer of boric acid infects not only itself, but also infects those ants that do not leave the colony.

Avoid getting boric acid preparations in the eyes (with the exception of dosage forms intended for use in ophthalmology). If this does happen, it is necessary to wipe the affected area with gauze or cotton swab and rinse well with warm running water.

It is contraindicated to apply funds to large surfaces of the body.
In acute inflammatory dermatological diseases, the use of boric acid on areas covered with hair is prohibited.

Each dosage form of the drug must be used strictly in accordance with the indications.

Briefly about lice

Unfortunately, not a single person is immune from infection with head lice. You can pick up lice in any places of a large crowd of people.

Lice crawl both horizontally and vertically, so close contact is not required for their transmission - you just need to stand next to a person infected with parasites.

Once on the head, lice comfortably settle in a new place of residence: they begin to drink human blood and lay nits - their offspring.

Lice can live up to sixty days, and during the entire period of their existence they can postpone at least one hundred and forty nits.

If the disease is started, the lice will multiply exponentially, giving rise to new and new individuals of their species.

If you are faced with the problem of the appearance of lice and nits - treat it, and do not pull. Don't expect head lice to clear up by itself.

Head lice can be cured with both folk and pharmacy remedies.

Traditional medicines are easier to use and can be used not only to combat head lice in adults, but also in children.

Medicines against head lice, which can be purchased at the pharmacy, are conditionally divided into several groups:

medicated shampoos;
sprays, aerosols;
ointments;
medical combs.

You can read more about these tools below.

Which one to choose is up to you. They all have similar efficacy when used correctly.

Lice prevention

The appearance of lice in children is not affected by immunity. The disease is not spread from animals. Most often, a child becomes infected through close contact with the carrier or when using the patient's belongings.

To maximally protect your child from head lice, you need to observe the following preventive measures:

avoid close contact with potentially infected people;
girls, before sending them to kindergarten or school, need to braid their hair in pigtails;
explain to children that you cannot use other people's things (combs, towels, etc.)
monitor the general condition of the child and conduct regular head examinations.

Pediculosis is an unpleasant disease that anyone can get. Most often, it is children who suffer from it. If you suspect lice, you should see a doctor. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then treatment should be started immediately.

Boric ointment as a remedy for lice

If lice are detected, treatment should be started immediately. There is no need to hope that the louse found in the head was the only one, or that the disease will go away on its own.

The easiest and safest way to get rid of lice and nits is the mechanical method, which consists in combing them out with a fine comb. The disadvantage of this method is the duration.

Well-known folk remedies for lice are the use of dusty or tar soap, turpentine ointment, as well as the use of various herbs. Treatments with them must be combined with combing, since, by killing adults, these funds do not harm the nits in the shell.

Cranberries for lice and nits are used very often as a first remedy:

First you need to make cranberry juice.This is best done with a juicer, especially if the infected person has long hair. Indeed, it will take a lot of juice to remove insects.
You can get juice not only from fresh, but also from frozen berries. A small amount of juice will be released during thawing, the rest can be obtained by chopping cranberries in a colander, previously covered with a layer of gauze.
Next, the resulting liquid must be applied along the entire length of the hair. Wetting should be uniform and abundant enough.
Then the hair must be carefully closed with a plastic bag, securing it in such a way as to restrict the access of air inside.

If we talk about the effectiveness of this recipe, then it is somewhat superior to the use of vinegar. Lice “don’t like” vinegar, but they hate cranberry juice especially. During the procedure, it is necessary to additionally moisten the hair with juice several times. After 20 minutes, the hair should be rinsed with water and combed with a fine comb. To consolidate the effect, you need to repeat the procedure after 2 days.

Sulfuric ointment for lice is a pretty good remedy, although, of course, today there are drugs that can be used to get rid of parasites faster.

As a result, the ointment does not have such a lethal effect on insects, and this also means that one procedure will not be enough to destroy parasites.

Pros of using:

lack of insecticides;
ease of use;
heals wounds left on the head after bites;
does not provoke dry scalp.

Some experts believe that the hydrogen peroxide used to get rid of lice is dangerous. If used incorrectly, you can get burns on the skin, as well as lose some of the hair. In addition, irritation or allergy to this product may occur.

When hydrogen peroxide enters the louse, its outer covers are damaged, as well as the internal tissues of the respiratory organs are burned out. If, after processing, the individuals remain alive, they will no longer be able to feed and reproduce. The sticky secret of nits, with the help of which it is attached to the hair, is also completely destroyed.

To minimize the risk associated with undesirable consequences, you need to make a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide with water (1: 1), and before starting the procedure, test how sensitive the skin is to hydrogen peroxide. Redness that occurs at the site of application of the drug indicates the impossibility of using the product.

Vodka will help to get rid of lice very effectively and quickly. It needs to be poured into a spray bottle and then sprayed over the entire length of the hair. After moisturizing your hair, you need to put a plastic bag on your head, and then wrap your head with a towel. This should be done very carefully, and the bag with the towel should be tied as tightly as possible.

After 40 minutes, remove the towel with the film and check the hair and skin.

You can loosen the glue that keeps the nits on your hair by dissolving 3 tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water. Then spray the solution onto the head with a spray. The nits will then be removed much more easily.

The head is required to be checked every two days. If, after a while, lice are found again, the procedure with the use of vodka must be repeated.

Boric ointment for lice, like sulfuric ointment, does not eliminate parasites in one application; a cycle of procedures is required. The drug has antiparasitic, fungicidal and antiseptic effects.

The ointment is applied to the hair and held, wrapped with a towel for about half an hour, then thoroughly washed off and combed out the killed insects. The product is low-toxic, therefore it is suitable for the treatment of children over one year old. Its cost varies from 50 to 70 rubles in city pharmacies.

Grandma's recipes

At a time when mankind had not yet invented anti-lice preparations, they fought with parasites at home, treating the head with various substances.The most popular was the removal of lice and nits with kerosene, in second place was the treatment of the head with vinegar, and then the recipes of Mother Nature: decoction of tansy, wormwood, cranberry juice.

Treatment of head lice with kerosene

Treatment with kerosene is still actively practiced today, despite the huge number of drugs approved by official medicine. Kerosene not only kills adult insects and larvae, but also neutralizes the sticky substance that keeps nits on the hair. After this treatment, lice and larvae die, and the nits that have come off the hair are washed off along with kerosene. However, this effective method has a number of side effects. Hair loses its beauty and shine, becomes greasy, sticks together, making combing difficult. Not to mention the fact that after such treatment, the head smells of kerosene for a long time.

Nevertheless, in the era of lack of "chemistry" it was a very common way to kill lice! The most important thing is to correctly calculate the dosage and not make the solution too concentrated, so that instead of head lice you do not have to treat scalp burns

There is a recipe according to which, along with kerosene, sunflower or olive oil, shampoo, honey and even milk are added to the solution. The treatment takes place in several stages. At the first stage, the hair is thoroughly treated with kerosene and sunflower oil, and after an hour (sometimes less) the solution is washed off. then the hair should be treated with vinegar, and after a couple of days - again with kerosene, but with olive oil (100 g of oil per teaspoon of fuel). After another day, use cranberry or lemon juice to treat the head, which will help peel off the nits from the hair. Then - again kerosene, but already with honey, and on the fifth day - control treatment with kerosene and milk. Combing with a comb will reinforce the effect.

Vinegar treatment

Treating the head with vinegar to kill lice was also popular before the advent of pediculicidal drugs. This remedy is effective against lice but does not kill nits. But it softens the secret that keeps the eggs on the hair. When asked what vinegar is best to use, our grandmothers answered - any. Table, apple, alcohol, wine - whatever, the main thing is to properly prepare the solution in order to avoid burns. It is difficult to say the more dangerous it is to poison lice with vinegar or kerosene, but vinegar is less harmful to hair and less toxic to humans.

Lice destruction with dichlorvos

Such a remedy, like the well-known dichlorvos, is very effective in the fight against lice, although it is very unsafe. It not only destroys insects, but also kills nits, so in the old days there were daredevils who took such a risk. Dichlorvos was not treated with the head, but with a plastic bag, which was put on the hair and tied with a towel. An hour later, the bag was removed, the hair was washed, and running water with shampoo washed away the dead lice and nits.

Juices, decoctions and no chemicals

As an alternative to combustible substances for the treatment of head lice at home, they used a remedy such as herbal decoctions - tansy or wormwood. The principle of action of such funds is that the smell of these herbs scares away lice, and insects rush to leave their homes. Herbs do not kill nits, so they are best used in combination with natural cranberry or lemon juice. The juice also does not kill nits, but neutralizes the substance that holds them on the hair, thereby facilitating mechanical removal or rinsing under running water.

Lice and tar soap

Tar soap has been used relatively recently as an anti-lice remedy. Nevertheless, birch bark tar, which is contained in this soap, has found its application in medicine for a long time. In particular, it is to him that Vishnevsky's ointment, widely used for wound healing, owes its characteristic smell.Removing lice with tar soap without using other means - a comb or lemon juice - will not be effective enough, so it is better to combine soap treatment with other methods.

Tar soap, like many other remedies, is powerless against nits, but kills lice by blocking their airways. Among the disadvantages, in addition to the relatively low efficiency and the need to constantly process the head until the complete elimination of parasites, can be called an unpleasant smell of birch bark tar. But this disadvantage is more than compensated by the fact that tar soap is absolutely non-toxic, so it can be used even by pregnant women.

Folk remedies for head lice. Traditional methods of getting rid of lice and nits

folk remedies

A solution of salt and vinegar.
Dissolve 45 g of table salt in a glass of wine or apple cider vinegar and add 5 g of alcohol or vodka, and mix thoroughly. The prepared solution is impregnated with gauze and cover the head with it. This gauze is left on the head for the whole day, periodically moistening it with a solution as it dries. The next day they wash their hair with shampoo. Several procedures may be required to completely remove lice and nits.
Infusion of elecampane.
Grind the whole plant with the root, pour boiling water at the rate of 5 tablespoons of elecampane per 1 liter, and leave for an hour in a warm place or thermos. Strain the finished infusion, apply to the scalp, thoroughly soaking the hair as well, and leave for 5 - 10 minutes, then rinse with water and shampoo. To completely get rid of lice, you may need several treatments with elecampane infusion, which are optimally done every 5 to 7 days.
Angelica and bird cherry ointment.
To prepare it, you need to grind the roots of angelica and bird cherry into powder, and then mix with butter or any other fat in a 1: 1 ratio. The finished ointment must be applied to the scalp, left for 20 - 30 minutes, wrapped in polyethylene and a warm handkerchief, and then washed off with shampoo. To get rid of lice, it is necessary to lubricate the scalp and hair with angelica and bird cherry ointment daily for a week.
Geranium oil.
For the treatment of head lice, it is necessary to add geranium oil to shampoo, balm, conditioner and hair masks, and use these funds as directed. It is recommended to add 3 to 5 drops of oil per serving of hair care products used at a time. Add geranium oil to hair care products until the lice are gone.
Decoction of mint and pomegranate.
Pour 200 ml of pomegranate juice over two tablespoons of mint herb and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. The finished composition is cooled and rubbed into the scalp and hair roots, left for half an hour, and then washed off with shampoo. The broth is applied once every 5 - 7 days until the lice disappear.
Tar or dusty soap.
Soap containing birch tar or dust can get rid of lice quickly and effectively. To do this, you need to lather your head and hair with any specified soap, wrap them with plastic and a warm towel, and leave for half an hour. After that, you need to wash your hair with shampoo. Usually, lice and nits die after a single treatment with tar or dust soap. But if necessary, the treatment can be repeated 5 - 7 days after the previous one.
Mask with kerosene.
To eliminate lice, you need to mix kerosene and vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:12. This mixture is applied to the hair in the evening before going to bed, wrapped with plastic wrap and covered with a warm scarf or hat on top. The mixture is left on the hair overnight, and in the morning the hair is washed with hot water and shampoo. Usually, a single treatment of the scalp with kerosene is sufficient to cure head lice.
Turpentine mask.
Turpentine is diluted with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1: 8, the resulting mixture is applied to the head, covered with plastic wrap and left for 40 minutes. After that, the head is washed with shampoo. To eliminate lice, a single treatment with turpentine is usually sufficient.
Anise or tea tree oil mask.
Anise or tea tree oil is diluted with any fatty vegetable oil (sunflower, olive, etc.) in a ratio of 1: 8, the resulting mixture is applied to the head, wrapped with polyethylene hair and left for 40 minutes. After that, the hair is washed with shampoo. A similar treatment is carried out every other day until the lice disappear.
Hellebore and wild rosemary ointment.
To prepare the ointment, it is necessary to grind the stems and leaves and the root of the hellebore into powder. Powder from wild rosemary and hellebore is mixed in equal quantities and melted lard is added to it in a ratio of 1: 3, after which it is infused in the oven for 12 hours. Before going to bed, the scalp is treated with the finished ointment, the hair is wrapped in plastic wrap and the mask is left until morning. In the morning they wash their hair with shampoo. To remove lice, a single treatment with this ointment is usually sufficient, but if necessary, it can be reapplied after a week.

Traditional medicine against lice

Dust soap is very effective. It is actively used in the treatment of animals, but it is also perfect for helping humans!
In the fight against head lice, folk methods are often used. We will consider the most effective below:

Vodka compress. Vodka or diluted alcohol is applied to the hair. A plastic cap is put on. To enhance the effect, you can use a hair dryer or a towel wrap. After an hour, the hair is washed well with shampoo, without fail the hair is combed out with a comb. The disadvantage of this method is that it cannot be applied to children. The kid can get poisoned.
Dust soap application. A soapy solution is made and applied to the hair. It is kept on the head for up to 40 minutes, washed off with shampoo. After this procedure, the hair must be rinsed with vinegar solution. Minus in the strongest unpleasant smell of soap. But also the dusty agent dries out the scalp very much, this can lead to itching and severe irritation of the epidermis.
Vinegar and salt. This method is still actively used in villages. 30 g of coarse salt is added to a glass of vinegar. The composition is well rubbed into the roots, applied to the length of the hair. Leave the product for at least 30 minutes. After that, rinse the hair with shampoo and comb out with a comb.

Kerosene and turpentine

Our editors say no, this is not a very effective sadistic method!
Separately, I would like to touch upon the issue of the use of kerosene and turpentine. These funds were especially popular during the Soviet era. But modern experts have proven that their use is unacceptable.

There are several reasons:

you can get a scalp burn;
if it gets into the eyes, there is a possibility of burns to the cornea and retina;
the funds are quite aggressive, but at the same time they do not give a 100% guarantee of getting rid of lice and especially nits.

The use of kerosene and turpentine is a thing of the past. Doctors advise using modern medications that quickly fight head lice.

We use medications

The advantage of pharmacy drugs over folk remedies is, firstly, in their speed, and secondly, in safety, since the dosage of active substances is calculated by specialists.

Preparations for the treatment of lice are available in the form of medicinal shampoos, ointments, gels, sprays, creams, and special soaps. Typically, several treatments are required to achieve the desired effect. You can always find fairly effective drugs that are inexpensive.

Shampoos such as "NOK", "Veda-2" and "Sumitrin", gels "Fenolon" and "Medifox-gel", ointments "Nix" and "Sifax", sprays "Pedikulen-ultra", "Spray-Pax", "Lavinal" , cream and solution "Nittifor", aerosol "Para Plus", con and others, as well as benzyl benzoate.

Benzyl benzoate in the fight against parasites

Benzyl benzoate is well known as an effective remedy in the fight against parasites, it is excellent at killing lice, nits, as well as scabies mites. Ointment benzyl benzoate for lice is applied to the hair, the head is covered with a scarf or hat on top, the procedure takes at least half an hour, after which the hair and scalp are thoroughly washed with warm water with a small addition of vinegar.

Typically benzyl benzoate removes parasites in just one application, in rare cases, several procedures are required. Its cost is about 25 rubles.