This article indeed deals with those tiny disgusting insects i.e. how you can tell if you have them and then how you can rid your body of these through simple home remedies.
General Facts
The biological term for lice infection on the body is pediculosis. Ever hundred out of a million people have it. Body lice tend to cause illnesses like typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever.
BODY LICE (Pediculus Humans Corporis)
The term “body lice” refers to those small insects that are wingless and suck blood. These reside in the body of an infected human, in either their clothing or bed. Unhygienic living conditions can invite such insects.Lice are only transferred via direct contact and through inanimate objects like clothes, daily use items, and bed because they can live for about 2 days without blood.
How to Find Out If You Have a Lice Infection?
The distinctive characteristics of a body lice bite are:
- An initial small red area
- The red area evolving into a small lump
- The area becoming inflamed
- The bite triggering irritation and itching
- Secondary infections following up incessant scratching
What Are the Probable Causes of Body Lice?
- Coming in direct contact with someone already infected or using anything they use regularly
- Not bathing regularly or washing your clothes often.
- Living in overcrowded conditions.
Home Remedies for Skin Lice
Neem Leaf Extract
Add 250 grams of neem leaves and 2 liters of boiled water in a bathtub and mix it with warm water.
Soak your body in this liquid for about a half an hour. Try this every day until all the lice are effectively removed. You can also make it into a paste and apply all over your body.Leave the paste on till it dries out and scrubs it off before taking a bath. Remember to soak your clothes as well.
Apricot Leaf Extract
Apricot leaves are the best for treating lesions that are often caused by severe itching. Gather fresh apricot leaves and extract the juice. Spread this paste on the lesion and leave as is for one hour. Then rinse the affected area with warm water.
Vinegar
Mix vinegar and vegetable oil in the ratio 1:2. Spread this over infected areas and leave on for half an hour. The acidity of vinegar kills the lice and to prevent it from damaging your skin, mix it with vegetable oil.
Drumstick Leaf and Sesame Oil
Take 500 grams of drumstick leaves and remove the juice. Take the same amount of sesame oil and combine it with the extracted drumstick juice. Heat this mixture till the water evaporates. Apply it after cooling. Continue applying it twice every day for two weeks.
Calamine Lotion
Excessive scratching will lead to cuts on your skin and make it favorable for bacteria to enter your body. To stop itching and kill body lice, you should use calamine lotion. Spread it over the infected area and let it dry. Apply calamine lotion regularly to eliminate infections.
Essential Oil/ Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has antibacterial qualities and helps kill body lice effectively. Mix tea tree oil with water in the ratio 1:2 and rub it all over your body. You don’t wash this off. This should be done several times a day for a week. Use this oil for disinfecting your clothes as well. Soak the clothes in a few drops of it added to warm water for half an hour before washing with detergent.
Hot Water
Wash all your clothes of the household members with hot water to ensure a lice free home. Put the clothes in boiling water and leave for ten minutes. After cooling, use a strong detergent to soak these clothes for about an hour.
A Final Word of Caution
Home remedies are always preferable but you shouldn’t rely on them entirely. Use these remedies only if you are a 100% certain that these are body lice.
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