Lice bites usually look like tiny red dots on the skin surface and can produce annoying itching as a result of the body’s immune response to the louse’s saliva, which is introduced when the louse attack the scalp. The best way for you to treat lice bites is to rid yourself of the lice using a strong lice-destroying shampoo, use a nit comb to remove any dead or remaining lice, and then treat the lice bites or rash which is associated with the infestation. Natural treatments for lice bites are baking soda, lemon, basil, mint, and thyme. Cool compresses are another non-medicated option that can provide temporary relief from the itch. Medicated relief can be found with over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams, calamine lotion, and oral anti-histamines.
Before the lice bites can heal and disappear, it is essential to clear up the infestation so no further bites occur. The best procedure for removing the lice is to use a pediculicide, or lice-destroying shampoo, and comb out the hair with a special, fine comb called a nit comb. This procedure needs to be repeated in seven to nine days when any missed lice eggs would be hatching and produce a second wave of infestation. Bedding and clothing needs to be washed in hot water with bleach and detergent, and dried in a hot drier. Lice are blood-feeding insects and if deprived of blood will die, so items which cannot be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for one month and then shaken out and vacuumed to remove any dead lice.
To treat the itchy lice bites and rash, you might want to try a natural treatment first, especially after using a harsh lice shampoo to eradicate the bugs. A baking powder paste, made from 1 part of water to 3 parts of baking soda and spread over the scalp, can provide some relief. To alleviate the pain and inflammation, spread some lemon juice or cooled mint tea on the itchy areas and allow it to dry. Half of an ounce (about 15 grams) of thyme, a strong pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory, can be placed in 1 pint (about 0.5 liters) of boiling water, cooled, and then applied to the affected area. Cold compresses can also numb the area and temporarily alleviate the itch.
Over-the-counter medications such as hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion work well to calm the itch. These drugs can be applied directly to the itchy areas of the scalp. Oral antihistamines work well to calm the allergic reaction and minimize the rash.
