by Bobbi Hunter

Created on: April 30, 2008

How to Treat Lice with Zinc

Lice or nits, also called Pediculosis, are small bugs that actually attach themselves to the fibers of your hair and lay their eggs. They are small, but actually larger than fleas. After the eggs hatch, the baby lice feed off the skin of your scalp. Once the lice mature, they climb onto the hair and then lay their own eggs. Severe scratching and itching is a sure sign you or your child may have lice.

Lice spread very easy from person to person. Not only can sharing of hats and combs spread lice, but also the generous giving of a simple hug. Head lice can, not only survive up to 30 days on the head, but also in bedding, clothing, and stuffed toys.

There are many different store bought and home remedies for treating lice. This article will help you understand how to use zinc in your treatment efforts, while also touching on the use of tea tree oil.

What You Will Need

Shampoo
Lice Comb
Various Zinc Products
Combine with Tea Tree Oil

There are many ways to treat lice these days. One of which is the use of Zinc. There are also many different ways to use Zinc in the treatment of lice from shampoo, lozenges, to spray.
One Zinc shampoo is DHS Zinc Shampoo. DHS is highly recommended and is located online at www.dermstore.com, www.4plasticsurgens.com, or www.Amazon.com where you may find the best deal.

There is also John Masters Zinc & Sage Shampoo found at www.budcosmetics.com. This shampoo will not only treat the lice, but leaves your hair smelling fresh and feeling silky soft.
You might try Xolex Shampoo. "In a study, 75% of patients preferred 1% pyrithione zinc over ketoconazole 2 % shampoo." J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2005;10:201-204. I, although, would not recommend on young children.

Head & Shoulders has a wonderful Zinc Shampoo, and is located in any supermarket or drugstore. I believe this shampoo will help with the itching and dry scalp. It may not treat the lice.

Zinc Zap Spray is another good product to put in the lice infected hair. This product can be located at www.nutrimmune.ca/products.html.

You can also use liquid zinc. Take your lice comb, cover it with liquid zinc, and comb through hair. Do not rinse out. This can be found in any health food store or online. Also, try zinc lozenges. It will be absorbed in the body and transferred in the blood.

Even though zinc is a good and natural way to treat lice, I have found that tea tree oil is the absolute best way to rid lice for good. Lice hate it! I recommend Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo. Also, get a bottle of tea tree oil. This can be found at any health food store, Fred Meyers, or online. Get a small to medium size spray bottle and put about five drops of oil in it. Fill the sprayer with water.

Shampoo the hair thoroughly. Use lice comb to extract as many lice as possible. Wash down the drain in hot water. Then, spray the hair and scalp thoroughly with the tea tree oil solution. Spray hair and scalp daily until lice are gone. Then spray once a week to safe guard against re-infestation. You can also take straight tea tree oil in your hands and rub all over the scalp.

Wash all bedding, hats, and stuffed toys. If items cannot be washed, place them in a tightly sealed garbage bag for at least one month.

Learn more about this author, Bobbi Hunter.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.