Lice are wingless insects that live as external parasites on humans by feeding on blood. The three main types of lice that infest humans are head lice, body lice, and pubic lice. Lice spread through close personal contact and by sharing personal belongings such as clothing, brushes, towels, and bedding. They can be irritating and cause itching, but do not transmit disease. Getting rid of lice and preventing re-infestation requires removing the lice and eggs from the body and environment using products, combing, and laundry. Knowing what scents lice hate can help repel and eliminate lice.
What are lice?
Lice are tiny wingless insects that feed on human blood. There are three main types:
- Head lice live on the scalp and hair.
- Body lice live on clothing and move to the skin to feed.
- Pubic lice live on coarse hair and skin mostly found in the pubic area.
Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed and can be tan to grayish-white. Babies, called nymphs, are smaller and grow into adults about 7-10 days after hatching. Female lice lay up to 10 eggs, or nits, a day gluing them to hairs close to the scalp or skin. Nits hatch in 1-2 weeks.
Lice spread through close personal contact when lice crawl from one person to another. They can also spread by sharing infested items like hats, helmets, hair ties, combs, brushes, towels, clothing, uniforms, costumes, sports gear, headphones, stuffed animals, and bedding. You are more likely to get lice if you spend a lot of time close to someone who has lice.
Signs and symptoms
The main sign of lice is itching which is caused by an allergic reaction to the bites. Other symptoms include:
- Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair or on the skin
- Irritability and difficulty sleeping caused by the itching which can be worse at night
- Sores on the head or neck caused by scratching
- Small red bumps or knots at the base of some hairs where the nits are glued
Head lice usually cause itching of the scalp while body and pubic lice cause itching where they are located. The itching may take 4-6 weeks to develop after initial infestation, so people may not notice lice right away.
Dangers and risks
Lice themselves do not spread disease or illness. However, scratching lice bites can lead to skin irritation and infections. Rarely, severe infestations over many months can cause iron deficiency anemia from blood loss.
Social stigma is sometimes associated with lice, but getting lice has nothing to do with cleanliness or socioeconomic status. Children may be ostracized by their peers or even bullied if word gets out that they have head lice.
Treatment and remedies
Getting rid of lice involves removing lice and nits from the body as well as cleaning the environment to prevent re-infestation. Here are some key treatment steps:
- Use an over-the-counter pediculicide product like permethrin lotion or shampoo, orprescription products like Ulesfia lotion, Spinsoza solution, Natroba topical suspension, Sklice lotion, or Ovide lotion which kill lice and nits.
- Comb out nits and lice from the hair using a fine-tooth lice comb. This helps remove dead lice and allows products to penetrate.
- Check for and remove any remaining nits by hand.
- Repeat treatment as needed, usually after 9-10 days to kill any newly hatched lice before they can produce new nits.
- Wash clothing, bedding, towels, hair accessories in hot water and dry on high heat.
- Soak combs and brushes for 1 hour in rubbing alcohol or pediculicide.
- Vacuum carpets, furniture, car seats thoroughly.
Some natural remedies like essential oils are thought to help prevent and treat lice due to their strong scents. However, these are not scientifically proven to be effective and should not replace recommended treatments if lice are found.
Prevention
To help prevent getting or spreading lice:
- Avoid head-to-head contact during outbreaks
- Do not share personal items like combs, brushes, hats, helmets
- Check children’s heads weekly during outbreaks
- Tie or braid long hair
- Consider regular nit checking programs at school
- Treat immediately if lice are found to prevent spreading
Knowing what scents lice hate may provide additional prevention by repelling lice.
What scents do lice hate?
There is some research and anecdotal evidence showing that lice dislike certain strong scents. Here are some of the scents that may help repel lice:
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil contains the compound terpinen-4-ol which has insecticidal effects. Some studies have found tea tree oil shampoo can kill a significant portion of head lice after 15 minutes of contact. Tea tree oil may work by suffocating lice and may also repel them with its strong medicinal scent.
Lavender oil
Lavender oil contains the compound linalool which has been shown to have insecticidal and repellent effects in some laboratory studies. The strong floral scent of lavender may help deter lice. Some shampoos combine lavender oil with tea tree oil to combat lice.
Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil contains insect repelling compounds like camphor, borneol, and 1,8-cineole. In one study, a rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil blend repelled body lice by over 90% compared to controls. Rosemary oil may repel lice with its strong herbal scent.
Lemongrass oil
Lemongrass oil contains compounds like geraniol, nerol, and citronellal that have shown insecticidal and repellent effects. In studies, lemongrass oil has demonstrated the ability to kill head lice after 30 minutes of contact. Its strong lemony scent may deter lice.
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil contains the compound 1,8-cineole which has insecticidal properties and may help kill and repel lice. In a body lice study, a eucalpytus, rosemary, and peppermint oil blend repelled over 90% of lice compared to controls.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil contains menthol which has been shown to have insecticidal effects in some studies. Its strong minty scent may also help deter lice. One study found a 10% peppermint oil solution killed all head lice after 30 minutes of exposure.
Cloves
Cloves contain the compound eugenol which has insecticidal effects against lice. One laboratory study found clove soap killed 55-65% of head lice after 10 minutes. The strong, spicy scent of cloves may also repel lice.
Lemon juice
Pure lemon juice has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties that may help treat irritated skin and prevent secondary infections from scratching lice bites. Some claim its strong citrusy scent also repels lice.
Vinegar
White vinegar is acidic and may help make the scalp and hair inhospitable to lice. It can be used as a rinse after treatment to make the scalp more acidic. Anecdotal evidence claims its strong acidic scent repels lice. However, scientific evidence is lacking.
Essential oil safety
Essential oils can help repel lice but should always be diluted before use on skin to avoid irritation. Do not use essential oils undiluted or near eyes. Consult your pediatrician before using essential oils on children. Oils should not replace recommended lice treatments if active lice or nits are present.
Here are some safe ways to use essential oils for lice:
- Mix 2-5 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil or shampoo.
- Apply diluted oil blend to dry hair focusing on the scalp and neck then rinse.
- Use once or twice weekly as a preventative.
- Increase frequency if lice exposure occurs.
- Combine different oils like lavender, tea tree, lemongrass for added benefit.
Other non-chemical remedies
Some other non-chemical methods that may help deter and remove lice include:
- Combing out lice and nits with a lice comb 2-3 times per day
- Heat treating hair with a handheld blow dryer on hottest setting to dehydrate lice
- Covering hair with a shower cap soaked in vinegar overnight
- Using silicone-based conditioners to make hair slippery and prevent lice from gripping
- Applying petroleum jelly like Vaseline to suffocate lice – coat hair and scalp thoroughly
However, their effectiveness is often anecdotal and lacks scientific evidence. They should not replace recommended treatments if active lice are present.
Medicated shampoos and sprays
There are also a few lice prevention and treatment products on the market that contain scents known to deter lice:
| Product | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Licefreee Spray | Rosemary, peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus oils |
| Fair Lice Mum Spray | Oil of lavender, oil of lemongrass |
| Para Protect Lice Defense Spray | Lemongrass, citronella oils |
| Lice Logic Medicated Shampoo | Lemongrass, rosemary oils |
These products may help repel and kill lice but should not replace traditional lice treatments if active lice or nits are present. Their effectiveness also lacks rigorous scientific evidence.
Conclusion
Lice are a common nuisance that can spread easily through close contact. Getting rid of lice requires dedicated elimination of lice and nits on the body and in the environment. Certain strong scents seem to deter and even kill lice like tea tree, lavender, lemongrass, eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, clove, and lemon juice. Using these scents prudently in hair care products shows some promise in helping repel and eliminate lice. However, more research is needed on their true effectiveness and safety compared to traditional pediculicides. Scents should not be used in place of recommended treatments if active head lice are present. But they may provide additional prevention and lice removal when combined with proper hygiene practices. With a multi-pronged approach, the pesky problem of lice can be tackled both at home and in the community.