At what temperature do lice die: exposure to cold and heat, temperature control methods

Is it possible to get rid of lice using low or high temperatures?

Not everyone realizes that lice are killed by temperature changes, both low (frost) and high (steaming). This technique is more effective than trying to “cut off oxygen” to annoying little dirty tricks, since they are resistant to the loss of the air mixture. But a sharp change in temperature, especially a drop - frost - forces them to gradually suspend their life processes.

At first, lice simply hibernate. If the test of frost and cold does not stop, they may die. Meanwhile, our ancestors used this method everywhere. During wars, difficult transitions, when it is impossible to comply with personal hygiene requirements, nasty parasites appear. This is where Russian ingenuity comes to the rescue: use winter frost or heat (banya). This will be the answer to the question whether small bloodsuckers - lice - are afraid of frost.

Body lice and nits are increasingly found among healthy, prosperous people. Children often suffer from lice. Contact with the host is enough, and the nimble insects jump to a new owner. Moreover, parasites appear on clean, well-groomed hair more often than on greasy hair. Such is the paradox.

Low temperatures to combat parasites

By studying the natural characteristics of the parasite’s body, you can make a knight’s move and kill the pest. At sub-zero temperatures, lice die. It is necessary to act from 5 minutes to 24 hours. Depending on the degree outside the window.

One of the conditions for successfully combating head lice is disinfestation of things, bedding, and the entire room. Without much effort you can get rid of adult nits:

They take things outside, having previously washed them, or in an unchanged condition.
Leave for a maximum of 2 days. If the temperature outside the window is below 20 degrees below zero, you have to be sure that all the parasites will die, along with the eggs.
Small items are placed in the freezer. Leave it for a day.

We suggest you read: How to treat an apartment for lice and nits

But it will not be possible to get rid of lice on the human body or head using the temperature method. Lice die in the cold in a matter of seconds if they accidentally fall to the ground or are deliberately dropped by a person.

Head lice infection and prevention

The easiest way to get head lice is through direct head-to-head contact. Institutions such as gyms, swimming pools, football fields, children's summer camps, schools, kindergartens promote close contact between children and each other. Most often, pediculosis is contracted by children from 3 to 11 years old. This can occur through the sharing of combs, hair brushes, hair clips, hats, clothing, and the proximity of clothes on hangers. Lice infestation is not a sign of uncleanliness and poor hygiene.

Prevention:

You should not exchange personal items: combs, hats, scarves, and you should not use someone else’s soap or towel.
It is not advisable to leave clothes in a common locker room in close contact with the clothes of other people.
You should check your hair and your child's hair for insects from time to time. This should be done once or twice a week. Particular attention should be paid to the area at the back of the head and behind the ears.
Wash your hair regularly and comb your hair with a fine comb. These measures are especially relevant when traveling and hiking with large crowds of people.

In the past, lice were a sign of social ill-being and uncleanliness. Nowadays, the situation has changed and a person from any social class can contract parasites. One of the reasons is the lack of prevention and information about it. The second reason is improper treatment. Often weak pharmaceutical preparations not only do not remove insects, but also contribute to the emergence of individuals adapted to insecticides. The only solution is an integrated approach to treatment (if necessary), prevention and regular examination.

Application of high temperatures

High temperatures to kill lice The heating method is somewhat more effective and convenient. An increase in temperature from 54°C leads to a slowdown in the vital activity of parasites. In such conditions, humidity is significantly reduced, which is even more dangerous for lice. Lice and nits die at temperatures of 60 °C and above. When boiled, even the thick shell of the egg cannot withstand it, and the larvae inside die. This method is used for disinfestation of clothing, bedding, underwear, and any fabric items.

To kill parasites, it is recommended to wash items at a temperature of 60°C. Washing powder does not kill parasites, so instead it is better to use laundry soap, tar, or a special lice remedy.

On a note!
When washing, lice die within 5 minutes; heating for about 30 minutes is required to destroy nits. If you decide to boil the accessories, you can achieve the desired result in just 5 minutes.

How to remove body lice with heat

It is even easier to use high temperatures to deal with another type of parasite - linen lice that live on clothes, bedding, and toys.

Insect-infested items can be boiled in boiling water or ironed with a hot iron.

You need to boil things with washing powder for at least half an hour, turning them over from time to time. After boiling, take the laundry out into the sun and leave it in the air until completely dry. Such treatment, even one-time, is guaranteed to destroy both adult parasites and nits.
As an alternative, you can use an ordinary household iron or steam cleaner. They can steam upholstered furniture and toys, wall and floor carpets, pillows, blankets, and delicate hats that cannot be washed in water.

Not a single insect can withstand boiling and steam treatment, so these methods can be considered reliable and guarantee 100% results.

Traditional methods

Although many folk methods against lice are now inapplicable and sometimes dangerous, among them there are several quite simple and effective methods of controlling insects. Cranberry, kerosene, hellebore water, vinegar and peroxide have a negative effect on adult individuals and soften the larval cocoon, which makes the combing procedure easier. So, after treating the hair with cranberry juice, the surviving nit can no longer stay in its place and can easily be combed with a comb or even disappears on its own.

However, the use of folk methods against lice requires careful adherence to the rules for their use. To prevent the destruction of insects from turning into a case where “we treat one thing and cripple the other,” before, you need to remember:

Peroxide is an age-old method that will not only kill insects, but also bleach hair. Prolonged exposure of the skin to this substance may cause chemical burns or an allergic reaction.
Kerosene and vinegar can cause very severe burns on the skin. Such traditional pediculicidal methods are contraindicated to be kept on the head for a long time. In addition, after using these products, the hair will not smell the best, and intensive hair loss may occur.
A decoction of tansy or wormwood was often used in the past to combat lice and bedbugs. Alas, tansy and wormwood only repel parasites, and therefore can only be used as a means of prevention against possible infection.
Hellebore water is extracted from a poisonous plant, so its improper use can sometimes be harmful to health.
Washing your hair with soap with a specific smell can help immobilize parasitic insects and break the cocoon of larvae, after which you can begin to constantly comb out the lice with a comb.
The safest folk remedy is tar soap for hair.

In general, traditional methods are not so bad. If you combine the use of kerosene or vinegar with combs, you can get a pretty good effect. Lice on short hair can be removed in the same way as removing nits from long hair: the selected preparation will dissolve the cocoon of the larvae, and then the nits will easily succumb to mechanical removal. In addition, fighting insects using proven old methods will cost mere pennies. In order to quickly get rid of bloodsuckers, there is another way. The simplest method does not require significant costs and will not cause harm to health. Having shaved his head, a person infected with lice will forget about insects in 20 minutes. Thus, shaving hair is a method that is 100% effective. It’s just a pity that it’s only suitable for the male half of the population. And girls with hair of any length will need to follow the methods outlined above for eliminating parasites.

Temperature control methods

To get rid of the shameful lice, and at the same time finally make sure whether lice die in the cold, it will be enough to conduct a practical experiment. The following methods are available to choose from:

"Cold." This means hanging things outside (with the obligatory conditioning for several days), immersing them in the freezer. Swimming in an ice hole does not relieve you from a dangerous neighborhood. There is always a chance that a few larvae survived.
"Hot." Bath, sauna, frying clothes with steam, ironing, machine washing in hot water. Banal boiling of laundry is also acceptable - the good old method of cleaning.

We suggest you read: Is it possible to steam lice?

It is important to withstand the temperature range “from” and “to” that is extreme for lice, and if necessary, repeat the treatment. This is done to deal with both adults and larvae (eggs). And what to choose - frost or steam - they decide in accordance with their capabilities.

Is it true that linen lice larvae are equally afraid of cold weather and heat? Modern people are often skeptical about traditional methods of fighting parasites, preferring cheap and effective chemistry. But, having become convinced that frost still mercilessly kills lice, they begin to doubt the “power of science.”

When it is not possible to figure out whether lice die in the cold, alternative methods are used. For example, a hair dryer. A concentrated stream of hot air is harmful to lice. They are then relatively easy to comb out with a comb or comb. After this, the adult insects on the body will definitely die (with the exception of nits).

Iron

It is believed that this method is ineffective in the fight against lice and nits. But trying it in combination with others is quite possible. The subtlety of application lies in carefully combing the strands so as not to burn the skin or damage the hair. In cases where the parasites do not hide close to the scalp, but sit on the strands (looks like grayish ash or flour), a handy tool - a hair curling iron - can help in the fight against rapidly reproducing lice.

A means of combating lice is no less universal than frost. In addition, it does not misfire. Body parasites will inevitably die. The ones hiding in the hair will also get it. It is not necessary to put the bag on top of your head, since parasitic bloodsuckers are not as susceptible to a lack of respiratory mixture as they are to temperatures above 60 degrees. In the steam room, according to tradition, there is even more. This applies to both a “wet” bath (traditional Russian) and dry steam (Finnish sauna).

All that remains is to treat personal items, underwear, clothing, and the lice, as well as their larvae, will be finished. It is no coincidence that in Russian traditions, the bathhouse has always been in first place - a source of health, getting rid of body parasites, and a means of personal hygiene.

In modern conditions, the benefits of steam have been forgotten, but in vain. Heat is more effective than proprietary drops and chemical sprays on lice. Moreover, its value falls within the range required for treatment of head lice - 60 degrees or more. The use of extreme measures in relation to body lice hiding in underwear (cold, frost, frying) will help solve the problem as soon as possible. And without going to the pharmacy.

Ironing, especially with steam, at a temperature of 110 degrees and above is difficult for lice to tolerate. And if you approach the processing in a comprehensive manner: first freeze clothes or linen (boil on the stove), and then iron them, then the chances of success increase many times over. The iron itself is ineffective as a means of combating lice, but in combination with other methods it is quite suitable. The only alternative to this is frost.

In conclusion, here are some general tips for dealing with lice. No one is immune from the attack of harmful bloodsuckers - neither adults nor children. The only effective methods of getting rid of it are the classic cold treatment (frost), frying with superheated steam, and ironing.

Immunity to lice is not developed, this is a fact. And eliminating the presence of lice on the body and clothes using folk methods and frost is within the power of everyone.

Errors

Lice Almost everyone knows about the effectiveness of the temperature control method. But not everyone knows how to use technology correctly.

Using a hair dryer does not provide a guaranteed result to get rid of lice. The air temperature heated by the hair dryer does not rise to a critical level. It is necessary to act for at least 30 minutes. Such sacrifices are useless, since a positive result cannot be achieved. The larvae will continue to develop in the egg.
If the temperature outside is above -13°C, you shouldn’t make any special efforts either. The lice will be dead within a few hours. But the nits will live. When the clothes enter the room again, the processes will take their course. As soon as a person puts on clothes, small lice appear from the nits.
To clean carpets, rugs, and things from lice, pour ice water on them, sprinkle them with snow, or pour boiling water over them. Effectiveness can be achieved by leaving the carpets under a layer of snow for an hour. There is no point in pouring boiled water, it cools down quickly. This way only spoils the furniture.

Fighting body lice with frost

Knowing at what temperature lice die, you can very effectively fight body lice. This is usually done in winter:

All clothes worn by the infected person are hung out in the cold for several days. Preferably for a week.
The infected person himself washes thoroughly, his head is shaved or his hair is carefully combed with special combs.

It is important that the temperature at which things will be frozen is really very low - below minus 20°C. Nits die at approximately this temperature, and after such freezing the parasites will have no chance of survival.

It is physically impossible to freeze out head and pubic lice without risk to the infected person. To combat them, other temperature methods are sometimes used.

Algorithm of actions

Drugs for the treatment of head lice are selected based on the degree of infection, the age of the child, and the individual characteristics of the body:

To treat head lice, shampoo, gel, spray, ointment, emulsion, and solution are used. Additionally, the premises are disinfested, clothes and bedding are washed at high temperatures.
Efforts to treat body lice are more aimed at destroying parasites in clothing, bedding, and premises. The body is washed with tar soap and special shampoo. If lice bites appear again within 10 days, the procedure must be repeated.
Pediculosis pubis is treated somewhat differently. You can quickly get rid of lice and nits by shaving off the hairs. But underwear, bedding, towels, and clothing are subject to heat treatment. The skin is treated with a remedy for head lice.

In the external environment, lice live without food from 1 day to several months. To get quick results and prevent re-infection, you must perform all procedures correctly.

Methods of temperature influence

Removing lice using heat or cold has been actively practiced at all times. They do not lose their relevance to this day. Frost and heat do a great job where chemicals fail. At the same time, they do not harm human health and act reliably. The methods and methods of influence are selected depending on the stage of development of the parasite and its location.

Freezing

Freezing is used mainly against linen lice. The following methods are used:

Hang the laundry out in the cold at a temperature no higher than -20 0C and keep it like that for several days. In this case, all adult insects and larvae die, but nits may remain, so the treatment is repeated after some time.
Infected items are placed in a bag and placed in a freezer for several hours. At the same time, parasites at all stages of development, as well as their eggs, are guaranteed to be destroyed.

The advantages of such methods are their safety for human health and sufficient effectiveness.
In addition, they do not require any material costs and are available to anyone. Are body lice afraid of frost? As we have already found out, it is unlikely to be possible to get rid of insects that live on the hairy areas of human skin using this method. It is unrealistic to create at least zero temperature on the surface of the body without risk to health, so it is better to use heat against them.

Interesting fact! At a temperature of +10 - 20 0C, all processes occurring in the body of lice slow down, and they become able to do without food for 10 days. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be possible to “starve” insects in this temperature range.

Exposure to heat

Temperatures above +50 0C will help get rid of both linen parasites and their relatives that live directly on the human body. The following methods are practiced:

Place contaminated clothing in a vat of water and boil for an hour.
Items are washed in a machine at a temperature not lower than +60 0C.
The linen is ironed with a hot iron. In this case, special attention is paid to folds and hems.
Body parasites are removed using a hair dryer. To do this, treat the infected area of the body with a hot stream of air, and then comb out the insects with a comb. This method is ineffective against nits, but it allows you to get rid of adult nits. When exposed to heat, lice lose their ability to cling to hair and removing them becomes very easy with a regular comb.

The undoubted advantage of all methods of removing lice with heat is that they can get rid of parasites in a very short time with a single treatment. At the same time, every person can carry it out, and a positive result is guaranteed in most cases.

Interesting facts about lice, as well as ways to get rid of them, can be learned from this video:

general information

When head lice appears, we can be confused, not knowing what to do. Buy a drug against parasites at the pharmacy? Use folk remedies? Shave your head bald?

All these methods are associated with certain difficulties . Buying medications will not be cheap. Ingredients for traditional recipes cannot always be found on store shelves. But not everyone will decide to shave their head.

Fortunately, there is another way to remove lice and nits - use women's hair beauty products . This could be dyeing or straightening with an iron.

This method allows you to combine business with pleasure: both update your appearance and get rid of parasites.

Chemical substances

After you have discovered lice, you need to begin actively combating these insects as quickly as possible. There are many effective means by which you can get rid of these parasites. All these remedies can be divided into two groups: chemical and folk. There are many types of chemicals: powders, gels, ointments, creams, solvents, sprays and pencils. But among the listed tools, not all are easy to use.

For example, powders that contain small particles can easily enter the human body, while ointments and gels in most cases leave marks on surfaces. The most suitable options are spray and aerosol. Since this is a ready-made product that can be used immediately. The spraying effect allows you to treat literally all surfaces in the house, as well as clothes and bedding with maximum efficiency.

Hair coloring

The opinion that you can get rid of lice and nits by dyeing is widespread among people. Does hair dye kill nits?

This is a truly effective remedy, however, there are nuances here: you will have to paint several times to completely destroy the insects.

It is also recommended to combine coloring with the use of medications or folk remedies.

Operating principle

So, how does paint affect parasites? The paint contains two components :

coloring matter (pigment);
oxidizer

The pigment does not have a significant effect on insects. Their destruction occurs due to an oxidizing agent , which is usually hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is known for its ability to destroy molecules of organic substances , leading to their disintegration. When an oxidizing agent hits the chitinous cover of an insect, it immediately begins to corrode it, and toxic fumes enter the respiratory tract of the parasite.

So the insect dies immediately. And the lice that did not die after the action of the oxidizing agent try to leave the poisonous environment hostile to them and crawl away.

The oxidizing agent, which is aggressive in its chemical properties, also corrodes the dense protective covers of nits and the adhesive substance that attaches them to the hairs.

Coloring kills up to 85% of parasites.

Instructions for use

Today there is a huge variety of colors.

Permanent paints that do not contain hydrogen peroxide have become very popular.

Such paints should not be purchased in order to combat nits and seams.

In order not to worry whether hair dye will kill nits, you need to follow these instructions to combat parasites:

Prepare for coloring . Put on an old T-shirt that you don't mind getting dirty, and take gloves. Mix the paint in a container (preferably a bowl), following the instructions on the package.
Comb your hair thoroughly and spray it with water from a spray bottle (do not wet it completely - this will worsen the effect of hydrogen peroxide).
Apply the thick cream along the hairline on the forehead, behind the ears, and at the back of the head so that paint does not accidentally get into these areas.
Start painting. Divide your hair into strands and start coloring from the lowest ones, closest to the back of your head. Paint thoroughly from roots to ends. Move gradually towards the temples. Whiskey should be colored last, because... They are thin and quickly absorb pigment.
Comb your hair again so that the dye is distributed evenly.
Place a plastic bag or cap on your head. Leave the paint on your head for the time specified in the paint instructions. Typically this time is 20-30 minutes. During this time, the oxidizing agent will act on lice and nits.
After the dyeing time has expired, remove the plastic bag and lightly spray your hair with a spray bottle, then massage your head. This will improve hair quality and increase blood flow to the hair follicles and scalp, which may be damaged by oxidizing agents. Also, using this action you will unstick dead nits.
Rinse your hair thoroughly . An excellent option would be to use anti-pediculosis shampoo.
Comb your hair with a comb or a special comb to get rid of dead lice and nits.

Advantages and disadvantages

Coloring as a remedy against pediculosis has undeniable advantages:

Economical . The price for one pack of paint is less than the price for one pack of anti-lice medication.
Effective in the fight against nits and lice.
No harm . When used correctly, the paint causes minimal harm to health, because This is a proven remedy.
Ease of use.

Like any drug, paint also has its disadvantages:

Changing hair color . If you are not ready to change your hair color, then this method is not suitable for you.
Allergic reaction. Before using paint, you need to do a test to see if it will cause an allergy.
Weakening of the scalp . The pigment and oxidizing agent that make up the paint are chemically active substances and have an aggressive effect on the scalp and hair condition.

Despite the fact that paint is an effective remedy, its one-time use is not enough for the final removal of nits and lice. It is necessary to re-dye it after a week or treat the hair with other means: medicines or folk remedies.

Climate influence

Insects that parasitize humans live and reproduce in the home. The climatic zone where a person's habitation is located is of secondary importance.

The microclimate of the room is very important for bedbugs. In a well-heated house located in Siberia, insects will be as comfortable as in a dacha located on the shores of the southern sea.

Many years of experience have made it possible to accurately determine at what temperature bedbugs die.

They tolerate very hot microclimates worst of all. If the temperature is more than 50 °C, the bug survives for less than 5 minutes. At 45 °C it can last for half an hour.
Insect eggs are covered with a thermal protective layer, thanks to which they remain viable at 50 °C for 24 hours.
Bedbugs tolerate low temperatures more easily. At a frost of 10 °C, they temporarily reduce activity, freeze, and enter a state of suspended animation.
When the temperature drops another 5-7 °C, bedbugs can remain viable for up to 4 days.
If the frost reaches 20 ° C, the insects will die within a few hours.
Eggs tolerate low temperatures better. At -20 °C they can survive for 2 days, after which they die.

Linen bug

Frost has a detrimental effect not only on bedbugs, but also on the communication systems of an apartment or house.

In residential areas, you can place small items in the freezer. It is advisable to keep them there for a week.

In a private home, you can take sofas and armchairs out into the cold. Freezing the entire apartment is problematic. Walls, wallpaper, and water pipes may be damaged.

It is easy to get rid of bedbugs in winter in summer houses, garages, and outbuildings. This is an important event.

At what temperature do bedbugs die?

Bedbugs are highly dependent on environmental climatic conditions. The most comfortable conditions for them are “home” conditions. There are two factors that will make pests feel at ease:

climate stability;
constant access to food.

House bugs feed on human blood because they cannot penetrate the fur or skin of an animal. The most comfortable temperature for a bug to live is 24-270C, which corresponds to room temperature.

The life cycle of these insects is directly dependent on climate:

under favorable conditions, parasites can live up to a year, and the time to “hatch” from the egg is 35 days;
if the environmental temperature is slightly higher than normal (27-32C), the eggs mature faster, but the life span is reduced to 10 months;
if it is slightly below normal (20-24C), the parasites live longer (up to 15 months), however, their embryos also mature longer;
if the environmental temperature drops below 15C, the eggs stop developing and the adults fall into a state of suspended animation. If the frost lasts 72 hours, the bedbugs will die.

Effect of temperature on reproduction

Parasites are able to reproduce in a relatively narrow temperature range.

With a slight deviation from optimal values, reproductive function becomes unstable:

at +40…+45°С – females stop laying eggs;
at +45...+50°C – all adult insects die within 2-3 hours;
at +50...+55°C – adult lice die, unable to withstand this temperature, while nits are more stable and can continue to live for some time;
above +60°C – the entire insect population dies, including adults and their eggs.

The life cycle of lice under favorable conditions is 33-40 days. Insects begin to reproduce on the 15th day. Females lay eggs, which are commonly called nits. They are drop-shaped formations of whitish and yellow color, oblong in shape.

Diagram of the life cycle of a head louse.

The female lays eggs at the roots of the hairline, attaching them with an adhesive liquid produced by special glands. This allows you to securely fasten the larvae. It is impossible to remove them by scratching. The ripening period for nits depends on environmental conditions and is 5-12 days. An insect nymph emerges from the egg, which cannot leave offspring until it reaches sexual maturity, but actively feeds along with adult lice.

When the temperature drops by 3-5 degrees, insect metabolism slows down. At +20 °C and below, the nits’ biological defense mechanism is activated. The development of larvae into adults is suspended until suitable conditions arise.

Kerosene

Kerosene is a rather outdated folk remedy for lice, which, however, due to its high effectiveness is still often used to remove parasites. It poisons adult lice and partially dissolves the shells of nits.

Lice are afraid of the smell of kerosene and die when the substance comes into contact with the chitinous surface of the body. A half-hour treatment of the head with kerosene allows you to destroy all adult lice and larvae, while a repeated session a week later ensures the extermination of young larvae hatched from the surviving nits.

Important!
Improper use of kerosene can lead to extensive scalp burns and poisoning, especially in children. When working, we should not forget that kerosene is very flammable, and its vapors can ignite from the slightest ignition source.

Specialized insecticides

These substances are used in most modern shampoos, gels and balms. As a rule, they paralyze the nervous system of lice and lead to their death within a few minutes after applying the product to the hair.

As such toxic components in the composition of pediculicidal agents, various pyrethroids are mainly used - Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin and some of their analogs. They are contained, for example, in lice preparations such as Medifox, NOC, Bubil, etc.

A special type of silicone called Dimethicone is also effective against lice. It works in a slightly different way: by effectively flowing into the respiratory tract of insects, Dimethicone leads to the suffocation of parasites. The substance is part of the Nuda product.

Products based on modern insecticides are very effective against lice and are relatively safe to use - they rarely cause allergies and do not lead to intoxication. They are most often used in the fight against lice in children.

The impact of temperature on nits and lice

Since lice are blood-sucking parasites, people often wonder whether lice are afraid of temperature changes. For normal development and reproduction of bloodsuckers, it is necessary to constantly have access to food (it is worth noting that parasites feed at least 5 times a day), air supply and the presence of optimal temperature also play an important role. Since the insect lives on the surface of the skin, they can have access to food at any time. But changing the temperature regime is a very real way for a person.

If unacceptable conditions are created for the development of bloodsuckers, their death will soon be observed. This is possible with a dramatic increase or decrease in temperature. The temperature that satisfies lice ranges from -3 to +40 degrees Celsius.

The most comfortable conditions during which the louse continues to feed, lay eggs and can live for about 40 days are those when the temperature ranges from +20 to +38 degrees. If the indicators are lower, the blood sucker begins to experience discomfort.

It is also worth noting that people infected with lice, and at the same time suffering from ARVI, accompanied by an increase in body temperature, can observe the following situation: the insect moves from the scalp to the ends of the hair. Moreover, the spread of pediculosis is only accelerating.

Nits have a durable protective shell, which increases resistance to temperature changes. The larvae can survive environmental heating up to +50 degrees Celsius. But there is a high susceptibility to low readings on the thermometer. In the case of sub-zero temperatures, the development of the larvae stops.

Hellebore water

It is mainly adult lice that are afraid of hellebore water. This remedy can be used both to combat parasites and to prevent infection by them.

In the first case, hellebore water is applied to the head in the same way as anti-lice shampoo, and in the second case, it is used to lubricate the hair behind the ears before a possible meeting with an infected person or before visiting a place where there is a risk of infection with parasites. In this case, lice are much less likely to move onto the hair of an infected person sprinkled with hellebore water.

Common Mistakes

When fighting parasites, it is important to avoid mistakes that can lead to unpleasant consequences:

use excessively high temperatures, which can damage the hair structure;
store the clothes of the infected person together with the clothes of other family members;
Carelessly use a curling iron or straightener (this can lead to thermal burns to the scalp).

Washing your hair cannot get rid of parasites, because... The temperature of the water that a person can tolerate is lower than the temperature at which insects die.

Life cycle of lice

The development cycle of lice can be divided into four stages: larva, first instar nymph, second instar nymph, third instar nymph, adult insect. The transition of the nymph to the next stage of development occurs with each molt. When molting, it sheds its hard chitinous cover, which allows it to continue to grow.

Lice development:

It takes 5–8 days for the nit to develop.
1–3 days and the larva turns into a first instar nymph.
The first instar nymph needs 5 days.
The second instar nymph develops within 8 days.

The lifespan of an adult is 30 - 40 days.

After the last molt, an adult insect appears and mating occurs within the first two days. One mating in a female louse's entire life is enough to fertilize all the eggs in the body. After which she lays eggs throughout her life.

Reference! A female head louse lays 144 eggs in her lifetime, a female pubic louse lays up to 50 eggs, and a female body louse lays up to 300 eggs in her entire life. One and a half or two months after infection, a person may have a whole population of insects, and after some time they will cause pronounced symptoms of head lice.

At what temperatures do lice and nits die?

If the thermometer reaches 40 degrees, the louse stops laying nits.

Exposure to cold

Some people believe that if lice and nits die at temperatures below zero, then in winter it is enough to walk without a hat in the fresh air or plunge into an ice hole. But this method won't work. A person with lice will get sick faster than a louse will die.

This happens because the temperature of the human body cannot be negative, and the scalp almost always maintains a comfortable environment for lice to live. Therefore, a person will freeze, but it will continue.

Interesting!
Lowering the temperature has the following effects on insects:
If the temperature drops below 20, pests become inactive. Their life processes slow down.
When the thermometer shows -5°C, pests stop breeding and feeding. Nits slow down development.
At -15°C, nymphs and adults die. The larvae inside the egg continue to live.
Nits die when the thermometer drops to -20.
Scientists have repeatedly conducted studies trying to find out whether lice die in the cold or not. Entomologist James Buswin discovered in 1944 that bloodsuckers at -20 became dead within 45 minutes. A temperature of -17°C led to the death of insects within two hours.
Exposure to heat
But ARVI or working out in the gym cannot be considered as a method on the head. At 40 degrees above Celsius, the insect will only stop laying eggs.
An increase in ambient temperature affects the life of the pest as follows:
At a temperature of 40-45 degrees, the female will stop breeding.
From forty to sixty, adults die, and nits continue to develop.
A nit can die only when the thermometer shows a temperature above 60.
On a note!
In 2006, Israeli entomologists conducted several experiments and found that at a temperature of +3°C, the louse dies on the ninth day.