Can You Treat Lice with Sodium Chloride?

A head lice infestation can make your scalp extremely itchy and cause scabbing due to excessive scratching. It may also feel uncomfortable as insects are crawling around on your head! The good news is that seeking treatment quickly can help you get rid of lice and restore your comfort. However, you have to be careful which treatment you choose, since many of them contain toxic ingredients that can be too harsh on your skin.

One recent rumor we’ve heard at Fresh Heads is of parents trying to use sodium chloride (table salt) as a lice treatment—but does it work? We’re here to set the record straight.

What Are Head Lice?

Head lice are parasitic insects that cling to human hair and feed on blood from the scalp. They are easily spread by head-to-head contact. Head lice infestations are common, especially in kids. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are up to 12 million lice infestations in the United States every year.

Is Sodium Chloride Effective at Getting Rid of Lice?

When faced with head lice, it’s understandable that parents would want to quickly resort to readily-available home remedies in order to try to eliminate the problem right away. After all, having a possible solution right in your own home sounds great, but it doesn’t mean it will work. The fact is that the efficacy of table salt has been tested, and there’s no scientific evidence that it can kill lice or nits.

The Danger of Home Remedies Like Salt

Attempting to treat lice with home remedies are not only ineffective, they can also be downright dangerous for your child. This is because the suggested method for these types of treatments is that they are applied for a prolonged period of time, which can be traumatic and uncomfortable. For instance, the mayonnaise treatment necessitates you wrap your child’s head in plastic wrap for 8 hours, which carries the danger of suffocation. Likewise, applying sodium chloride or table salt can be harmful for your child, and cause burning and stinging. And unfortunately, since these treatments are ineffective, you will only have prolonged and escalated your child’s infestation.

Reach Out to Head Lice Treatment Experts

Treating head lice can be tricky, especially since there are various treatments on the market. But remember that these products are not effective, and many contain harsh chemicals that can do more harm than good. Over time, super lice have built a resistance to the pesticides in over-the-counter lice shampoos.

If you need a more professional and effective treatment, you can head to a lice removal center like ours. Our removal methods are all-natural. We offer products such as our specially-formulated DIY lice removal shampoo, and services such as our professional comb-out and our signature AirAllé® treatment that dehydrates and kills lice and eggs in a single visit.

Professional Head Lice Treatment in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Savannah

Enjoy having healthier hair and scalp by visiting our lice treatment centers. At Fresh Lice Heads Lice Removal, we remove your head lice through an all-natural, science-based method. Book your appointment today or contact us to learn more about our services!

Schools Without Lice

Our mission at Fresh Heads Lice Removal is to eradicate lice from schools across the US. We’re partnering with the Lice Clinics of America to create a Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free resources, screenings, and treatments. If we work together, we can have schools without lice!