Ulyana Vosonina/ article author
Medical education. Author of articles on the pest.bigbadmole.com/en/ project

Tar soap for lice and nits

Tar soap from lice began to be used relatively recently, but the history of its creation and use in traditional medicine is deeply rooted in hoary antiquity. In Russia, birch tar was used to treat many diseases. In ancient documents, it is noted that the natural component in the Scandinavian countries was considered a precious balm, despite its availability.

The composition and properties of soap

Tar soap was prepared by mixing soap shavings with birch tar, the resulting mass was rolled into balls and dried. Today it can be purchased at any store or pharmacy. Brown bars with a specific persistent odor were rarely bought at one time, but now the popularity of soap is returning.

Modern anti-pedicular drugs highly effective and help in one application get rid of lice and nits. But more people have an allergic reaction to drugs and synthetics. And the cost of funds for head lice can not be compared with the price of a piece of tar soap. To understand whether tar soap from lice helps, you should analyze its composition.

Tar
Tar

Interesting!

Initially, tar soap comprised 10-30% of birch tar. The modern cosmetics industry has moved away from technology. To soften the effect on the skin and reduce the severity of the characteristic odor, add flavorings, amino alcohol, to normalize the pH, thickeners, stabilizers and other auxiliary substances that reduce the amount of the main ingredient.

Birch tar is obtained by dry distillation from birch birch. The rich composition of tar soap is due to its constituent components. Tar contains more than 100 bioactive substances, including:

  • phenols (up to 15%) - toluene, betulin, guaiacol, gaulerin, xylenol, tebren and others;
  • organic acids (up to 5%);
  • esters of organic acids (up to 10%);
  • tannins.

In addition to tar, soap contains alkali. Tar soap against lice acts due to its rich composition. The specific smell of tar is due to the presence of aromatic substances. Strong aromas scare away lice, therefore, in relation to lice tar soap has a repellent effect. Creosote, which is part of tar, has a damaging effect on the nervous system of insects, stops their development and mummifies eggs. Turpentine has a similar effect on parasites - another folk remedy for getting rid of lice.

Phenols and tannins cause antibacterial, antifungal, reparative, drying, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, drying effects. These properties help to cope with the consequences. lice bites - itching, hyperemia, dermatosis. The disinfecting effect prevents the introduction of a secondary infection through damage to the skin.

Tar soap for lice
Tar soap for lice

Interesting!

Karelian birch tar is exported abroad as a natural remedy for skin diseases. There it is called "Russian oil" and is appreciated for its healing properties. On its basis, cosmetics and medicines are produced.In the old days, birch tar was used to break out the fur that Russia was famous for.

Tannins and salicylic acid damage liceleading to dehydration. Their effect on larvae is especially pronounced, since their body is not covered with such a dense shell as adults. Organic acids dissolve the glue, which nits are attached to the hair. Tar soap forms a thin film due to tar tar, impaired respiratory function in lice, clogging the spiracles on the abdomen.

The anti-pedicule properties of tar soap vary depending on the manufacturer, since the percentage of birch tar content in the soap of different cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies is different.

How to apply a natural remedy

Natural remedies, unlike synthetic drugs, have a slow effect. To remove lice with tar soap, you will have to use it for a long time and regularly until the parasites are completely eliminated.

The main method of using tar soap for lice and nits is as follows:

  1. Moisten the head with water and lather with tar tar. First you need to clean your hair from grease, dust, dirt, so wash off the soap with water without keeping it.
  2. Squeeze the hair out slightly with your hands and soap the second time, thoroughly whipping the foam and massage lightly to evenly apply to the hair roots and skin.
  3. Cover the head with polyethylene and insulate with a towel.
    Plastic bag
    Plastic bag
  4. Leave the foam for 40-60 minutes.
  5. Rinse hair thoroughly after time.
  6. Dry your hair with a towel and remove dead parasites with a special lice comb.
  7. The procedure is repeated daily for a week.

To quickly get rid of lice with tar soap, you can use it in conjunction with a pediculicidal agent. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

  1. Apply anti-pediculant to dry hair, distribute through hair and maintain in accordance with the attached instructions.
  2. Wash hair and soap with soap, whipping fluffy foam.
  3. Soak for 20-30 minutes and wash with running water.
  4. Comb dry the towel strands with a special comb.
  5. Repeat if necessary.

Before using soap for the treatment of pediculosis in children, it is necessary to conduct a skin test. The delicate skin of a child can respond to the irritating effect of tar with an allergic reaction. To avoid this, apply a little soapy foam to the inside of the forearm and wait 15 minutes. If there is no reaction, then the tool can be used to elimination of lice in children.

Reviews of tar soap from lice and nits are different. Many complain that they have to get rid of parasites for a long time. To increase the effectiveness of the method, you can combine several folk remedies for lice.

Lice Recipes

Detergent is released in the form of a solid bar and in liquid form. Tar soap for hair from lice can also be used liquid. Here are some effective liquid soap recipes:

  1. Add 2-3 drops of ylang-ylang, peppermint, clove, lavender essential oil to the liquid soap. Use as recommended above. Such a tool will help to somewhat soften the unpleasant odor, and essential oils will make the repellent effect more pronounced.
  2. In liquid soap, add natural unrefined vegetable oil, which will make the film blocking the spiracles of lice more dense, and also facilitate combing. This recipe can be used with pediculosis treatment people with dry hair. The combination of components will help soften the scalp and protect the hair from alkali.
  3. After the tar soap lasted 40-60 minutes, washed off, and the hair was dried, the treatment can be supplemented with a hair treatment hellebore water. The tool is sold in pharmacies. This is an alcoholic extract of the roots of hellebore Lobel, which has a neurotoxic effect on lice. Cemeric tincture is applied using a cosmetic disc to the scalp.Soak under a hat for 30 minutes, wash your hair with shampoo for dry hair and thoroughly comb out the crest of dead lice and nits.
Tea tree oil and cloves
Tea tree oil and cloves

Interesting!

People who regularly use tar soap are protected from scabies, lichen, fungal diseases. Pharmacy birch tar is purified by fractional distillation, freeing from carcinogenic impurities. Therefore, it is safe to use a pharmacy product.

Those who want to cook tar tar according to an old recipe can offer this recipe:

  • baby soap - 300 g;
  • birch tar - 1 tablespoon;
  • water - 1 tablespoon.

Baby soap and birch tar
Baby soap and birch tar

The soap should be grated and placed in a water bath. Add a spoonful of water to the shavings and. stirring, dissolve. Add tar and mix until smooth. Cool to 30-40 ° C and pour into molds. It takes from 4 to 7 days to solidify completely. This soap is more gentle on the hair and scalp, as it contains less alkali. Home-made soap for pediculosis is more effective, since it contains a higher percentage of tar than in a store.

The control of lice with the use of tar soap will be effective and safe if you follow the rules of use.

Rules for the use of tar soap

Tar from lice and nits is a natural remedy that, when applied externally, has no contraindications. But removing lice with tar soap requires certain conditions:

  • Do not use the product in the presence of an allergic reaction to tar.
  • With thin and dry skin, brittle dry hair, prolonged use of tar soap can lead to redness, skin irritation and damage the hair. It is recommended to add castor or burdock oil to soap foam, wash your hair with shampoo for dry hair, and after the procedure, apply the appropriate balm.
  • Tar soap cannot be used orally. Ingestion of tar soap will cause abdominal pain and heartburn.
  • Avoid contact with soap foam in the eyes - it causes irritation of the mucosa.

Interesting!

Birch tar in Russia was used as a strong disinfectant. He was dripping on the stove when washing in the bath. During birth, midwives sprayed stove stones with birch tar to disinfect indoor air.

When treating pediculosis in young children or pregnant women, you should first consult your doctor.

Reviews

Tar soap removed lice in my childhood. I have not changed this tool now. When the son after a summer vacation with his grandmother in the village arrived with head lice, immediately remembered the dark bars with a characteristic smell. I bought in a pharmacy for a nominal sum and bought a special scallop. Enough once "soaping" and combing. But for the full effect of washing the hair 3 more times. My son even liked the smell. He did not experience any discomfort. So once again I was convinced - the proven tool is the best.

Veronika, Kiev.

I have two kids - the weather, who go to kindergarten. Where do lice come from - I don’t know, but already 2 times the children came with nits in their hair. The benefit is a proven remedy - tar soap. It is only worth seeing these white bubbles - I immediately soap my heads with this soap, and then carefully comb out dead lice and nits. It is worth a week to carry out such procedures and the heads are already clean, and most importantly - no chemistry!

Galina, Simferopol.

On the advice of her mother, she used tar soap when my son Kostik came from school with lice and nits in the head. She did everything according to the instructions - soaped, aged, combed out. I did not receive the expected effect. I bought and processed Nowhere. Lice immediately disappeared. When I complained to my mother that tar soap did not help, it turned out that it should be used longer, and for 2 times it may not completely relieve lice. Now I will know, because the effective Nyuda has significantly broken a financial gap.

Catherine, Ternopil.

My daughter had long lice in her long hair and was in contact with children from a large and not very prosperous family. I really did not want to cut the hair. Took to treat their own means. Combined tar soap and hellebore water. The effect was quick and complete. She saved the hair of the child and spent a minimum of money and effort.

Zinaida, Sarny.

Rating
( 3 grades average 5 of 5 )

Comments10
  1. Galina

    I remember the smell of tar soap since childhood. Grandmother treated them to our broken knees, pimples, boils. When on vacation I became infected with lice, I immediately remembered this remedy. I read reviews and recommendations on the Internet. I bought soap in a pharmacy and used it, as it was written. But lice could not be removed. What have I done wrong?

    1. Svetlana

      Try to buy a special scallop. He will be able to cope with parasites faster.

  2. Kirill

    From tar tar lice die weakly. I tried using it with a shampoo for lice. Disappeared the first time. And the smell wore off after a couple of hours. The consumption of expensive shampoo is much less - an almost full bottle remains.

  3. Veronica

    Bred lice tar soap. I got rid of parasites, and spoiled my hair. They became dull and lifeless. The tips also began to split. Now you have to treat. So the savings did not work. It would be better if I bought Nudu.

    1. Alina

      Tar soap helped me a lot. I got lice out in three days, and even dandruff disappeared, my hair stopped quickly oily. The smell does not scare me at all, so I will periodically wash my hair with it for preventive purposes.

  4. Tatyana

    The hair from lice was not washed with tar soap - it cost a special shampoo, but the bed linen was washed. Wash it perfectly and even bleach. Lice disappeared, and the smell weathered during drying on the street. Now I use it for washing kitchen towels, at the same time and disinfect them.

  5. Olga

    The daughter often comes from the garden with nits or lice. There’s not enough money to buy all these drugs, and you don’t want to use chemistry so often. Therefore, we use a cheaper and safer option - tar soap. Used Dermosil, it is slightly more expensive than domestic, but personally I like it more. My daughter even got thicker. Together with the scallop, it perfectly eliminates lice.

  6. Marina

    I am a paramedic and for the first time I hear about such use of tar soap. It treats problem skin, but I don’t believe that it relieves pediculosis. There are good and safe remedies. Why come up with something?

  7. Anton

    The wife is fond of soap making. Therefore, when the little son at school became infected with lice, she herself cooked tar soap. I don’t know what she added there, but there were no horrors like burning, brittle hair and a month of torment with the treatment. Brought in a few days. Dead parasites were combed out and rinsed with lemon water. Great remedy.

  8. Sergei

    I have never had lice, but a friend recently had such a disaster. Picked up himself and infected his girlfriend. Bred with tar soap and vodka. I don’t know where they got this method from, but they got rid of lice twice.

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