Lice Elimination – Detection and Treatment

Six to twelve million people, that’s the number of Americans, a large portion of whom are children, affected by head lice. Children come into contact with lice easily, as they like to get physically close when playing with each other. Also, they rarely comb their hair, making them an easy target for insects that live in the hair strands and suck blood from the scalp.

Naturally, everyone would want to avoid an infestation. However, it can be difficult and unwise to keep your child away from children his age. Additionally, schools currently implement a no nits policy. However, should an infestation occur, early detection is the trick. That way, the chances of lice reproducing generation after generation are reduced. The more head lice infestation left untreated, the more trouble you’ll have later getting rid of the nits, because those eggs manage to cling on for dear life. Heck, they even manage to stay attached, even when they’re not alive, thanks to the protein secreted by the female lice when she laid the eggs.

You will know when there is a lice infestation by its main symptom: excessive itching. You’ll know it’s too itchy when you scratch your head more than usual. But you just can’t get too excited about lice removal and buy the first bottle of pediculicide you stumble upon, at the first signs of itching. After all, itching can also be caused by other factors, such as dandruff. You need to have clear proof, and what better proof than a louse on your fingertips? Get a lice comb and see for yourself. In some cases, a fever may be present as a manifestation of a bacterial infection.

After making sure that there is a lice infestation after all. It’s time to evaluate your lice removal options. There are several methods, but they generally fall into three categories: chemical pediculicide, home remedies, and a lice comb.

With chemical pediculicides, substances, usually in the form of shampoos, are applied to the hair and scalp to kill parasites. Of the various options under this category, the FDA has only approved lindane and malathion. There have also been recent developments on silicone based lotions. Silicone oil has been shown to be effective in dehydrating and suffocating, and consequently in killing head lice.

In the category of home remedies, there are a variety of options available. Vinegar is effective at removing nits because it dissolves the “glue” that holds the nits to the hair. Mayonnaise, olive oil, and coconut oil are also said to create an environment that is not friendly to lice, as it suffocates the insect. Perhaps the best known in this category is tea tree oil, which is said to have insect-repelling properties.

People have also been using a lice comb to remove lice. These combs have teeth that have minimal space between them. Running it through the hair would wash away any adult and nymphal lice it finds. They are best used when hair is wet and knots are untangled.

Hair lice infestation can be terrible, but it’s a condition you don’t have to put up with. Learn more about head lice removal options and opt for those that have been shown to work for many people.