Lice are very common especially among women with long hair. These parasites survive in the human body by feeding on small amounts of blood that they draw from one’s scalp.

Although they are not dangerous and do not spread disease, lice are still quite a nuisance, but thankfully there are options available for treatment for lice.

Lice commonly affect children ages 3-9, hence treatment for lice should also be child-friendly.

Doctors can recommend a variety of over-the-counter treatment options for children such as medicated shampoo, cream rinses, or lotions that are effective in killing lice and their eggs. Lice also commonly afflict adults, but there are also many treatments available.

Although treatment for lice kills them instantly, it may still take a few days until the itching has completely disappeared.

Other popular methods used for treatment for lice in the head are the following:

• Insecticides

Over the counter insecticides, such as malathion and phenothrin, come in lotion form, shampoo, or liquids that are usually washed over the infested area.

Insecticide treatment for lice needs at least two applications spread over 7 days in order to effectively kill the adult lice and those that come out of the eggs. Any course of insecticide medication should only have a maximum of 3 treatments.

However, if you are pregnant you will need to check with your doctor or pharmacist which insecticide option is best for you. Insecticides come in either alcohol or water based forms, and alcohol forms may have some allergic side effects so it’s also best to ask first.

• Shampoo

Common treatment for lice are head lice shampoo, which, in order to be effective, needs to be diligently followed by sessions of removing nits with a special lice comb. If the infestation is light, the nits can be removed individually through the use of the comb.

It is important that when using any shampoo as treatment for lice, the directions should be followed fully in order for this to work. Each brand or product may have its own concentration and individual advice that should be taken.

• Non-chemical treatments

Non-chemical treatment for lice is also available, and is just as effective when it comes to eliminating lice. Dimethicone or Hedrin is a coating solution that covers the lice, and has no smell or color although comes in a slightly oily texture.

This should be poured on the hair when wet and by leaving it, only to be rinsed out 8 hours later. It is also an effective treatment for lice because it is safe and gentle, and works without irritating the scalp.

• Fine comb and hygiene

In some cases, running a very fine toothed comb can remove lice. After bathing, try combing your hair with this kind of comb. Lice stick to your scalp and hair when your head is still wet.

Another effective treatment for lice is avoiding contact with the infected member of the family or your friends. Don’t use the same pillows, wear their clothes, or even borrow their combs.

In fact, the reason for its cause is given less attention compared to its treatment. This is a worrisome condition since it causes itchiness in the scalp brought by head lice bites. If this becomes infected, children suffer from swollen lymph glands in the neck.

Pre-school children are the most commonly infected by head lice. Of this age group, mostly girls acquire head lice because of their hair’s length and thickness. African-Americans rarely get infested by these parasites though.

Head lice treatment comes in different forms. Here are some of them:

1. Shampoo

There are natural means of treating it or by using chemical-based hair care products. Primarily, head lice treatment by the use of specially formulated shampoo is the most convenient way. However, if the scalp is lightly infested, constantly combing the hair removing the nits manually prove to be an effective head lice treatment.

In some cases wherein the nits continue to appear, do not despair as they are not totally eradicated overnight.

On the contrary, it must be emphasized that head lice multiply fast. Nits hatch in seven days and they lay eggs up to a hundred per day. Thus, before getting into any chemical-based head lice treatment, patiently get rid of the nits first.

2. Wash your child’s stuff in warm water

Having your child’s clothing, beddings and towels washed in warm water constitues part of head lice treatment. In fact, even before the treatment is initiated, these procedure must be observed including vacuuming the carpets wherein nits might have stayed.

3. Natural oils

Other head lice treatment such as the use of olive oil and tea tree oil must not be used outright. It is better to consult your child’s pediatrician before resulting to any of these natural remedies.

Having head lice must not be a cause of panic for parents. This might even worry the child because of the embarassment that it will bring them.

Although head lice treatment shampoos are readily available, prevention is the key to getting rid of these parasites. Here’s how to prevent them:

• Avoid contacts with other children already inffested with head lice especially during playtime, sports, slumber parties and the like.

• Applying head lice treatment is not always a guarantee that lice have been treated. Thus, children who are under treatment must also excuse themselves from such activities.

• Head lice treatment shampoos come with a specialized combs. These combs must not be used by other people to avoid infestation.

• Lying on beds and sofas vacated by somebody infected must also be avoided as a part of head lice reatment.

• Avoid staying out in the sun or let your child wear a cap or bandana when outdoors

Head lice treatment promises results but it takes time to completely get rid of the lice. If you don’t want your child to be infected, be sure to apply the necessary preventive measures.

Head louse is a parasitic insect that lives in human hair and scalp. To survive, these parasites need human blood.

Head louse infestation occurs in people throughout the world.

Almost six-to-twelve million people get head lice every year and is a very common condition that is mostly seen in children aging three-to-ten.

Head louse can be found in three forms, which are nit, nymph, and adult.

Nit is the ovum of the head louse, which is attached to the human hair with the layer of chitin. They are yellow-to-white in color with oval shape.

Nymph is the next stage of nit. Nit hatches into nymph in one week. They resemble adults in many aspects, but with the lack of genitalia development. It will take one week for nymphs to develop into adults.

Adult louse sizes about sesame seed with six legs. It is dark-to-grayish white in color. This can live up to thirty days. In order to live, adult lice would feed on human blood. If head louse falls from the head, it can survive for about two days.

Head louse can spread easily from one person to another person by direct contact with hair, head, clothes, and some personal belongings. You may get head louse infestation by using the comb that was used by the infested person or by lying on the same bed, couch, or pillow of infested person.

Having the nits close to the scalp proves that the person is infested. The common symptom from infestation of the head louse is itching, mostly around the ears and neck. However, some people do not feel itchy.

One can diagnose the head lice by close looking through the hair and scalp to remove and kill all live lice (by manual picking or using louse comb). By combing or manual picking, you can also remove the nits from the head.

You can find and remove nits easily, but nymphs and adults are hard to get as they escape quickly from the searching fingers.

Washing the head with hair soaps, head lice killing shampoos, or crème rinses can remove some of the active lice. Manual nit picking should be involved along with those, as chemicals were never proved to be successful in nit killing.

One of the effective treatment options in removing head louse is smothering, but you should know how and when to apply smothering agent. Olive oil, smothering agent, has been proved to be effective in killing head louse. At the same time, olive oil has some allergic properties.

Be aware that the head louse cannot transmit infectious diseases like AIDS [Cure for AIDS] from one person to another. Also, you should know that using pediculicides only could not be effective 100% in removing head louse.

Do not misdiagnose by treating yourself before making sure that you or your child has head lice. Go to the health care provider for appropriate diagnosis if you are not sure that you have head lice.

Yes, you have to take head lice treatment, for that have to approach a doctor.

The doctors usually prescribe a medicated shampoo, cream, or lotion to kill the lice.

These may be over-the-counter or prescription medications, depending on what head lice treatments have already been tried by you at home or by some other doctor or by your self analysis.

Some head lice treatments do not help in completely getting rid of head lice, this may be because the parasites are resistant towards certain chemicals in the shampoo, while some treatments serve the purpose at their best.

Remember to follow the directions of the doctor very carefully. The doctor may suggest for a shampoo which needs to be used in a specific manner and also a special comb which can pull out the lice as well as its nits.

You will realize that this will be very helpful to you. Wetting the hair beforehand is recommended because it temporarily immobilizes the lice and they become easier to comb out.

As itching is the first and foremost symptom of head lice, it is well understood that eradication of head lice and its nits will surely stop this problem of itching but keep in mind that this is a bit time consuming process.

After the head lice treatment has started the itching will start diminishing slowly, say about few days or weeks.

Keep in mind that head lice don’t survive long once they fall off a person. Don’t waste your time in getting rid of them by cleaning up your house.

It’s of no use at all; instead follow the head lice treatment method correctly as individual attention counts more. But in order to avoid risk you can counter check all these

• All the items which cannot be dry washed should be put aside, to avoid direct contact like bed linens, clothing, and stuffed animals and plush toys until the treatment goes on
• Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture (in your home or car).
• Don’t use the same medication more than three times on one person. If it doesn’t seem to be working, your child’s doctor may recommend another medication.
• Don’t use more than one head lice medication at a time.
• Soak hair-care products like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in rubbing alcohol or medicated shampoo for 1 hour. You can also wash them in hot water or just throw them away.
• Because lice are easily passed from person to person in the same house, other infested family members will also need head lice treatment to prevent the lice from coming back.
• Never use a hair dryer on your child’s hair after applying any of the currently available scalp treatments, because some contain flammable ingredients.
• Before applying lice medication don’t use a cream rinse or shampoo/conditioner combination
• Don’t wash your child’s hair for 1 to 2 days after using a medicated treatment.

So these are some simple steps very handy to follow and which have a great contribution in controlling the head lice. Try them out; for sure you will have a good result.

These species are very annoying and make the scalp itchy and inflamed and persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.

These species aren’t dangerous and surprisingly they don’t spread disease, but are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (schools, child-care centers, slumber parties, sports activities, camps, and even playgrounds).

Contagious! Wondering how these tiny species can spread from one person to the other. You will be quite surprised to know that they can’t fly or jump! But they have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair.

They spread mainly through head-to-head contact but keeping in mind that sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along.

Children and teens are most prone to catching lice because they tend to have close physical contact with each other and often share personal items. If you are thinking that you got them through your pets then you have mistaken because it is assured that pets can’t catch head lice and pass them on to people or the other way around.

You will find that in spite of being clean and tidy these tiny parasites still tend to spread and multiply.

But definitely by taking the following precautions you may control these parasites:

• Do not to lie on bedding, pillows, and carpets that have recently been used by someone with lice.
• Examine members of your household who have had close contact with a person who has lice every 3 or 4 days. Then, treat those who are found to have lice or nits close to the scalp.
• Try to avoid head-to-head contact at school (in gym, on the playground, or during sports) and while playing at home with other children.
• Do not share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, bandanas, ribbons, barrettes, hair ties or bands, towels, helmets, or other personal care items with anyone else, whether they may have lice or not.

In spite of following the above you encounter the same problems then it is sure that eradication is not complete. Head lice nits may be still left behind that is why you have the head lice still coming back.

Also you or your child with head lice problem is in continuous contact with some one with head lice. Finally the reason may be the treatment you’re using isn’t effective

If your problem didn’t solve yet, in spite of undergoing treatment for 2 weeks then you have to undergo other hard core treatments. If you find infection on the scalp like pus or sores then you immediately need to contact doctor for further treatment and proper guidance. So take good care of your head, scalp and hair. As far as possible stay away from head lice!