How To Get Rid Of Head Lice

Well, here we are again discussing the subject of head lice. Now is the time when we can talk about how to get rid of head lice. Most commonly if a parent sees their child scratching their head you the parent will want to inspect the scalp of your child for a head lice infestation. In many cases and families the parents check the heads of their children on a regular basis because head lice can be contracted in many ways such as day care, or school or even summer camp.  When inspecting a child or person for a head lice infestation it is a good idea to part that person’s hair with a comb to make rows of visible parts on the scalp to perform the inspection. You will need to inspect your child’s scalp and pay special attention to the nape of the neck and do not forget to also inspect around the ears as head lice frequent these little hideouts.

Head lice like any other creature on this planet must also get rid of waste product.  Inspect the scalp very carefully for little black specks on the scalp of the person affected as this could be lice feces. If  lice fecal matter is detected then carefully inspect the rest of the affected persons head for live active lice infestation. This is a very important step in knowing how to get rid of head lice. Remember! there can many many “nits” in an affected person or child’s hair, anywhere from a scant few to many hundreds! Look for the eggs which are laid by the females and these eggs can usually be found within a half an inch from the scalp on the hair shaft. You must be thorough if you want to get rid of head lice.

One very good way to detect head lice is to be in good light and have a magnifying glass that is powerful enough for you to detect the difference between dandruff and head lice “nits” this is often one of the biggest mistakes made by parents and health care professionals as the nits are so small that they are often overlooked as being dandruff. Don’t make this common mistake.  Remember, the eggs are attached to the hair shaft and are oval in shape just like a chicken egg. One common thing to remember is that even after the “nit” has hatched from the egg it can and will stay attached to the hair shaft of the affected person.

There are many things that you can do when learning how to get rid of head lice. There are also many different treatments on the market that will allow you to get rid of head lice. One of the most common items on the market is the electronic comb which can actually detect the presence of head lice. It is called the Robi Comb and is produced by a company called LiceGuard Remember, that no matter what treatment method you choose to use to always follow the directions that accompany the treatment method for best results.

Another treatment method that one can choose it to use an insecticidal treatment which is used to decrease the number of active lice on the affected persons scalp. Remember, if you choose this method you will want to use a product that has been designed and labeled for the use in head lice control.

There are also other products on the market used in the treatment of a head lice infestation called Pyrethrins or (permethrin) Such products include NIX and RID as well as A-200 and Clear and as with anything else there are the store brands that have active ingredients that are similar to the others. In most cases and if used properly by following the instructions included with your choice of treatment, the OTC (over the counter) products are considered pretty safe, but a minor few people have been known to have small issues with itching and/or allergic reactions such as a rash. There has been some research studies performed in the United States that have determined that lice are immune or resistant to products such as pyrethrin or pyrethroid type products. This will mean that live lice can still be detected after the treatment has been performed. It is the old story of the fact that the longer a product has been used the resistance of the lice will increase with time which in the long run can make these products less and less effective.

Another treatment option is called Malathion which has come back to the American market in the last few years and is produced by a company called Ovide. Malathion has been used in other countries for quite some time now and it’s active ingredient is called an organophosphate insecticide. It is possible to get better results and control of active lice with this type of treatment if the lice is resistant to the pyrethrin product. Be forwarned that this product does not smell very good and it flammable.  Remember to read all instructions with any option that you chose to use for treatment and also consider speaking to your health care professional in regards to any treatment that you might wish to use.

There is a downside to using this type of product the instructions state that the affected person’s hair should be soaked with this product for at least 8 to 12 hours. Yet, another option for getting rid of head lice is a shampoo called Kwell. This product has been around for half a century for getting rid of head lice and the active ingredient in Kwell is called lindane. In many parts of the world and the United States of America, head lice has been reported as being resistant to this ingredient. Shampoo’s such as Kwell need to be used with extreme caution/discretion–neurotoxic reactions, carcinogenicity in lab animals and blood disorders have been reported as a result of using lindane shampoos.

REMEMBER: When deciding on a treatment for getting rid of head lice you should consider speaking to a health care professional about certain options for the treatment of head lice.

This article is educational in nature and is not to be construed as offering medical advice. Always consult with your doctor or other health care professional before using this information.