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Having lice in one's hair is a common problem and more so in school going children. Just like the common cold, hair lice are also a communicable disease that affects most school children. Lice are wingless, tiny insects that are parasitic and thrive on the blood that they draw from the scalp. Having lice in your hair is in no way a sign of improper personal hygiene and does not signify that you stay in an unclean environment. Hair lice primarily spread by personal contact or by sharing of personal belongings with people having hair lice. Lice can also cause severe itching, which may lead to wounds on your scalp. Visit your family doctor immediately if these scratches become infected.
The most prevalent approach that people follow for hair lice is to get rid of the hair lice along with their eggs, so that they don't get a chance of multiplying. You can use a thin fine toothed comb to comb out lice. This is best done when your hair is wet; just after a wash. You will need to repeat the combing procedure every second or third day for at least two weeks. This is the best method if you do not want to use insecticides to get rid of lice. Lice can typically survive for a few days without feeding but lice nits tend to be more fragile and require a temperature close to the human body temperature to stay alive.
Since you are dealing with an insect infestation, the obvious weapon of choice against the problem is to use an insecticide. There are many over the counter shampoos available to help you with this problem. Look for one that contains pyrethrum or permethrin. Lindane is also a good removal agent. In the natural world the most effective organic pesticide that you can use is margosa oil. This is usually available as a soap or oil itself. Take the oil and soak your head in it for an hour before washing off with a shampoo. Blow drying your hair afterwards is also a good idea. Nits and lice are temperature sensitive so use hot jets of water onto your scalp. A more radical approach if you are a man is to completely go bald for a month. This might in fact be the only and best shot you have if none of the above treatments work effectively for you.
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