Six to twelve million people -- that's the number of Americans, a large cut of which are children, are affected by head lice.
Head lice are easily contacted by children since they are fond of getting close, physically, when they are playing with each other.
They also rarely comb their hair, making them easy targets for insects that live on 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/her age.
Besides, schools currently implement a no-nit policy.
However, in case an infestation occurs, the trick is in early detection.
That way, the chances of lice breeding generation after generation are lessened.
The more head lice infestation is left untreated, the more trouble you'll have later in getting rid of nits, because those eggs manage to cling on for dear life.
Heck, they even manage to stay glued, even when they aren't at all alive, thanks to the protein secreted by the female lice when she laid the eggs.
You will know when there is lice infestation by its foremost symptom: too much itchiness.
You'll know there's too much itch when there's more than the usual head scratching.
But you just can't over-excited overhead lice removal and buy the first pediculicide bottle you bump into, at the first signs of itchiness.
After all, itchiness might also be caused by other factors, such as dandruff.
You need to have clear proof, and what is better proof than a head louse on your fingertips? Get a hair lice comb and see for yourself.
In some cases, there might be fever as a manifestation of bacterial infection.
After making sure that there is, after all, head lice infestation.
It's time to evaluate your head lice removal options.
There are several methods but they are generally classified into three categories - chemical pediculicide, home remedies and a hair lice comb.
With chemical pediculicides, substances, usually in the form of shampoos are applied on the hair and scalp to kill the parasites.
Of the several options under this category, only lindane and malathion were approved by the FDA.
There have also been recent developments about silicone-based lotions.
Silicone oil was proven to be effective in dehydrating and suffocating, and consequently killing head lice.
Under the category for home remedies, a variety of options are available.
Vinegar is effective in removing nits because it dissolves the 'glue' that attaches the nit to the hair strand.
Mayonnaise, olive oil and coconut oil is also said to create a setting that is not friendly to head lice, as it suffocates the insect.
Perhaps the most heard-about in this category is tea tree oil, which is said to have insect repellent properties.
People have also been using head lice comb for head lice removal.
These combs have teeth that have minimal space in between.
Running it through your hair would drag whatever adult lice and nymphs it encounters.
They are best used when hair is wet and the knots are untangled.
Hair lice infestation may be dreadful, but it is one condition that you don't have to put up with it.
Learn more about head lice removal options and go for those that have been proven to work for many people.