Facts About Head Lice You May Not Know

Here are some facts you might not find anywhere else about head lice. And realize that learning what you should NOT do is as vital as knowing what TO do.

In your search for a way to rid your child of these pests, you will quickly find the common products over the counter like Elimite, Pronto, Nix, Clear, and Rid. They are pesticides containing harmful ingredients like pyrethrin or permethrin.

Aside from being toxic, they have been used for so long that they no longer are effective, because the lice have grown to be immune to them over the years.

It surprises me that doctors still prescribe drugs containing Lindane that not only is a potent neurotoxin, but it has been shown to be carcinogenic! Known side effects include seizures-and even death!

Consumer Reports (much more concerned about public safety than the FDA) is working to get the FDA to remove Lindane from its list of approved drugs. The really pathetic thing here is that both children and seniors are more likely to suffer side effects-especially if they have allergies. And overdoses can be lethal!

So avoid these poisons at all cost. Home remedies have proven best in the long run.

The first fact you should know is that head lice have a very short survival span without a human host. Adult lice die within 24 hours without a source of blood.

Next, the nits (eggs) hatch out in about ten days, and that is why so many treatments have to be done at least twice to ensure that any nits hatching out between treatments are zapped.

Head lice take in oxygen through holes in the side of their bodies, which is why oils and thick substances can be used to stop up these holes, effectively asphyxiating those little pests.

Fact: Whatever you use to suffocate them, it is still necessary to use a nit comb to pull the eggs off the hair shaft. (I recommend the metal kind of comb.)

Fact: Many herbs repel lice, among which are tea tee (lice hate that), rosemary, geranium, lavender, and citronella.

Fact: Lice cannot survive long in water-a swimming pool, for instance.

Fact: Head lice do not spread any kind of disease.

Fact: Head lice are wingless and thus unable to jump or fly. That is why direct contact with another head that is infested-or with personal items that might hide some nits-is the only way these buggers are spread.

Fact: Personal hygiene has no connection to whether or not a person will get head lice.

Fact: Head lice also are not spread by pets, as lice dine only on human blood!

Fact: Lice cannot be spread through the air or by trees or dirt.

Fact: Personal clothing items are quickly disinfected by running them through a hot dryer for half an hour or so.

Fact: You may be surprised to learn that lice prefer freshly clean hair, rather than a head full of hairspray or other substances. Why? It is actually easier for them to cling to clean hair.

Fact: Here in the U.S.A., every year more than 12 million instances of head lice are reported.

Fact: You always seem to hear about children being bothered by head lice, and this is true, because they are more likely than adults to have direct personal contact with other children while playing sports, games, etc. Slumber parties are a prime way for them to be spread because of the indiscriminate use of pillows and clothing among the children.

Diana Lodge has become an unofficial expert in the subject of head lice ... how to identify them, how to treat them, and most importantly, how to get rid of them for good, both from your head and your home! Although Diana has crafted a free mini-course for you, which you can get at http://wipeoutheadlice.com/head-lice-facts/. she also has written a comprehensive e-book covering just about anything and everything you ever wanted to know about head lice, all in one convenient place, including the what's and how-to's using home remedies that work ... and that won't cost you big bucks. See http://wipeoutheadlice.com/lsl.html