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Very few people like to talk about it, but head lice treatment is something nearly everyone will eventually need to know about. There are three different kinds of parasitic lice that affect human beings: pubic lice that live around the genitalia, body lice, and hair lice or head lice seen on the scalp. Head lice are the most common problem.

Lice infestations on one's scalp can be embarrassing, but in reality, they have nothing to do with poor hygiene. Lice are mobile insects that can jump from person to person after even mundane activities like sitting close to someone with lice or sharing items like combs, brushes, scarves, or hats.

Without human beings, lice will begin to die in a matter of a few weeks. Some household items cannot be washed or sprayed with pesticide and that is where knowing this fact is useful. Plastic bags can seal off the lice and lice eggs and get rid of the lice off of that item that previously would not have been possible.

The size of the lice is so small that they are hard to notice. It is generally when a note comes from the school that you become cautious and plan to undertake head lice treatment. If you cannot see the lice then you can look for nits on the base for hair shafts. Nits are nothing but the eggs of the lice. They are tightly bound to the hair. The head lice treatment is considered to be over only when you get rid of each and every lice and nit.

After the treatment, the scalp has to be checked daily. To remove the nits and any dead or alive lice a special fine toothed comb is used. Though products like lice spray or lotion or shampoo generally kill the adults, but in some cases a stronger product has to prescribed, you should always check with your doctor for the same. For success, other household items like clothing, furniture, bedding, carpet and even stuffed toys must also be treated.

For those who would prefer to avoid the usual insecticide head lice treatment products, there are nontoxic herbal products available. Health food stores stock these or, alternately, they can also be purchased online. Home remedies are also quite effective, cheap and non-toxic too. But these are quite messy, as they require covering the scalp with mayonnaise, petroleum jelly or oil, covering the head in a plastic shower cap for hours or even overnight and suffocating the lice. A lice comb takes care of the nits. The downside of home remedies is that several treatments may be required and the hair needs to be washed clean with a lot of shampoo.