Lice are parasites that live on blood, which they suck through piercing mouthparts. There are different lice which infest humans: the head louse which affect the scalp, causing itching. The female lays eggs attached to hairs, and the empty egg has a white shell, commonly known as a nit, which can be seen attached to the base of the hair.

Head Lice

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t get head lice from wearing someone else’s hat, using their comb or towel, from sitting on train or bus seats or using the same mat in a school or health centre gym. You only get them by bodily contact (head to head contact), which is why this is common in children. Which is why they can become so rampant among young children working enthusiastically on a joint school project together, their teachers and the rest of the family when they come home.

Head lice are nothing to be ashamed of and are no respecters of social class. In fact they far prefer short, clean hair – it gives the little devils easier access to the warm, juicy bits of the scalp.

Head Lice Treatments

Ordinary shampoos won’t get rid of them, you’ll just end up with very clean lice! But a fine-tooth comb works wonders. Lice cling to several hairs at the same time and combing through with one of these old-fashioned remedies pulls off their legs and a legless louse is a dead louse.

There are concerns about the chemicals used in conventional treatments for lice, not only are they toxic, but the lice are becoming resistant, too. There are some complementary alternatives available as a solution and shampoo, which are specially formulated for this problem and are available from most health stores and chemists. Some people find that adding several drops of Tea Tree oil to their shampoo and conditioner is also useful.

A popular remedy which seems to be effective is ‘Neem’ oil applied topically or taken as capsules.

It’s also important to remember that everyone in the family should be treated at the same time.

Body Lice

The body louse actually lives in the clothes and only visits the body to feed, where its bites produce intense itching; the resulting scratches often become infected – this is a disease of the socially deprived. The lice themselves may be infected by germs called rickettsia which cause typhus and relapsing fever.

Body Lice Treatments

The only effective way of getting rid of body lice is to shower or bath more regularly using Tea Tree bath gel and shampoo and to wash your clothes at high temperatures to kill the lice and their eggs.

Pubic Lice

Pubic lice, also known as crab lice, prefer living in the coarser hair of the pubic region, where they spend their time clinging to the shaft of the hair and taking the occasional feed, which causes itching at night. This is a disease of the sexually active.

Contrary to expectations, pubic lice are more common in attractive and more affluent young people – because they have more opportunities for sex and a greater number of partners.

Pubic Lice Treatments

Tea Tree shampoo and Tea Tree oil in the bath may help. If they don’t, you need medical attention or you’ll pass this infestation on to everyone you sleep with.