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How to get rid of lice is a common question, as there are an estimated 12 million cases per year in the United States, most of these in children. Until recently, the preferred head lice treatment involved harsh chemicals and pesticides. These methods not only overly dried the scalp, but exposed the environment to long lasting dangerous pesticide residues. Currently, the emphasis is on mechanical removal of lice and their eggs or nits. This type of removal or "nit-picking" can be extremely effective if the following basic procedure is followed.

Anyone with lice should first be treated with an over the counter lice shampoo. Carefully follow all instructions, paying special attention to the length of time the product should be left in the hair. Lice can also be suffocated by covering the scalp with a generous coating of mayonnaise, olive oil, or petrolatum, and leaving it in overnight. Wear a shower cap or something similar to protect bedding, and rinse the hair in the morning.

Whether you use a commercial wash or a home remedy, the next step in treating head lice is combing out the nits. A special nit comb can be purchased at any pharmacy. Nit combs are extremely fine toothed and stiff. The close spacing of the teeth catch nits as the comb passes through the hair. You may be squeamish about this task, but knowing some basic information about head lice may help you get over it. Head lice cannot jump or fly so they are not easily transferred to the person combing the nits out.

Next, you will need to eliminate all lice and their eggs from your house. You may not be aware that lice do not need a constant human host -- in fact, they can live for 55 hours on their own. You do not need to use any special products to eliminate the lice and their eggs, such as a commercial head lice treatment, since you can simply use a detergent and hot water. If you have any items that cannot be washed in a machine, you may use a lice spray.

Nits are capable of surviving for 14 days without a host, so items that can not be thoroughly cleaned should be discarded or quarantined for two weeks. Stuffed animals that commonly share a bed with a young child should be kept isolated in an airtight bag. Some physicians will also recommend taking a vacation to avoid a further infestation.

Following the elimination of the last head lice, prevention of re-infestation becomes paramount. Children must be instructed to avoid sharing items which have touched another child's scalp, most commonly combs, brushes, hats, hairpins and scarves, and to minimize contact with other children's heads. Anyone who may have had physical contact with your child, or his or her head coverings, combs, brushes and clothing, should be alerted. Head lice is not a sign of poor hygiene. There is no cause for undue alarm, fear or stigma.

This article will outline how to get rid of lice. There are many of head lice treatment. The first step is to apply an over the counter lice wash. It is essential to comb out the nits. This makes many people uncomfortable. Some basic lice information may help make this task more tolerable. Next, you will need to eliminate all lice and their eggs from your house. Nits are capable of surviving for 14 days without a host, so items that can not be cleaned should be discarded or quarantined for two weeks.