Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Lice are easily spread especially by school children through close personal contact and by sharing belongings.
There are three types of lice:
- Head lice. These lice are found on your scalp. They’re easiest to see at the nape of the neck and over the ears.
- Body lice. These lice live in clothing and on bedding and move onto your skin to feed. Body lice most often affect people who aren’t able to bathe or launder clothing regularly, such as homeless individuals.
- Pubic lice. Commonly called crabs, these lice occur on the skin and hair of the pubic area and, less frequently, on coarse body hair, such as chest hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.
People can have good personal hygiene and still get lice. Unless treated properly, this condition can become a recurring problem. SEE: How To Spot Andrea Hair Growth Essence Fake vs Original
A relaxer is a type of lotion or cream generally used by people with tight curls or very curly hair which makes hair easier to straighten by chemically “relaxing” the natural curls. The active agent is usually a strong alkali, although some formulations are based on ammonium thioglycolate or formaldehyde. Relaxer can kill lice but it is not an effective method for killing lice and can be dangerous for children. According to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, exposure to the chemicals found in some perming solutions can cause everything from headaches and nausea to redness, itching, and even burning.
Permethrin lotion 1% is the generally approved medication for the treatment of head lice. Permethrin is safe and effective when used as directed. Permethrin kills live lice but not unhatched eggs. Permethrin may continue to kill newly hatched lice for several days after treatment. READ: Do Not Use Sniper to Wash Your Hair, Public Health Experts Warn AND Does Hand Sanitizer Kill Lice and Nits
