How to Protect Yourself from Lice

Dogs have fleas, and humans have lice. Lice can be just as bothersome as fleas. They spread from person to person without notice. They can cause us to scratch and itch in the most embarrassing places. Not only are they annoying, but they can also spread diseases.

The Three Kinds Of Lice
There are three different kinds of lice that plaque the human body. They are the head lice, body lice, and pubic (crab) lice.

Head Lice
Head lice are white sesame seed size parasites. The lice bite into the scalp and feed off of small amounts of blood. They are attracted to the head. The female louse can lay up to 10 eggs, nits, per day on the strands of a persons hair.

Body Lice
Body lice are slightly larger than head lice. Like the head lice, body lice feeds on the blood of people. They live in clothes and lay eggs in clothes fibers. They move from the clothes and to the body to feed on the clothes wearer's blood. The bites from body lice leave red itchy lesions.

Pubic (crab) Lice
Pubic lice, also known as crab lice, is a parasite that resembles a crab. They dwell in the pubic area of the body and lay their eggs on the pubic hairs. The louse feeds on blood and dead dried skin. Their bites, like the body louse, leave red lesions.

Discomfort Of Lice
The most common discomfort of having lice is the itching feeling caused by the bites. Head lice have not been known to cause health risks. However, body lice have been found to spread epidemic typhus. This is a bacteria found in the louse droppings. The bacteria is scratched into the skin. It causes severe headaches, fever, cough, rash, muscle pain, chills low blood pressure, and delirium. The pubic (crab) lice can cause the spread of STDs during sexual intercourse between people with the lice.

Getting Rid Of Lice
The common treatment for lice infestation is conventional chemical based prescription shampoos, lubricants, hair creams, sprays, and detergents. For people who may feel uncomfortable with using chemical based anti lice products there are alternative treatments.

Natural Oil
Natural oil such as vegetable oil or mineral oil, is a safe, non toxic way of getting rid of head and pubic lice. By saturating the head hairs and pubic hairs with oil, the living lice are suffocated to death. The oil also makes it easier to remove the nit eggs from the hair strands.

Vinegar
After shampooing hair normally, pour vinegar on the hair, wetting the hair thoroughly. Allow the vinegar to sit in the hair for a few minutes, about five minutes. Then comb the hair with a fine tooth comb. The properties of vinegar causing the lice to die. The vinegar also has a pickling effect on the nits. The vinegar treatment can also be used to get rid of pubic (crab) lice in the same way.

Getting Rid Of Body Lice
Because body lice mainly dwell in the fabric of clothes and lay their eggs there, it is important to wash clothes frequently. Instead of using a chemical based detergent especially for killing such lice, one should wash his or her laundry using hot water and regular laundry detergent. Then run the wet laundry in the dryer at least twice and set the dryer on the highest temperature. The hot water from the washing and the intense heat from the dryer will definitely kill live lice and lice eggs living in the clothes fabric.

Preventing The Spread Of Lice
Good Hygiene
Practicing good hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of all the different kinds of lice. One should change into clean clothes daily and wash their clothes frequently. Bed linen should be changed daily and washed often, as well. Wash your hair often. Be sure that all household members practice the same good hygiene habits.

Household Cleaning
Head lice, body lice, and pubic lice can for a short period live in dormant on furniture, such as living room furniture, on mattresses, and in carpet. To avoid catching lice from furniture, frequently vacuum it with a hand held vacuum that has strong suction power. Also vacuum the carpet often. If possible avoid purchasing used furniture.

Sharing Personal Items
The best way of not getting lice is to avoid sharing personal items such as clothes, under garments, hats, combs, and brushes. Avoid purchasing used clothes, and used stuff toys. These items often have lice.

Sexual Intercourse
Sexual intercourse is another way in which lice can be spread. People who participate in this activity should practice good hygiene, insist their partner practices good hygiene, and keep clean bed sheets on the bed.

There are so many ways of catching lice, and anyone can get them. However, if one practices good living habits lice infestations can be avoided.