Lice by Ray Sahelian, M.D. ( Pediculus capitis )

Head lice are small parasitic insects adapted to living mainly on the scalp and neck hairs of their human host. Their six legs are evolved to grasp hair shafts and provide a striking example of biological specialization. Head lice are equal opportunity parasites; they do not respect socio-economic class distinctions. Their presence does not connote a lack of hygiene or sanitation practiced by their host. Head lice are mainly acquired by direct head-to-head contact with an infested person's hair, but may infrequently be transferred with shared combs, hats and other hair accessories. They may also remain on bedding or upholstered furniture for a brief period.

Head Lice Treatment
Head lice are treated with chemical-containing shampoos, which can kill lice but not the eggs they leave behind. "Nit" combs remove lice eggs, but the technique requires some work -- thoroughly combing the hair in sections over several days, for up to two weeks. Lice are mutating and gradually becoming resistant to the chemicals used in delousing shampoos. Insecticidal shampoos to kill head lice raised the odds of leukemia.

The LouseBuster
A hot-air device dubbed the LouseBuster is able to rid children of head lice and eggs in about 30 minutes. LouseBuster could offer a quick, chemical-free alternative for banishing head lice. In a study published in Pediatrics Journal, LouseBuster killed off nearly all of the lice eggs in children's hair, along with 80 percent of hatched lice -- a success rate good enough to cure most of the kids. The LouseBuster works by sending a high volume of hot air to the scalp through a long flexible hose that has a rake-like hand attachment for lifting the hair. The researchers envision it being used in clinics and, especially, in schools -- where lice infestations are often discovered, said Dr. Dale Clayton, a biology professor at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and the study's lead author. The LouseBuster uses air that's cooler than a standard blow-dryer, which could singe the scalp if used improperly. The LouseBuster was actually an "accidental discovery," Clayton said, that stemmed from his work on birds and the lice that infest them. When he first came to Utah, he found that his lab lice couldn't survive in the region's dry air. The LouseBuster is currently under commercial development by a company called Larada Sciences, for which Clayton is the chief scientific director. The device could be on the market within the next two years, he said. Pediatrics, November 2006.

Tea Tree Oil for Lice
Tea tree oil has been tested in various skin and medical conditions including acne, dermatitis, gingivitis, lice, dandruff, genital warts, and tinea pedis (athlete's foot).