Head lice are unfortunately very common which means that most people will catch them at some point, usually as a child. These insects spread by crawling from one person's hair to another's, so it is no surprise they are most common amongst children who often play with their heads touching. Knowing how to deal with head lice removal is therefore important as infestations occur frequently in school children, their friends and families.

Removal can be problematic because re-infestation can occur so quickly if a child's hair makes contact with that of someone who has not been treated. Studies have also found that these insects appear to becoming resistant to some of the chemicals used in lotions. These difficulties can be overcome, however.

Lotions to treat this condition can be purchased, and treatment should not be delayed as lice multiply quite rapidly. Head lice should not be able to become resistant to the newer lotions, which contain silicones and oils instead of the traditional insecticides. These new lotions work by physically smothering the pests rather than chemically poisoning them.

If someone has any other medical condition has this problem, a health-care professional should be seen before using any lotion. Likewise, babies or pregnant women should not be treated before seeking professional advice.

Instructions need to be followed carefully for optimum results as lotions can vary on how long they should be applied for, for example. Some lotions can be applied at night and washed off in the morning but others should be left on for a much shorter period of time. There are now lotions available that only require one treatment but usually treatment needs to be repeated one week later.

In order to prevent re-infestation the whole family should be treated for this condition and children's friends and class mates alerted so that their hair can be checked and treated if necessary. Tying long hair back and braiding Afro hair can also help with preventing re-infestation. Towels, bed linen, hats and scarves belonging to the affected person should also be washed.

A natural way to deal with this problem is by wet combing with a fine-toothed comb; these can be purchased at pharmacies. Lots of conditioner needs to be used after washing and rinsing the hair, and the hair is then combed. After every stroke, wiping with tissue paper or rinsing the comb in a container of warm water will remove any pests. It is important not to miss any sections of hair and to repeat every few days until not a single louse is found. This is a good treatment for people sensitive to medicated lotions or desiring a more natural treatment but it is obviously more time consuming, especially for those with lots of thick, long, curly or difficult to comb hair.

Dealing with head lice removal is important because if left untreated the insects will multiply and may cause itchiness and irritation. This problem is incredibly common but the pests can be removed fairly easily if dealt with quickly.