Head lice have squandered the face of the earth since as long as anyone can recall. These near-microscopic insects have crawled around hair follicles, silently sucking our blood and laying eggs.
These pests flourished among crowds of unwashed humans back when bathing was an uncommon practice in Europe, and ever since then have been a source of annoyance for children and adults alike.
With technological advancements taking place every day, one would think science would have come up with a solution to get rid of lice once and for all. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case.
Let’s take a look at the evolution of lice and whether conventional methods of lice treatment benefited human beings… meanwhile, try not to scratch your scalp!
History and evolution of lice
Scientists have reported that lice originated in North America about a 100,000 years ago and migrated to farther regions of the world.
Researchers found genetic differences emerging among head lice around the time people started covering their bodies with clothes. This change led to genetic alterations which created a new breed of body lice.
The reproduction of lice
Lice lay around 4 to 5 eggs twice in a day, which is why one finds themselves dealing with multiple infestations in a lifetime. Unfortunately, fast reproduction has left scientists unable to come up with a way to make these pesky creatures sterile.
Hence, several treatments were used to deal with infestations one at a time.
Conventional treatments for head lice
Around the time of the Second World War, the lice epidemic among soldiers prompted the development of chemical pesticides that could be used to kill lice. These were made from a chemical compound called permethrin, which is still the leading chemical compound used in present-day insecticides.
Permethrin enabled a strong outflow of sodium from the pores on the human scalp which disarmed the lice by paralyzing them and eventually killing them.
However, the over-use of pesticides allowed the lice to develop a resistant mutation against them, rendering these pesticides useless.
What now?
Human beings may not be immune to lice, but they can seek effective treatments other than chemical pesticides and anecdotal home remedies to get rid of infestations.
By using a drying agent to dehydrate the lice, manual nit-picking can be performed to get rid of lice successfully.
If you’re looking for an effective lice removal treatment,
head over to Lice Troopers in New York. Our lice removal salon uses natural, non-toxic treatments to help you get rid of lice once and for all. Get in touch with us at
800-403-5423 today!
