Nits And Louse Eggs: How To Treat
To successfully deal with a hair lice infection, one must also remember the nits. Nits are lice eggs. The eggs become attached to individual strands of hair, stuck to each strand with a glue substance. They can be extremely difficult to remove. Lice removal can be expedited by a medicated shampoo, but the shampoo won't remove the eggs. If the eggs aren't removed, they will hatch after about a week and the cycle of infestation will continue.
There are several ways to remove nits but all are time consuming. The easiest way for removal is with a fine toothed metal comb to go through the individual strands of hair one by one. Wet hair works best with this method. Using a magnifying glass is a good idea as it will make the eggs more visible. It is imperative that all the hair is examined because if nits are left behind they can and will hatch and continue the infestation.
After removing all of the louse eggs, you should wash all of the bedding, and all of the clothing, because those may contain adult lice or nits as well. If possible, bleach should be added to the wash cycle in order to kill all remaining eggs and adult lice. Furthermore, combs, hats, and other accessories should also be bleached. Those items which can not be bleached or washed should instead be sealed for several weeks in plastic bags.
It is a difficult process to remove louse eggs from hair, but there are easier ways of removing them. If the infested person's hair is soaked in white vinegar before removing the eggs, the process will be easy as it will loosen the glue that holds the eggs tightly to the hair. It is of help if the comb is soaked in vinegar before the eggs are removed. If heat is applied to the hair just prior to removing the eggs, the eggs will get loosened.
It might be best not to try a natural alternative course of action when trying to remove lice. Often times these remedies have not been tested and may go badly. Mayonnaise, a popular alternative, can go rancid and is hard to wash out. Some alternatives can even cause serious, or fatal harm.
There are different sources available to help you with an infestation of lice. Doctors and pharmacists can advise you on products for dealing with the louse eggs. Should your child become infected, the on-site school nurse will also have this information.
To successfully deal with a hair lice infection, one must not forget about the nits - which are the lice eggs. The eggs become attached to individual strands of hair, stuck to each strand with a glue substance. The lice removal process can be expedited by a medicated shampoo, but the shampoo won't remove the eggs. Once you have discovered the presence of the problem, resources exist to help deal with it. A medical professional might prescribe something for taking care of the eggs. If it is an elementary or middle school student with the issue, you should consult with the nurse at the school.
Published February 4th, 2008