Nits - Guide To Nits-free Hair
When talking about treating head lice, we cannot avoid dealing about the nits. Head lice are tiny grayish parasite which could be recognized on the scalp. These parasites are in motion even though they are tiny, can easily be seen. On the other hand, a nit is more tiny and cannot be easily noticed. It is a very much vital element to be familiar with the nits in lice treatment.
Once all of the lice have been removed, it is important to check for nits. These are the eggs of the lice. They are generally attached near the scalp on the base of hair shafts. Combing and shampooing with regular shampoo will not remove them. They must be manually removed with a special comb to avoid a recurrence.
The best way to get them out is to buy a specialized comb for nit removal. Unlike normal combs, these combs feature teeth that are so closely spaced that they will scrape out and remove nits. First use a shampoo to kill any live lice in the hair, then use the comb to separate nits from hair. You must literally check each strand for remaining nits. A lice treatment may kill many of the nits along with the lice, but you can never assume that it has killed them all.
Even when a nontoxic cure like mayonnaise or petroleum jelly is used, nit removal is crucial. More lice will hatch out unless these are eradicated. Remember that the treatment may have only killed live lice, not those who haven't yet hatched out. Any nits that are removed need to be flushed down the drain or placed in a sealed container as they can live for many days after removal.
You need to be careful because nits that drop into sheets, furniture, clothes, or even stuffed animals can hatch into lice. You will need to vacuum and clean your entire home. You will also want to wash and put everything in a dryer possible. Another suggestion is to try steam cleaning. If you cannot clean an item, place it in a sealed bag for about three weeks.
For several weeks after treating for lice, the head should be closely inspected for nits and any found should be removed and killed. Check the hairline and nape of the neck first, but examine the entire head. Repeat the lotion or shampoo as directed on the label. Lice are an annoying problem, but this is one case where "nitpicking detail" is literally the key to successful cures.
Whenever we talk about treating head lice, sooner or later the subject of nits is sure to come up. They are the eggs of the louse, which attach firmly to the hair shafts, usually near the scalp. The most convenient way to remove them from hair is by using a fine-toothed special comb, after using a shampoo that can kill them. Not every lice treatment works though. Even after trying the home remedies of mayo or petroleum jelly the nit or egg may not die. For several weeks after treating for lice, the head should be closely inspected.
Published February 22nd, 2008