Nits: How To Get Rid Of The Them
Lice deposit their eggs, known as nits, onto the hair after they feed on the human blood. They attach themselves firmly with a strong glue to the human hair or clothing. There are three different types of lice that can infest humans.
The first thing that you will want to do after you are infested with lice is to remove the nits. Nits need a warm, humid climate that they find on a person's skin. This climate is essential for their development. If they are removed from this climate they will die. In order to control lice you will need to control the nits. You can remove them or crush them to kill them. In order to crush them you can use a lice comb. For the most effective treatment use the comb in combination with a nit-loosening lotion. This prevents you from having to pull your hair out.
Young lice, who have a life span of 30 days, leave empty egg shells called nits behind when they hatch.The nits can remain attached to the hair for weeks or even months. When found, they are already hatched or dead. Nits are found further than approx. 1/4" away from the skin. As hair grows, they move further away from the skin.
Live nits are darker in color while Empty shells are white. The louse attaches one egg per strand of hair using natural glue. A female louse can deposit more than 60 eggs at a rate of about six eggs each day within 10 days after it reaches maturity.
Upon discovery of hair lice, people are often filled with uncertainty about their cleanliness. However, there is no need for one to feel this way. The mites can live anywhere, on any surface that contains even minute traces of blood. Once present, they migrate to the head, particularly around the back of the ears and neck.
The most effective lice treatment is a head lice shampoo. Nits must be removed as a part of this lice treatment. It's recommended that a fine-toothed comb, clear tape, and a strong light be used when searching for lice. It's easier to have a magnifying glass and to wet the hair prior to searching.
First reaction that comes to our mind when we hear about hair lice is a sense of shame which is due to misperception that dirty people have lice but this is not true actually. Lice survive on small quantity of human blood. These lice lie preferably on scalp, behind the ears and at nape of the neck. Using a head lice shampoo is the most important and effective treatment. Removing nits with a lice comb is another form of lice treatment. One should search for head lice when hair is wet by using a fine-toothed comb, clear tape, a magnifying glass and a strong light.
Published January 13th, 2008
