If there is an itchiness in your scalp, nape and behind your ears, chances are there might be lice and nits that are infesting your head. Although it may be too early to tell, it would not hurt to check out what is the real cause of the itchiness you are experiencing. If those are lice and nits then it is time to take action.

If you look at the pictures of head lice and nits, you will see that the head lice look tan or brownish in colour. The size of the head lice is 2 mm in length. Their sizes vary because some are still nymphs and have not grown into mature head lice.  The other picture is the nits or lice eggs. They are attached tenaciously on the hair strand. The nits produce some glue like substance so that it sticks well on the hair strands. If the nit casings still have the eggs it would appear light brown. If the egg has been hatched and only the casing is left on the strand, then the colour of the casing would be whitish. Sometimes, these casing can be mistaken for dandruff. The casing of the nits would stay on the hair strand until it is removed by a lice comb.

Nit Removal

Many would think that you would need expensive shampoos to remove the nits. You might be surprised that what you really need is a reliable nit comb to remove most of the nits from your hair. If the nits would stubbornly stay on the hair strands then you will need a nit removal treatment to make your hair smoother thereby making the removal of the nits easier. You can use vinegar, mayonnaise and Vaseline for this. You can choose which one you prefer to use for your hair. When you put the product on your hair, you can start the nits removal by sectioning off your hair in manageable parts so that you will be able to see the nits clearly and remove them thoroughly. You use the lice comb to brush the part of the hair where the nits are found. Do this action continuously until the nits are totally removed from your hair.

Head Lice Treatment

Head lice are totally different from nits or lice eggs because they can move around your head and scalp. They like to stay in darker and cooler places so they can travel within the head. You can still use the lice comb but you can use other products to hasten the removal of the head lice.

One of the well known shampoo that you can use is Kwell. It is a popular shampoo that you can use to get rid of head lice. The main ingredient of Kwell is lindane. It is considered an effective lice treatment but it can also cause side effects because of the chemical used in it. It is advised that when you use it once and it does not work, then discontinue the use of the product and use another method to get rid of the lice and nits.  

Being infested with head lice can be pretty annoying. As they feed on your blood, the saliva that they secrete irritates our scalp. That’s what gives you that feel unending itch. It can get to the point where it can affect your day to day life, especially if it keeps coming back. And the only way to stop lice for good is to get rid of the head lice eggs.

Head Lice Transmission

To understand why it’s so hard to get rid of head lice and lice eggs, we first have to understand how we get head lice. We can get head lice by either direct or indirect contact.

1. Direct contact is acquiring head lice directly from the host. When the host is in contact with another person, head lice can jump directly to the other.
2. Indirect contact is acquiring head lice from host’s belongings. Sharing personal belongings with a host can increase the chances of getting infested.

Lice infestations do not start from head lice eggs. Head lice can jump from the hosts head to the other. But how come they multiply so quickly?

Head Lice Life Cycle

Head lice can reproduce very quickly. The female louse can lay a batch of eggs twice in its lifetime. When head lice eggs or nits are laid, it takes at least 7 days to hatch into nymphs. Nymphs will turn to adult lice at the age of 7 days. At this moment, you will start to feel that itchy sensation on your scalp. Adult lice mates with the female lice after 14 days and lays a batch of eggs. At the end of 30 days or more, female louse will lay the second batch of eggs. This is how fast head lice reproduce.

Head Lice Treatment

Mild infestation can rapidly develop into a severe infestation. Its major symptom – itchiness – is often disregarded because most consider mild scalp itch be normal. The head lice eggs pictures you see in your doctor’s office or online are already manifestations of a severe infestation. If you suspect you have head lice, have someone inspect your hair and apply the appropriate treatment immediately.

Lice Killing Agents and Chemicals

This might be your first choice. There are a lot of head lice shampoos and creams available in the market which promises you 100% head lice free treatment. They are advertised in almost everywhere. These products have chemicals which can kill head lice. However, some head lice can adapt the effect of the agents and they become resistant the current lice treatments available. These chemicals have very specific instructions and if they’re not followed correctly your lice treatment could fail.

Home Remedies

There are a lot of things you can find at home that you can use to treat head lice. Using home remedies to get rid of head lice is not only economical, but they’re also safe and very effective.

• Vinegar . Vinegar contains acetic acid which can destroy the chitin – protective covering of head lice egg. Chitin is secreted by the female louse to protect nits. Chitin also serves as an adhesive which is why nits cling firmly to the hair shafts. Though vinegar can’t kill head lice directly, they can eliminate almost all head lice nits which are the cause of re-infestation. Soak your hair in water and vinegar solution for at least 45 minutes. Vinegar can sting your eyes so you better cover your face with a towel. Soaking the bottle of vinegar in a hot water before using can also help minimize the sting. Afterwards, rinse your hair thoroughly with your favorite shampoo.
• Essential oils. Oils are great head lice repellants. Tea tree, coconut, olive, neem and many other oils can effectively repel and kill head lice. These oils have a very distinct smell that head lice hate. And when the lice and head lice eggs are covered in oil, they get suffocated and die. To effectively treat head lice, cover your hair with any of these oils and cover your head with a shower cap for at least 15 minutes.
• Mayonnaise, Vaseline and Listerine can also be used as an alternative. Mixing the ingredients can make a stronger solution to effectively get rid of head lice. Instructions and ingredients are available in this site.

The Importance of Nit Combs

The whole treatment process won’t be complete without using nit combs. These combs are specifically designed to draw away nits and lice from the hair shafts.. Nit combs have very small gaps in between its teeth so even the smallest nits can be brushed off.

Using a nit comb with lice treatment is very essential in preventing re-infestations. After using your desired treatment, you should use a nit comb and you’re your hair with it for at least 15 minutes daily. Comb your every section of your hair thoroughly to ensure that you’ll be 100% head lice free in just 15 days.

Head lice treatments required patience. Using the home remedies as treatments can surely get rid of head lice effectively compared to lice killing agents and chemicals. More importantly, nit combs can eliminate head lice eggs to completely eliminate head lice and prevent reinfestation.