Using lice killing commercial products is a sure way of treating head lice. These products are composed of chemicals that will definitely eradicate the existence of lice in your child’s head. However, some consumers complain about lice re-infestation but the mere fact is that they just don’t follow the instructions properly. Moreover, there also instances that louse become immune to the chemicals and toxins through repeated treatments.

On the other hand, if you want to treat lice infestation considering that your child has a delicate scalp, you can use lice killing natural products. It is 100% safe and effective. Though it can be a little bit arduous, it is surely fun. It can be a good parent-to-child bonding activity.

Tea tree oil is one of the best natural remedies for lice infestation. It is an alternative to lice killing products that are readily available on the market. It is also referred to as Malaleuca oil because it is derived from the leaves of Malaleuca alternifolia. It is pale yellow in color to whitish clear and has a camphorous smell.

So, how do tea tree oil and lice go against each other? According to a 2008 study of In Vitro, tea tree oil is said to have natural properties that are very effective in treating viruses, bacteria, fungi and especially lice. It is far more effective than permethrin which is found in various lice killing products. Tea tree oil can eradicate lice but they can’t kill lice eggs. However, it can loosen up the protective shell that envelope the egg for easy dislodging using a fine-toothed nit comb.

Be reminded that even though tea tree oil is a natural product which is derived from a leaf, it can also cause rashes in your child’s skin if applied directly. Its components are strong enough to burn your child’s skin. You should apply tea tree oil solution using water or other smothering products available. Also, it is toxic when ingested so keep these away from children.

How do I use tea tree oil to treat lice infestation? Here are 4 simple steps to follow:

1. Mix 6 – 10 drops of tea tree oil to your smothering agent (shampoos and conditioners are highly recommended). Make sure you mix the solution thoroughly.
2. Lather your child’s hair with the solution covering every section of the hair. Then, leave it for about 10 – 15 minutes (this will loosen up the protective covering of lice eggs) and rinse hair thoroughly.
3. Using a fine-toothed nit comb, gently comb every section of the hair to remove active and inactive lice, as well as nit eggs. Wash the comb after every section to prevent re-infestation.
4. Repeat the process once a day to totally eradicate lice and lice eggs from your child’s hair and continue using nit combs as desired.

The process is estimated to be a 1 – 2 weeks treatment because there are instances that some lice and lice eggs are not reached by the solution. Check the hair more often than usual to spot the remaining lice. It is also recommended to comb your hair with nit combs for 10 – 15 minutes on a regular basis to further prevent lice infestation.

Tea tree oil can also be a good treatment to garments, stuffed animals, toys, clothes, bed sheets, pillows, and other things infested with lice. Apply the solution to the desired object and leave it for few minutes and wash it with warm water. It is much better if it can be soaked like towels, clothes, sheets and the likes.

Tea tree oil is not only cheap but is also very effective and safe. Economically, it can only cost you around $5 – $10. Other brands may vary their prices and can cost more than $10. Tea tree oil can be bought in health food stores as well as in pharmacies. You can even purchase them on the internet. Just make sure that it is 100% Melaleuca alternafolia to achieve maximum results.

You can also use other essential oils like olive carrier oil, coconut oil, rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil, peppermint essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, and many more. Aside from that, mayonnaise, vinegar and Listerine can also be a good alternative for lice infestation home remedy.

Tea tree oil lice treatment is very much superior compared to other lice killing products. It can save you money without having fear from chemical infections.

Head Lice and Nits

Head lice usually plague school aged children. You can acquire head lice through direct contact with a person who has it. Unlike common beliefs, lice do not choose the person they want to inhabit. So it is a fallacy that only girls have lice infestation. Any gender, race or age can be infested with head lice. Head lice are normally be found near the areas of the head where it is warm and dark. The usual symptom of head lice is itchiness. In some dire situations there would also be redness and sore spots.

Head Lice Treatment

There are various ways to treat head lice. The most common is to use shampoos that have 1% permethrin or other insecticidal ingredients. These shampoos are available most drug stores; however one should consult a doctor first if one should decide to use this kind of head lice treatment. The reason for this is that the shampoos contain chemicals that may be harmful especially when it is not used properly.

Head Lice Home Remedies

For some reasons or another, one may not be comfortable with using the head lice shampoo. Then there is another alternative which is the head lice home remedy. In this day and age of being environmentally friendly and all natural, some may favorably use this kind of solution than using chemicals in removing head lice.

Some of the well known home remedies for lice is the use of tea tree oil, olive oil and eucalyptus oil. You can make your own natural shampoo using any of these kinds of oil. You can check out your natural health food stores for these ingredients.

Perhaps the best and safest way to remove your lice is by using the nit combs. These combs are available in stores that also sell lice shampoos. This is the most effective and safest way because you will not need any chemicals or ingredients when you use it. It can also be effective because you are assured that you can see the lice when you comb portions of your hair that are infected with head lice and nits.

There are many kinds of lice remedies out there, some may really work and some may not. It will depend on the person who will use it. You can also opt for the chemical lice remedy or the natural home remedy. As long as you practice caution when you use these lice remedies then you are sure to find a lice remedy that will really work in eliminating head lice.

Retreating the Infested Person

Sometimes, an infested person may also need to undergo retreatment process because there is still no pediculicide approved that is guaranteed. In order to ensure that the retreatment process is effective one must first see to it that all eggs have been hatched but no new eggs are produced yet.  The schedule for retreatment depends on whether the kind of pediculicide being used during the first treatment process has the ability to kill head lice eggs.

Supplemental Measures for Treating Head Lice

Supplemental measures must be combined with pharmacologic treatment in order to make the treatment process more effective. Furthermore, anything worn two days prior to the treatment such as hats, scarves, beddings, towels and pillow cases must be machine washed. After washing, all these items must be dried under hot air cycles with temperatures above 53.5˚C. Items that cannot be machine washed should be dry-cleaned. Any personal grooming items must not be shared by other people. The floors and other furnishings must be thoroughly vacuumed to ensure that fallen hair with nits will be eradicated.

How to Treat Head Lice at Home

In treating an infested person, one can use either a prescribed or over-the-counter medicine and follow these steps:

1. Prior to applying the medicine, one must avoid using any shampoo or conditioner.
2. Make sure to remove any worn clothing that can become stained when the medicine is applied.
3. Read first the instructions in the medicine label so that you will know the steps on how to treat head lice. This must be done before actually applying the pediculicide. If the infested person’s hair is too long prepare for another bottle of medicine. Do not forget to follow what the instructions say regarding the length of time that the medicine should be left on the person’s hair.
4. Rinse the hair according to the instruction being indicated in the medicine label.
5. Avoid washing the hair for 1-2 days after the medicine was removed.
6. Do not allow the infested person to undergo retreatment if there are still some lice found 12 hours after the medicine was applied.
7. Please be aware that there are times when the medicine may need a couple of hours before it can totally kill the lice.
8. If you notice that the head lice are still active even after applying the medicine, avoid retreating right away. Consult first your doctor or any health care provider so that you will be prescribed with a different and more effective pediculicide.

After the Treatment

1. Use a fine toothed comb intended for removing dead nits and lice. One can also use flea combs that are made for dogs or cats in combing the hair.
2. To avoid any risks of self-reinfestation, make sure to check the hair every 2 to 3 days for any signs of lice and nits. Continue checking the hair for three weeks to make sure that the treatment process was successful.
3. After nine days, an individual may undergo retreatment if some lice and nits are still found to be crawling.
4. Regularly soak the combs and other hair brushes which have been used for dead head lice removal in a hot water with a temperature of over 130˚F.
5. Avoid using any fumigant sprays just to kill those lice and nits that fell off from the person’s hair. These fumigant sprays contain chemicals that are harmful to the skin and are definitely toxic especially when being inhaled. Fallen lice and nits will less likely to multiply and live because it is only from the person’s head that they can feed themselves.

Warnings:

• Avoid using more than one type of head lice medicines unless advised by your health care provider.
• Do not apply more medicine into the hair than what is indicated only in the medicine label.
• Avoid repeating the process of treating the person with exactly the same medicine if you notice that it is not effective.

Once you notice that you have some lice or nits in your hair, consult your healthcare provider right away to prevent these insects from multiplying. Treating head lice may not cost you a lot of money. But, it can cause you so much restlessness because they can cause itchiness. Although these wingless insects do not have the capacity to transmit any communicable diseases but, they can indeed be very disturbing when left untreated.

What are the kinds of lice?

There are three kinds of lice. The most common is the head lice. These lice stay in our hair and hair strands. The second kind of lice is the body lice. These are mostly present in the seams of our shirt or clothes. They feed on our body but they do not usually stay on it. They usually prefer the clothes. The third kind is the pubic lice. The pubic lice stay in the pubic hair of a person.

What do lice nits look like?

Head lice are the most common type of lice. Most people can be affected by it, but as studies show, the school age children are the ones mostly prone to head lice infestation. Before it becomes head lice, they start as lice eggs or nits.

Lice nits can look like dandruff flakes. Most people still have difficulty in distinguishing between nits and dandruff. But on closer inspection you would be able to tell the difference immediately. Lice nits are oval in shape and their color range from white to pale yellow. They are mostly found on the strands of the hair. They would attach themselves very firmly to the hair strand that is why it is sometimes difficult to remove them immediately.

What do lice look like?

When the eggs grow in to adults it is now called head lice. They are usually compared to sesame seeds in size. They have oval-shaped bodies. They have six legs with tiny claws at the end. Head lice can be dark grey or dark brown in color. The adult lice are measured at 2 to 3 millimeters.

Head lice like to stay in the dark places of the head like the nape and behind the ears. These are the places where they thrive best. The adult female lice lay around 300 eggs.

If you want to know more what lice look like you can research some images from the web. They can give you concrete examples of what lice look like to guide you on what they really look like.

What Are the Stages of Head Lice?

There are three stages of head lice. The first stage is the nits or the eggs. Nits hatch in about 7-10 days. Once the eggs are hatch, the shell become transparent and are still left on the strand of the hair. The second stage is the nymph; this is when the nit has hatched. A nymph looks like lice but only smaller. The third stage is the adult lice. An adult lice usually live for 30 days.

What do lice look in hair?

Head lice would mostly stay near the nape or behind the ears. You can only see it if you part your hair near that area. What you can see mostly are the nits that are staying on the strands of the hair. The nits would be similar to dandruff flakes but one test you can do is to flick it. If it did not easily come off then chances are those are lice eggs or nits. The head lice would mostly be moving around the hair so it may be difficult to pin them down. Their color is also similar to ones hair so you will need a closer inspection for you to find them. If you check them using a microscope you will have a different view of what do lice look like to the human eye and from the microscope.

What do Fleas look like?

You might be wondering why I added this question; well there are some people who still confuse head lice with fleas so it is also important to distinguish one from the other. Also, this is also to debunk the fallacy that you get head lice from your pets. That is not really true, because head lice feed on human blood and once they lose contact with their human host they die immediately. So, it is safe to say that humans cannot be infested with fleas and head lice did not come from your pets.

Fleas are different from head lice. They are a bit bigger and have a more rounded shape. They also have a flatter body shape than the head lice.

The next time someone would ask you about what do lice look like, you are now better prepared in answering their question. Plus you are already equipped with the knowledge of what do lice look like and know how to tell them apart from other insects like fleas.

Prevention is always better than cure. But how do we get head lice? You won’t get head lice infestation from animals because head lice can only infest on humans and they can feed on human blood alone. Also, they don’t have wings to fly from one head to another. Thus, they can only be transmitted through either direct or indirect contact from an infected host.

Direct contact involves physical contact with the host; sleeping together, head-to-head contact, and the likes. On the other hand, indirect contact includes borrowing or lending personal belongings such as hats, scarves, handkerchiefs, head band, and so on.

A clear sign of head lice infestation is frequent scratching. Check for head lice immediately if you or your child scratches head very often. Also, scratching can cause red bumps which looks like pimples or acne from afar. Be on the lookout for these signs.

Treatments for head lice infestation comes in different approaches. You can use the traditional nit combs, use lice-killing products or utilize remedies that can be found at home. They are really effective in killing head lice, however, results may vary for a number of factors and some can be very disappointing.

Children ages 3 – 12 are more prone to head lice infestation but it can also infest adults at some point. Moms all over United States use different approaches in treating lice. One mom may use lice-killing shampoos and other lice-killing products because it is very easy to use. Some may use home remedies such as vinegar and Listerine to prevent infections caused by agents and chemicals while others would consider using nit combs as the best way to treat lice.

However, moms would always complain about head lice re-infestations as it is more likely to occur than a successful treatment. Now why do head lice re-infestations occur? It can happen for two reasons: they did not follow the instructions correctly or there were unharmed lice eggs left after the treatment. Why are these lice eggs responsible?

Beforehand, we should first define lice eggs to properly identify them in the real world. The female lice lay about 4 – 8 eggs per day with a total of 88 – 100 eggs in her lifetime. They are attached near the scalp (about 1 – 4 mm away from the base of the hair strand) to absorb body heat. Lice eggs are 0.3 mm – 0.8 mm in size and are oval in shape. They are grayish – white, pearl or silver-white and yellow-white in color. Sometimes, they can be misidentified as dandruffs or spray droplets because of their similar sizes and colors.

Why are lice eggs to be blamed? Lice eggs don’t easily fall off. They are stubbornly attached to the hair shaft with the cement like substance that is secreted by the female louse called chitin. Chitin is also responsible for protecting lice eggs from any agents and chemicals. Therefore, lice eggs are mostly invulnerable to a lot of treatments not until they are hatched into vulnerable nymphs. Lice eggs hatch after 6 – 12 days. So, lice infestations usually occur a week or two after the initial treatment.

You can use different lice-killing products to treat head lice. These products contain Lindane, Permethrin or Pyrethrin. The instructions provided on the label clearly state that there should be a second treatment to kill newly hatched lice from unharmed lice eggs from the initial treatment to prevent re-infestations.

Vinegar is a remedy that can be found at home which is used to treat lice eggs. Vinegar contains acetic acid which can dissolve the protective covering called chitin and loosening lice eggs from the hair strands. Apply vinegar to the hair and leave it for 45 minutes to one hour. Make sure the every section is saturated with vinegar and separate the treated section from the untreated sections. Vinegar cannot kill head lice. So, it is advisable to use nit combs after the vinegar treatment. Do not forget to wash hair thoroughly after the treatment and continue using nit combs as long as you desire.

Nit combs are considered as the best way to treat head lice. It has been tested to effectively and safely eradicate head lice and nits. These combs have specialized gaps in between teeth manufactured by using high-precision laser technology to scrape off even the tiniest lice on hair.

These are just some of the different approaches on how to treat lice quickly and effectively.

Lice Egg or Nits

The problem usually starts when we see tiny particles that cling to our hair strands particularly near the nape and back of the ears. These are what you call lice egg or nits. Based on the head lice eggs pictures, the nits or lice eggs look like very small transparent cocoon that houses the eggs. When it is almost empty or the nits died already, it would just look like very thin plastic casings.
These lice eggs are found mainly on the strands of the hair. On these pictures of lice eggs, you can see that they really stick to the hair strands like glue. They are also found in definite areas preferably the ones that are dark and warm.

Head Lice

Head lice are the grown-up of the lice egg. They are able to exist by sucking the blood from the human host. Usually, the main symptom of head lice is the itching. This is not really something to be alarmed about but you need to look into the matter quickly to remove the head lice that can really cause more of a discomfort to someone who has it.

How to Kill Lice Eggs

There are several effective ways to get rid of lice eggs. The tried and proven way is to use a nit comb. Based on this picture, you can see that the head lice comb is made of fine teeth. This allows the user to get most of the lice egg once you run it through the hair of someone that has head lice and lice eggs. You have to do this several times to make sure that the lice eggs are thoroughly removed from the head

Sometimes a nit comb is not enough. You might need some other substance to make the hair strands more pliable and softer. This will make the removal of the lice eggs easier and quicker. You can use conditioner, mayonnaise or even olive oil. Massage it through the entire hair and then try to use the nit comb. This can help more nits or lice egg to be removed. Make sure that you wash your hair with a shampoo to thoroughly remove the traces of the mayonnaise or whatever material you have used.

You can also use lice shampoo or lotion for faster removal, although you will need to have a prescription from the doctor because some of the chemicals used to remove the lice egg may be harmful for you.

An Introduction about Head Lice

Before we answer the question on who can get lice, let us first try to explain what lice are. Lice have three kinds, head lice, body lice and pubic lice. The common problem among people is the head lice. These insects are scientifically known as pediculosis capitis. They usually stay on people’s scalp. Their eggs are known as nits. They are found mostly on the hair strand. Head lice get their nutrition from the blood they suck from the human’s head. The size of a head louse is almost like a sesame seed. They range from grayish to brownish in color. They thrive in warm places so mostly they stay near the nape and behind the ears of a person.

Can African Americans Get Lice?

The next question now would be who can get infected with head lice? First of all, we have to realize that these are insects and they do not have the ability to choose and select their human host. They would mostly choose anyone who has hair and blood they can use as nourishment. Do African Americans get lice? I don’t think head lice have the capability to be able to know what race or gender they can latch on to for feeding. So, in reality, anyone can get lice. Whether you are white, African American, Asian or German you can get lice. So the next time you ask the question do black people get lice? Yes, of course, black people can get head lice. Some people might think that only those who have long hair or straight hair are more prone to head lice. That is not the case, there are studies that you get head lice infestation regardless of the length of your hair.

How Do You Get Lice?

So, how can one get lice? Well, if the most common way that you can get infected with lice is when you are in close contact with a person who has them. This mostly happens to school age children because they interact with other children and some of them may already be infested with head lice. Another way for you to get lice is when you use the things used by a person that is infected. Mostly these objects could be the comb, hair accessories, caps and hats.

How to Get Rid of Lice?

Some people might feel panicked when they learn that they or their children have lice infestation. This should not be the case because there are several ways for you to be able to get rid of lice quickly and safely. Here are some tips that you can follow, but it will still depend on the person which one he or she would prefer to use.

First is the organic or natural way of removing lice. The most direct way of getting rid of lice is to patiently comb them from your hair. You can use a nit comb and part your hair into several sections to effectively remove the head lice in each part. To help you along there are home remedies that you can use. You can use vinegar, mayonnaise, olive oil in getting rid of lice. These materials can be found at home and will not have side effects that can harm your health.  It can take longer though to remove the head lice.

Second way for you to get rid of lice is to use lotion or shampoos that have 1% permethrin. This treatment is available at drugstores and can be bought without a doctor’s prescription. There are also medicinal lice shampoos that need a doctor’s prescription before you can buy it. This kind of treatment has chemicals that can be harmful so you need to follow the directions strictly before you can use them.

The third way for you to get rid of lice is to consult a head lice salon wherein professional hair experts take care of your head lice problem. It can be more expensive but you are more assured that your head lice infestation can be solved correctly and safely.

The next time someone would ask you, “Can black people get lice?” You can safely answer yes, they can get lice. Head lice cannot really distinguish gender, race or social status so anyone can get them.

They are mostly found on the genital area on pubic hairs; do not be confused with head lice because sometimes they are present in other body hairs such as hairs on legs, armpits and eyebrows.

What Do They Look Like?

Pubic lice look like very similar to other types of lice; head lice and body lice. They have six legs, pair of antennae, a head and abdomen. They also have the same life cycle; lice egg, nymph and adult lice.

Nits are the eggs of parasitic organisms. Therefore, lice eggs can also be called as nits. They are very small and are very hard to see with the naked eye. They need heat that is why they are attached in hair strands one centimeter away from the skin. These oval-shaped eggs are yellowish and turn to white when they are emptied. They usually hatch within a week.

Nits hatch to give birth to young lice which are also called nymphs. They look like adult pubic lice but are estimated to be five times smaller. They feed on blood for up to 2 – 3 weeks before they become mature.

Adult pubic lice have two large front legs which would look like pinchers of a crab when viewed on a strong magnifying lens (this is where they got its name). They are grayish in color which turns to dark brown/red as they feed on blood. Female louse is usually bigger than males which can lay approximately eight eggs after mating. They feed on blood approximately five times a day and die within a day or two if they fall off the ground.

Pubic Lice Transmission

Pubic lice are found on the genitals and are therefore transmitted through sexual interactions. These tiny parasites are quick-moving and transmission can occur in any minute. They may die if they are away from their host but can move very quickly to find new host. One can also get pubic lice with infested bed linens, towels, or clothing.

In contrast to the myth, one cannot get pubic lice from animals. They do not also occur on toilet seats. Their legs and feet are not designed to cling on smooth surfaces like toilet bowls.

Health Concerns

Pubic lice are associated to other sexually transmitted diseases but do not spread them. It may not cause other serious health problems but constant scratching can cause open wounds which is very vulnerable to infections.

Pubic Lice Symptoms

A clear sign of pubic lice infestation is the presence of pubic lice and pubic lice eggs in your genital area. You can also suspect if you found lice on hairs behind legs, armpits and eyebrows.

Pubic lice secrete a substance that reacts with our skin as they suck blood which results to itching. Check for pubic lice immediately if you feel the itch. It is the primary symptoms of pubic lice. It gets worst at night during sleep. If constant scratching occurs unnoticeable during sleep, it may cause skin discoloration. It can also cause sores and bumps which can further become cuts and lesions.

Pubic Lice Treatment

Pubic lice should be treated immediately to prevent infections. You can consult your doctor or you can directly buy over-the-counter treatment products on your favorite local drugstores. These products usually contain Pyrethrin (1%), Permethrin (1%) or Lindane (1%). Here are some of the commercial names available online: Lyclear Dermal Cream, Derbac-M Liquid, Kwell, Rid, A – 200, Clear and R&C.

If you want to avoid agents and chemicals, you can also use natural remedies as treatment for crabs. There are a lot of plant extracts that will drive away pubic lice and prevent re-infestations. Essential oils of Neem, Tea Tree, Rosemary and Lavender contain natural insecticidal ingredients that act as antiseptic. Available natural pubic lice-killing products are Naughty Nits Spritzer, Naughty Nits Hair Oil and Naughty Nits Shampoo. They are manufactured by NativeRemedies. For more information, you can visit their site or you can dial 1 – 561 – 999 – 8857.

After every treatment, dead pubic lice and nits may cling on your pubic hair. Nits are also the main cause of re-infestations. It is recommended to use nit combs to rake them away. It has specialized teeth that have very small gaps in between which can trap even the tiniest nits. If you are experiencing symptoms, treat pubic lice (crabs) immediately to prevent further infestations. It may cause infections in the long run.

Head lice infestation is not that serious compared to body and pubic lice infestations. It does not cause serious illnesses to humans. However, if neglected, it can cause infections due to frequent scratching of open wounds.

How Are They Transmitted?

Head lice do not have wings and can’t fly. They can only crawl from one head to another. Head lice are transmitted either directly or indirectly. A mere example of direct transmission is head-to-head contact. Head lice can easily cling from one hair strand to another in just few minutes. On the other hand, indirect transmission includes sharing of personal belongings like caps, combs, brushes, scarves, and the likes. Head lice may die if they are away from the head but can survive for few minutes.

Head Lice Infestation Symptoms

Head lice infestation can be identified by its symptoms. Obviously, the presence of head lice crawling on the head is a clear sign of infestation. Check every section of the hair for head lice. You can also use a magnifying glass to see a bigger picture. Another common symptom is itchiness. When head lice feed on blood, they secrete saliva which can irritate our skin. Further symptoms include sores, red bumps and open wounds.

How Do They Look Like?

It is important to recall head lice pictures to appropriately identify these tiny parasites. Some can overlook them which can cause severe infestations. Moreover, nits are often mistakenly referred to as dandruff which are the major cause of head lice re-infestation.

Head lice are about the size of a sesame seeds. They have six claw-like legs which can perfectly cling to the hair strands. Their body has two segments: thorax and stomach. Their stomachs are a little bigger than their thorax but can expand if they feed on blood. They feed approximately five times a day. They also have antennas. They are mostly found on the scalp, on the nape of the neck and on the back of the ears.

On the other hand, nits in definition are referred to as parasitic eggs. They are about four times smaller than adult head lice. Nits are commonly yellowish in color. However, when it becomes empty, it turns to white that is why it is often mistakenly identified as dandruffs. They need heat that is why they are attached to the hair strands a centimeter away from the scalp.

Head Lice Infestation Treatments

Headlice can be treated by using agents and chemicals. There are a lot of commercial products available in the market in the form of creams, shampoo, lotion, etc. These treatments are safe and effective because they undergo thorough experiments. Make sure that you read and follow the instructions carefully to avoid skin irritations.

Home remedies are also good treatments. They are substitutes if you don’t want to use agents and chemicals. Some of the home remedies are mayonnaise, Listerine, spices, essential oils, vinegar and so on.

What are Causes of Re-infestations?

Head lice treatments are claimed to be effective. However, one of the main problems that parents are experiencing is head lice re-infestation. Why do head lice re-infestations occur?

The presence of nits but no lice can be a sign of re-infestation. Nits are the main cause of re-infestation. They are very stubborn. They are enveloped with a glue-like substance which protects them in various conditions. Even agents and chemicals can’t suppress the glue-like substance called chitin.

Avoiding Re-infestations

Commercial lice-killing products are tested and proven to be very effective. The instructions are provided on the label. However, most parents do not follow the instructions correctly. Commercial lice-killing products should be applied for two weeks. One week for head lice extermination and another week for killing the newly hatched lice from unharmed lice eggs. Home remedies can are also effective head lice treatments. You should also follow the two week procedure. Vinegar is one of the most popular home remedies used to remove stubborn nits. It has acetic acid that can dissolve the chitin.

Nit combs are the most essential tool to prevent head lice re-infestation. Its teeth have small gaps in between which can scrape off even the tiniest lice eggs. There are metal and plastic nit combs. However, metal nit combs are more preferred than plastics because it is sturdy and can be used multiple times. Use this after every treatment. Make sure that you use a clean nit comb. Metal combs can be sterilized through boiling.

Head lice and nits are really annoying but learning these things will make the treatment a lot easier. Knowing your enemy is one of their weaknesses.

How Do We Get Head Lice?

Head lice are acquired from an infected person. In contrast to the myth, lice prefer to live in clean heads. So, bad hair hygiene doesn’t really connect to the issue. In addition to, head lice don’t have wings to fly from one head to another.

Head lice are transmitted from a host through direct contact. A precise example of this is a head-to-head contact. We may get our head in contact with a host’s head while lice travel from strand-to-strand using their claw-like legs unknowingly. The transmission can happen in any minute.

Head lice are known to be doomed when they are away from the head – from their natural environment. However, they can survive for few minutes. These will result to head lice indirect transmission. Borrowing and lending of personal items like scarves, handkerchiefs, and hats are clear examples of these.

Head Lice Symptoms

Head lice infestation can be identified if you can see actual head lice moving in your head. However, they are hardly seen because they are very small which is about the size of a sesame seed. Mostly, they stay near the scalp beneath the hair strands. Their color is also dark which blends to dark colored hair. You can check your hair section-per-section to assure their presence.

The most common symptom for head lice is itchiness. When head lice suck blood, they secrete a certain substance which irritates our scalp. Itchiness is often associated to a lot of causes which will eventually be ignored. If you feel an itch, check for head lice immediately to prevent further infestation.

Severe infestation is manifested by sores and cuts. This is usually seen on the nape of the neck. Sores and cuts are caused due to constant scratching in a certain area. It is very prone to infection because bacteria can easily penetrate through the open wounds.

Life Cycle of Head Lice

Head lice mate and lay eggs. They can reproduce very quickly. Head lice undergo three stages before they die: lice eggs (nits), nymphs and adult lice. It is better to understand every stage in the life cycle of lice to create the best head lice treatment approach.

To begin with, the female head louse lays eggs. Lice eggs need body heat in order to survive so they are attached to the hair strands not more than 6mm away from the scalp. They are oval in shape and are about 0.3 to 0.8 mm in size. Their color is yellowish turning to white. Nits are often misinterpreted as lice eggs. They are also mistakenly referred to as dandruffs. To be exact, nits are empty lice eggs. They are white in color and they fall off the hair strand after few days.

After a week, lice eggs give birth to nymphs. Nymphs are very similar to adult lice only that they appear smaller which is about the size of a pinhead. They have smaller abdomens. They are mostly found near the scalp, at the back of the ears and on the nape of the neck. They feed on blood. After a week, they become adult louse.

Adulthood is the final stage of the lice life cycle. This is when lice are big enough to reproduce. Adult female lice are visibly bigger than male lice. As they grow, they need more food. An adult louse can suck blood for up to five times a day. Head lice reproduce very quickly. After mating, a female louse can approximately lay 8 eggs per day for 30 days. Head lice live in your head for almost 45 days.

Egg- Head Lice Life Cycle

Lice eggs are very stubborn. It is the main cause of re-infestation. Most lice eggs can survive an inappropriate head lice treatment. They hatch within a week to start another infestation. So, how can they manage to survive such disaster?

The female louse secretes a glue-like substance called chitin. Every louse egg is enveloped with this substance which makes them invulnerable to many conditions. Even agents and chemicals do not have the capacity to totally eradicate stubborn lice eggs. One effective way to get rid of lice eggs is with the use of vinegar. You can also remove them manually by using a nit comb.

Now that you have already understood the head lice life cycle, you can formulate your own approach in getting rid of these nasty pests.