Difference between Head Lice and Nits
The eggs laid by head lice are known as nits. Nits are sometimes confused with dandruff as they are very tiny and hard to detect properly. These eggs become attached firmly to the hair shaft and hence are quite difficult to get rid of. Nits will hatch in about a week’s time and new lice are born. Head lice spread very quickly from contact with other individuals who have lice. The can also spread through clothing and other personal belongings. Girls are more prone to developing head lice than boys.
In case there are only nits visible and no head lice, simply washing the hair with shampoo and then removing the nits using a nit comb may prove beneficial. It is important to keep in mind, however, that it is usually difficult to detect lice and if new nits keep appearing, it is possible that lice may also be present. One can also pick out the nits and lice using a fine tooth comb and tweezers. This is a time consuming method and it may take up to several days to get rid of all the nits and lice. Combing out the nits must also be done when an anti-lice shampoo is used. This is because such shampoos do not destroy the eggs.
Home remedies to get rid of nits and head lice
Home remedies to get rid of nits and head lice involve smothering the head lice by applying certain substances to the hair. Some popular natural remedies include application of mayonnaise, petroleum jelly and olive oil. Any one of these may be applied to the hair and kept on overnight after wearing a shower cap. The hair can then be washed the next morning and combed thoroughly to remove the lice. The process may then be repeated after ten days. This tends to be a very messy process and its effectiveness is not guaranteed. Some people believe that the smothering as such is not effective and it is the combing out of the nits and lice that really does the trick.
There are also some herbal remedies that are known to help in removing nits and head lice. Essential oils such as tea tree oil are believed to be effective in treating lice, although its use it not recommended in young children. Another natural remedy involves the use of almonds. Ten to twelve almonds may be soaked in water and then a paste may be prepared. After adding a few drops of lemon juice to the paste, it may be applied to the scalp and allowed to dry for a couple of hours. This is known to work well in removing nits and lice.