Nits are the small eggs laid by lice. Although it is possible to kill adult insects, it is also necessary to get rid of the eggs to complete the treatment. Thoroughly eliminating the nits prevents them from hatching; this means not only sparing the person the discomfort and suffering of an adult parasite infestation, but also limiting the spread of lice to other family members, friends, animals and even furniture. If you learn the correct techniques, you can be sure you are removing the eggs thoroughly from the first time.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Kill Adult Lice
Step 1. Eliminate all adult specimens
There is little point in getting rid of the nits, if the insects are still able to reproduce. As long as there are lice, new egg clusters will appear. These extra eggs will hatch into insects which in turn will lay more nits. At this point an infinite vicious circle is triggered that does not stop until every adult louse is killed.
- Soaking hair in water for a long time is not an effective remedy, lice will not drown and will not die. Studies have shown that parasites simply attach themselves to the scalp and hair thus surviving underwater for several hours. Unfortunately, even the chlorinated water in swimming pools is not aggressive enough to kill them.
- To get rid of an adult specimen, wash your or the infested person's hair with a specific shampoo that you can buy at the pharmacy. In severe cases, you need to ask your doctor to prescribe an even more aggressive cleanser.
Step 2. Try a prescription shampoo
For example, choose a product with pyrethrum extracts, which contains natural insecticides called pyrethrins. These compounds attack the nervous system of lice, although some specimens have become resistant to the toxins.
Apply the shampoo to dry hair. Then you have to wait ten minutes, add some water and massage your head to create a lather. At the end you can rinse your hair as you would with a normal shampoo. At this point you should get rid of the nits and repeat the process seven or ten days later to kill any remaining insects
Step 3. Alternatively, you can suffocate them
Although there are few clinical studies showing the effectiveness of this method, some people are convinced that it is possible to eliminate lice by asphyxiation. According to them, some products are capable of blocking the respiratory orifices of insects. Head lice can survive for hours without breathing, but they will eventually die.
- Try petroleum jelly. Apply it to your hair and scalp in thick layers. The gelatinous compound must remain on for at least eight hours to be effective, and you should also wear a bathing cap to limit the supply of air. Remember that it is very difficult to get petroleum jelly out of your hair and that it cannot kill eggs.
- Some individuals praise the properties of the common olive oil. Also in this case it is believed that the fatty substance is able to occlude the respiratory tracts of insects and suffocate them. You should apply the oil to your hair and scalp just like you did with petroleum jelly, then put on a bathing cap and wait eight hours before washing. Furthermore, the oil is able to detach the nits from the hair, facilitating their removal.
- Mayonnaise works just as well. This sauce indeed contains a large amount of oil, which appears to be the "asphyxiating ingredient". Apply it all over your head just as described above. According to some anecdotes, very fatty mayonnaise used regularly proves to be the most effective method.
Step 4. Prepare the work area to remove the nits
Sit in a well-lit room, regardless of whether it's natural or artificial. This way you will be able to see more easily the eggs that are attached to the hair or near the scalp. Place a cloth over the person's shoulders to catch any hair or nits that fall out.
Method 2 of 4: Remove Lentini with Vinegar
Step 1. Rinse your hair with water and vinegar
Head lice eggs are coated with a sticky substance that allows them to cling to the human hair follicle. Vinegar contains chemical compounds capable of dissolving this substance thus preventing the nits from adhering to the hair.
- Kneel in front of the bathtub and put your head under the tap. Use hot water and wet your hair completely. At this point, you can turn off the tap and, still on your knees, pour a large amount of vinegar on your head. Make sure all strands are wet with this liquid. Finally rinse your hair with warm water.
- Alternatively, fill the sink with equal parts vinegar and water. Completely dip your hair into the sink by leaning forward or backward.
- Undo the knots with a leave-in conditioner and a regular brush. Try to untangle your hair completely, so it will be easier and less painful to comb it with a specific comb for nits.
Step 2. Start combing to detach the eggs
You will need a specific, fine-toothed metal comb. A rigid metal tool is better than a plastic one. You should find this type of comb in all pharmacies at a reasonable cost (under 10 euros). If possible, use a magnifying glass to locate hidden eggs as well.
A large number of nits should have been washed off with the vinegar rinse. However, it is very likely that some eggs have stuck to the damp strands. Check one section at a time, as wide as the comb and do this until you have combed all the hair
Step 3. After combing each strand, rinse the tool
Clean it by dipping it in a small bowl filled with dish soap and water. Finally, dry it with a tissue or paper towel to make sure you have removed any nit stuck to the teeth of the comb.
Step 4. Repeat the process until you have combed all of your hair
When you are done treating a particular section, flatten it and pin it to the side of your head to reduce the chances of contaminating it again.
Step 5. Wash your hair
You need to wash them once again after combing them thoroughly. Even if you've managed to get rid of all the nits, this ultimate shampoo will help you feel cleaner. Consider using a lice cleaner again to make sure you get rid of any live parasites and their eggs.
When your hair is dry, carefully examine it for any bugs or nits. If you still notice these creatures, start the treatment all over again
Step 6. Clean the tools
Place the bowl with the soapy water in which you killed the nits in the dishwasher or immerse it for 10 minutes in freshly boiled water, taking care to put the lid on the pot. In the same way, put the brushes and other objects you used in a container full of water that you have recently brought to a boil; you can also use the nit comb, but first make sure you have removed all the hair and any eggs that are left between your teeth.
- Exposure to temperatures above 54 ° C for 5-10 minutes can kill lice and nits.
- Alternatively, mix 500ml of boiling water with 250ml of ammonia. Soak the comb in the solution for 15 minutes and then clean it with an old toothbrush.
- Each family member should have their own comb.
Method 3 of 4: Remove the Nits with the Listerine
Step 1. Wet your hair thoroughly with Listerine
Use this mouthwash or a similar one that contains a high percentage of alcohol, as it can kill lice and dissolve the substance that "sticks" the nits to the hair follicle. Although many "natural remedies" websites recommend this treatment, be aware that there are just as many medical sites that do not recommend it. The alcohol contained in Listerine burns the eyes and could cause severe pain if it comes into contact with open wounds. Small children could also swallow it.
- If you have decided to use this technique, wet your hair completely with mouthwash and cover it with a bathing cap for 30 minutes or more. This way you kill the adult insects. You can repeat the treatment if necessary.
- You can also apply Listerine to your hair and place a towel on the pillow to avoid getting it wet. At this point you can go to sleep and postpone the next phases until the next day.
Step 2. Rinse your hair with warm water and vinegar
After getting your hair wet, wipe off the mouthwash completely with warm water and apply a generous amount of vinegar to detach the nits even more.
Following the steps in the previous section, spread a leave-in conditioner and detangling product, brush your hair, and finally use a comb to remove the eggs, strand by strand
Step 3. Clean the tools and workspace
Wash the comb in a dish with soapy water or in the heat of the dishwasher. You can also pour some Listerine into a spray bottle and use it to clean furniture. This way you kill the adult lice and avoid a new infestation.
You have to wash the towels, linens and sheets in very hot water. Remember that high heat applied for a long time kills both adults and eggs
Method 4 of 4: Preventing New Infestations
Step 1. Avoid head-to-head contact
Fortunately, lice are not insects that move around a lot. They are unable to jump and do not survive long away from the human head. The most common form of "contagion" is direct contact with the boss. This could happen at school, while playing or playing sports, or during children's sleepovers. In adults, the transition occurs by contact with a person who is affectionately close.
Step 2. Avoid touching the clothing accessories, personal care products, and bedding of a person with lice
These parasites cannot feed unless they are on the human head and starve within 1-2 days. However, it is good practice to be cautious. Avoid any objects where insects or their eggs might nest.
- These include hats, hair ties, hairpins, scarves, coats and uniforms. Do not share these items with anyone, least of all combs, brushes and towels.
- Soak the combs, brushes and towels in water warmer than 54 ° C for ten minutes; in this way you disinfect them.
Step 3. Wash all clothes, towels and linens in very hot water
Used sheets, pillows, stuffed animals and towels should be washed in hot water and tumble dried at very high temperatures to safely kill parasites. Check that the water temperature exceeds 54 ° C. If some items cannot be washed or dried at a high temperature, take them to the dry cleaner or seal them in a plastic bag for two weeks.
Step 4. Vacuum the floor and other surfaces
You or another infested person may have dropped live insects or eggs on household surfaces, such as the sofa. If possible, clean them with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter to make sure all nits are retained during the procedure.
Lice and nits found on surfaces do not survive long and probably will not spread; however, it is a good idea to clean as soon as possible
Step 5. Be wary of harsh chemicals
Fumigating products and other dangerous insecticides are not needed to eradicate a lice and nits infestation. The potential danger of inhalation or contact with these elements is worse than the infestation itself.
Even if chemicals are available, remember that overuse of them over the past decades has resulted in a reduction in their effectiveness. Insects, in many cases, have developed resistance to these toxins
Warnings
- In severe cases, prescription treatments may be required to completely eradicate the infestation. If you have tried the methods described here several times to no avail, then you should contact your doctor.
- Avoid long-term contact with the head of potentially infested people, otherwise the nits will spread.
