There is quite often confusion about what a nit is and what a head louse is. Quite simply the adult creature which crawls around and lays the eggs is a head lice, the eggs which are produced are the nits. Head lice like all lice are parasites which feed off their host. In the case of head lice the host is you and your hair. The eggs are laid on the individual hairs close to the scalp and the adult lice feed through biting the scalp and absorbing the blood.

It is more common for children to be affected by head lice rather than adults. This is because children are more likely to have close contact with other people including someone carrying head lice. Adults are not immune from nits and head lice but are less likely to bang heads with other people or play close contact games and activities. Head lice only affect people and unlike other pests and parasites cannot be caught from pets and other animals. Similarly head lice are unlikely to be found in your house or on furniture so there is no need to obsessively clean everything in sight when your child has head lice. It is possible that there could be a few nits or lice but these are likely to be on dead or loose hair which has fallen onto something else. Cleaning up loose hairs from floors and furniture should solve this particular problem.

Knowing if you or your children actually have head lice can sometimes prove to be confusing. The simple rule is that you only have head lice if you can find a live, crawling louse in the hair. If this is the case then head lice are present and should be dealt with. If nothing alive can be found but there is evidence of nits this suggests that the lice have gone and left the opened eggs behind. If this is the case then special treatment is not usually needed and the old nits can simply be combed out of the hair.

Head lice and nits are not nice and it is never pleasant to discover that you or someone you know has them but they can be dealt with quickly and effectively. It is important to remember that a louse is a living crawling creature while a nit is simply the egg which can be dealt with without special products.

There are many special products available which can deal with head lice and nits.  These products are usually designed to kill the lice and nits without causing any harm or damage to your hair and scalp.  Treating your hair with these products usually kills any lice or nits immediately after one treatment but most treatments require a second application. Once the hair is clean and clear it is unlikely that another infection will occur unless contact is made with someone else who is carrying nits in their hair.

Special combs can also be purchased to help with detecting and treating nits and head lice.  These combs are often constructed with very fine metal teeth which remove the nits from the individual strands of hair.  Having killed any nits with special products it then helps to comb the hair with a fine comb in order to remove the dead lice and get rid of any eggs from the hair.

Using specialist head lice products and combing are the two treatments which are frequently recommended for dealing with lice and nit infestations but equally important are the prevention of any spread and trying to avoid catching lice in the first place.  One method for preventing you or your child getting an infestation of head lice is frequent combing of the hair and regularly looking for any signs or evidence of the nits and lice. A easier way to help prevent infestation of head lice is to regularly use shampoos, sprays and conditioners which contain natural head lice repellents, but it still pays to regularly check your child’s hair as described above. Infestations of head lice can spread quickly and so it is beneficial to be cautious and take preventative measures to ensure you and your children avoid catching head lice.

Although nits and lice don’t always cause other side effects and it is usually inevitable that children will catch them from other children at their school, it is still not a pleasant and experience and it is preferable to avoid it if at all possible.  If your children do end up with head lice it is important to treat it swiftly to stop any further spread.

Lice used to be a common everyday occurrence which people simply had to tolerate but fortunately times have changed considerably and we are no longer in that situation.  Any outbreak of head lice infestations can now be dealt with quickly and efficiently through the use of special products and combs.  We can also help stop nits and head lice being spread to others if we know what signs to watch out for and how to deal with them.

When checking for head lice, begin by parting your child’s hair at the roots. Look along the part line for signs of head lice. If your child has head lice, you may notice one or both of two things. Firstly are the head lice themselves. They are wingless insects from 2-4mm long, usually a black or brown colour. BBC Health explains why they stay in this area toward the base of the hair. They are found close to the skin because they suck blood from the carrier’s head. The skin offers them moisture, food and warmth.

You may also notice nits in your child’s hair. Many people often describe the head lice as ‘nits’, but in actual fact, nits are the eggs that the lice lay. They tend to be located along the hairs, and are difficult to remove from the hair. Brown nits have not hatched, whereas white ones have. Again, be sure to look behind the ears.

If your child has been scratching, it is not necessarily head lice. They could be affected by eczema or dandruff. If you are unsure, check with your GP or school nurse. Another possibility is ‘louse phobia’. Bupa explain how louse phobia is caused when people think they may have head lice because they know others who have infestations. It is important that you do not begin treatment until you are sure that the child has head lice. If you find something that you think may be a louse, tape it to a piece of paper and take it to your GP, pharmacist or nurse if you are unsure.
It may be difficult to see head lice in your child’s hair, particularly if they have thick, dark hair. You can detect head lice by combing them out, a method called detection combing. Your pharmacy will sell fine-toothed combs which you can use to remove headlice. You may find it easier to comb your child’s hair if it is wet. You may also apply conditioner to the hair to make it easier and more comfortable for the child. Comb the hair in small sections from the root to the tip, and after each section check the comb for any head lice. You can either rinse the comb or wipe it on a piece of tissue.

If a live louse is found and infestation is confirmed, it is time to begin head lice treatment.

It is very important to be observant. If you notice your child is experiencing discomfort, you should check their hair straight away. The longer head lice are left untreated, the more they multiply, and the harder treatment becomes! As well as this, continuous scratching can cause the skin to become broken, possibly leading to infection. If you are unsure about what you find, tape the insect to a piece of paper and ask your GP or school nurse.

Always listen out for reports of epidemics from your child’s school. Schools will often inform parents through mediums such as newsletters if there has been a problem with head lice. Help out other parents by informing the school if your child develops head lice. This will help other parents to be proactive with treating their children, and your child will be less likely to catch head lice again once you have eradicated them. Do not ‘warn’ your child about playing with friends who have head lice, as this may make them more likely to develop ‘louse phobia’, making them think they could have lice.

It is important to make your child aware that head lice are very common. It may be that they feel that they have developed lice because their hair is dirty, but reassure them that lice thrive in all types of hair; long or short, clean or dirty. Keeping your child’s stress at a minimum will help to reduce your own stress, so introduce head lice treatment into your child’s normal hair care routine. A common myth about head lice is that they can jump. Both Bupa and the NHS confirm that head lice cannot jump, fly or swim. If you have more than one child, try to minimise head to head contact if one or more of your children is affected by head lice.

There are a number of ways you can treat head lice. First is the method of wet combing, which involves using one of many available special lice combs. You may also use insecticides, but be aware of the proper way to use them as there are limits. There are also non-insecticide products available.

So remember, head lice removal does not have to be stressful! Just be observant and thorough, and the problem will pass quickly and easily.

The most simple method of treating head lice is ‘wet combing’. This is regular use of a fine-toothed comb whose teeth must be between 0.2 and 0.3mm apart. Consult your pharmacist on combs that are available. Lots of people tend to prefer metal head lice combs, but if you are economising, the plastic type works too and is cheaper. To use this method, begin by washing your child’s hair. Wet hair is easier to comb and it also immobilises the lice to make removal easier. Shampoo and condition the hair, leaving the conditioner on, and plenty of it! When the hair is covered in conditioner, ensure your child is sitting in a comfortable position and comb the hair in sections. If your child has long hair, you may find it useful to tie it up, combing the underneath section, then gradually letting down sections of the hair. After each comb, rinse the comb with water or wipe it on a piece of tissue, then flush the lice away. Check the scalp, often you can see the head lice in the parting areas. Also be thorough behind the ears, as the lice love it here.

Repeat this method every three or four days for two weeks since the last live louse was seen. You must ensure that you continue for this extended period of time, because you will not get rid of all head lice in one treatment. If you miss only a few head lice, they can multiply very quickly!
Wet combing is ideal if you do not wish to use insecticides on your child’s hair. KidsHealth stress that it is crucial not to use medicated treatment on children two years old or younger, and as always read the warnings and instructions of all products before use .

There are also electrically charged combs. These detect and kill head lice. Unlike the regular comb, they are used in dry hair, which is a possible disadvantage. However, they do kill the head lice, unlike other head lice combs. You will probably still have to remove the lice by wet combing as described above, but they will not be alive.

Although head lice are a common problem amongst kids, many who become infected with lice are left feeling embarrassed and miserable.

Head lice can also be a cause of bullying in schools, as having head lice is often associated with being unclean or poor. A BBC Article has linked head lice to bullying, stating that in a ‘survey of over 200 pupils aged between seven and 12 years found one in 10 had been taunted for having head lice.’ It argues that we need to dispel the myths surrounding head lice and remove some of the social stigma attached to being infected. It is the responsibility of schools and parents to inform children of the facts about a problem which will affect most schoolchildren at least once.

If your child seems to be distressed by their infection, you need to reassure them that it is not their fault that they have head lice, and that it does not make them different from other children. The NHS informs us that being infected with head lice is not the result of poor hygiene, and lice do not prefer any particular type of hair.

Head lice are passed on through close contact or sharing brushes and hats. Children are at a higher risk of catching head lice as they tend to have more and more head to head contact while at school.

However, it is important that you do not encourage your child to avoid other children with head lice as this can lead to bullying and isolation. There are other more subtle head lice prevention methods which can be taken, such as:

• Tying long hair back
• Checking hair regularly
• Using head lice prevention products such as those in the Vosene Kids head lice prevention range.

The range includes shampoo and conditioners with natural ingredients such as Tea Tree Oil and Lemon Eucalyptus Oil which help repel head lice . These combined with the Mega Hold Styling Gel or Extra Shine Detangler Spray can help to give your child the confidence boost they need after becoming infected with head lice. It is important to check that no head lice are present on the head before using Vosene Kids.

The majority of these treatments come in the form of lice killing products which should kill all of the lice and eggs that are in the hair over time and leave the head lice free. However, many parents find it difficult to get children into the bath or shower, never mind getting them to use a specific kind of medicinal product. This is why it can be helpful to use a specific type of treatment that kills head lice while still being aimed at children.

Some products are designed not to kill head lice but to prevent the spread of them from the offset. There are a range of children’s treatments that work together to stop a child from contracting head lice in the first place. Preventing head lice is easier than tr  eating them and in many cases children may not realise the product is different to the normal ones they use.

Head lice preventing treatments are an essential for every family as children between the ages of seven and eleven are most likely to catch head lice, especially females. However, this may not be to do with the fact that most girls have longer hair than boys as head lice can survive on only 1cm of hair. The treatments are very easy to use and affordable. Prevention products can be used at home throughout a child’s time at school and will seriously reduce the risk of a child catching head lice.

When a child first starts school, the parents should buy a head lice comb. This comb has very fine teeth and will allow an adult to see any head lice in the child’s hair. Even if a head lice preventing treatment is being used and the school has not warned parents about head lice they should check the head of their child once every few months to ensure there is no infestation.

There are now a range of head lice preventing products available. The most common treatment at home is to use a range of shampoos and conditioners but there are also after swim hair care products and even head lice preventing hair gel for boys who want to look like their favourite football star. Many of these products are designed specifically for children and the design of the bottles will be appealing to young people so they feel comfortable with using the product. This is preferable to the more medicinal bottles which can leave children feeling anxious or unhappy.

These types of product are used in the same way that a standard shampoo or conditioner may be used, although they may be left on slightly longer to give the maximum affect. These products are easy to use and begin preventing head lice from the first use. The longer and more often the products are used, the more effective they will be at preventing head lice. However, it is also helpful to have some form of head lice treatment in the house as well in the rare event that a child does catch head lice.

To check for head lice the most effective way is using a fine tooth comb specially designed for finding head lice which is available from most pharmacies. The spacing on these combs is 0.3mm, trapping the lice which are usually 2.5mm long. The fine tooth comb can be used on dry or wet hair but is often easier to use on wet hair. Head lice are most often found behind the ears so it is important to check the whole scalp for infestation.
However, head lice preventing treatments are available in supermarkets which significantly reduce a child’s chance of catching them in the first place. As head lice are common among school children it may be best to buy a product that is directly aimed at children.

If parents receive a letter from their children’s school saying there may be a head lice problem they should check their child for head lice straight away, even if they have been using head lice preventing hair products for a long period of time. In the rare eventuality that head lice are found, they can be treated quickly and effectively by using head lice killing hair products. Shampoos that are specifically designed to kill nits are often the best head lice treatment if they are used properly and over a period of time.

Head lice preventing products can save parents a lot of time and worrying and also save a child from unnecessary itching. Parents should check for lice every time they hear there is a problem at the school or if they notice their child is itching their head just in case they have managed to catch head lice, although by regular use of lice preventing hair products the risk of this happening is very small.