Head Lice Treatments

Head lice and nits - Photo: Lightspring/Shutterstock

When children return to school, germs and lice begin to spread. Many unsuspecting heads start to itch, and mothers worldwide find themselves picking off small silver eggs, known as nits, laid by adult lice from strand after strand of baby-fine hair. There are ways to protect our offspring from this tiny invader as well as methods to treat the infestation, should it occur.

Years ago, head lice were mainly found in children from lower socioeconomic families. However, now it's a problem affecting people of all economic levels, from the very poor to the very rich. Why are more kids suddenly getting lice? It has a lot to do with the busy schedules kids keep these days. Not only are they together in school, but also at soccer, gymnastics, football, dance, daycare, and more.

Children are generally involved in numerous activities in addition to school, and any one of these could lead to cross-contamination. Moreover, lice are becoming resistant to many over-the-counter drugs available currently. When the treatment isn't used correctly and the head isn't fully rid of lice, the pests become stronger.

It seems that girls, especially those with long flowing hair, are more prone to getting lice. This is because girls tend to be more affectionate with each other and enjoy activities like dress-up, where they may share combs and brushes. Long, flowing hair is also more susceptible because it can easily come into contact with infected hair. Treating long hair is also more challenging, which is why girls with long locks often return to school with shorter hair after treatment.

So, what exactly is it about head lice that makes our skin crawl? It may have something to do with the life cycle of these little bugs. Nits, also known as eggs, can only be laid by adult female lice. They can only move to a new host by crawling, as they cannot jump or fly. Once on the new host, the lice feed on their host's blood. After the nits are laid, it takes only 7-10 days for them to hatch; at this point, the young louse will appear silver in color. As it begins to feed on blood, the louse turns reddish-brown, and after 7-10 days, a female is mature enough to lay more eggs.

The good news is that a louse can only live for about 30 days. The bad news? In that 30-day lifespan, one louse can lay up to 100 eggs. And trust me, a typical head lice infection contains more than one female louse. Do the math; it's scary, isn't it? So, let's discuss preventing the infestation before the nits hatch.

The first step is acknowledging the problem. Nits are smooth, oval-shaped balls attached to the side of the hair shaft. They can be off-white or brown and are slightly smaller than sesame seeds. Their consistent shape helps distinguish them from other small abnormalities found in the hair. Removing nits may be the easiest way to rid your child's locks of lice. This can be done with a very fine-toothed head lice comb specifically designed for this purpose, along with a lot of patience and meticulous work.

Head lice removal with a head lice comb — Lice comb - Photo: Getty Images via Canva

If you miss the small window of opportunity to remove the nits and now have a full-blown case of head lice, there are ways to treat it without resorting to clippers. Many over-the-counter and prescription head lice shampoos are effective, although none are 100% guaranteed, and some even contain very powerful and harmful pesticides, which may cause sickness in some individuals. The comb mentioned earlier is the safest and most natural solution for getting rid of lice and nits.

Preventing an infestation is the easiest way to get rid of lice. Teach children not to share clothes or combs with friends at school. If someone in the home does come down with lice, the safest and easiest method to prevent cross-contamination after removal is to vacuum, including fabric-covered furniture, stuffed animals, and carpets. Nits and lice can only survive off their human hosts for approximately 24 hours. Many times, nits that are displaced from the head may not even hatch, as they lack the warmth they need to incubate or the blood they need for their first meal.

Now that you know all about lice, consider yourself a nitpicker and wear your badge proudly.