Nits Are Easily Spotted

Oftentimes, a person who suspects he or she has head lice will prematurely contemplate how to get rid of head lice without first confirming the presence of nits. Treating head lice without first determining if an infection is present is, of course, a mistake! Certainly you can't treat an infection that you do not have! Therefore, it is important to confirm suspicions at the onset, and the most effective way of doing so is through the search of nits in the scalp and hair.

A nit is a louse egg. You have probably heard the term "nitpicking" and this term refers to the picking out of the nits. When the lice eggs have been laid they rest on the scalp and it will be weeks before they hatch. If they are on the scalp then the person probably is already infested with lice or will be soon. This factor can be used to determine whether or not lice is present.

Nits all share the same characteristics that make them easily spotted. The nits are not very large, they are oval shaped and will be found clinging to the hair near the scalp. The age can be determined by how far they are away from the scalp. The younger ones are on the scalp and older ones farther down the hair shaft. A nit will not slide or move down the hair shaft, unlike dandruff. They can be of varying colors including cream, tan, brown, and even yellow.

You can search for nits, but it takes a lot of time. The best approach is to use a fine toothed comb, a comb especially designed to find the eggs. Either method will be effective, and if you comb correctly, you might even be able to detach the eggs from the hair.

When you are looking for nits, be sure that what you find is actually a nit and not something else. Not everything you find on the scalp is a nit. In particular, certain kinds of dandruff and hair product residue can easily be mistaken for lice eggs. Familiarizing yourself with the distinctive characteristics of the nit will help you determine whether what you have found is indeed a nit or something else.

If, however, louse eggs are found, then there is a good chance that you have an infestation, and you should focus on treating its treatment and removing the lice and nits.

Only treating head lice will perpetuate the infestation. Their eggs can remain on the scalp for weeks before hatching. Nits are tiny oval-shaped parasites in colors ranging from brown to yellow that cling to scalp hairs and as infestation progresses, they move further away from the scalp. Their presence confirms infestation of head lice in a person. Instead of trying to remove them by pulling or shaking, one can use a fine-toothed comb to detach them from the hair. This is a complete solution to the problem of how to get rid of head lice infestation.

Other articles by Norman Horowitz

Headlice - Infestations Of Headlice Announce Themselves With Intense Itchy Sensations Along - by Norman Horowitz
Tiny, wingless parasites that thrive on the scalp of humans, most commonly at the back of the neck at the base of the skull, and behind the ears, are called headlice (scientific name Pediculus humanus capitis). Their eggs, referred to as nits, are the easiest way to identify a lice infestation. They look much like white bits of dandruff, but when you look closer, you can discern the oval shape.

Headlice - What Are They And How To Treat Them? - by Norman Horowitz

A common problem among children who are in close contact during elementary school and day care is this nasty little thing call headlice. They live not only on the scalp, but can travel to other hair on the head,

Newest Articles in Alternative

Why Getting Enough Fiber is So Important - A Fiber Cleanse and Detox Program Can Help! - by Hal Decker
Up to 80 percent of all Americans do not eat enough fiber on a daily basis. Health problems related to digestive complaints account for up to 40 percent of all doctor visits. Many alternative doctors today agree that good

Infected Toenail - Diagnosis and Treatment of an Infected Toenail - by Brett Dignam
An infected toenail is a common problem, affecting as much as 15% of the population. The actual diagnosis of your infection is onychomycosis, more commonly known as toenail fungus. Some symptoms include:
- Yellow or brown discoloration of the affected

Five Solutions From Far Infrared - by Connie Baum
There is much information available to the public about how toxicity affects our well being. Because our bodies have become a toxic wasteland on account of poor diet, lifestyle, even environmental matters, many of us seek solutions to the

Reflexology and Infertility - by Wendy Coad
The versatility of reflexology never ceases to amaze me.
Over the past several years I've seen an increase in the number of people who come to complementary and alternative medicine, for support of other treatments.
Reflexology and Infertility is just one

Free Colon Cleanse Recipes - by Leroy Fong
Over the period of time toxins get accumulated in our body and it is necessary to get rid of it. Colon cleansing is a tried and tested option for removing toxins from our bodies. Colon cleansing in itself is