HEAD LICE - FACTS AND FICTION
ABOUT HEAD LICE TREATMENT
- For the infestation to stop, all head lice and eggs (nits) must
be killed at the same time
- Treatments which effectively eliminate head lice will not require
the use of a nit comb as the dead insects will drop out while washing
the hair (one cannot defy the law of gravity! – if the insects are dead,
they have no power of attaching themselves to hair and they have to drop out)
- Repeated applications are only required in treatments which do
not kill head lice and nits after the first application
- Inappropriately, herbs with anti-septic rather that anti-parasitic
properties are used in various formulas to fight parasites. This is
why they are not effective on lice but are more suitable for the cosmetic
industry to make soaps, face washes, body creams, etc.
- Using the fine tooth comb rarely removes nits as the conditioner
makes hair slippery and the comb cannot grip the eggs well, which
are firmly glued to the hair
- Prolonged nit combing damages hair and roots. It may lead to more dandruff,
irritated and broken skin and secondary scalp infection
- Dry nit combing is more painful and damaging to hair than wet combing but
is more successful at removing the eggs
- Nit combing with conditioner is purely a cosmetic procedure when
live lice, which are tangled up in a conditioner or shampoo, are manually
removed. This must be repeated thoroughly many times for at least
2 weeks and the person treated must be away from the source of infection.
If re-infestation occurs in the meantime, this method becomes an endless
and frustrating task
- Products which require re-applications and the use of a nit comb
can be effectively replaced by any inexpensive hair conditioner (please
check the contents for any harmful chemicals) or a teaspoon of organic
cooking oil. They will act as lubricants and make hair slippery to
allow the nit comb to run through easily
- Lice can only become immune to substances which do not eliminate them
and their eggs 100%. As some of them survive, over a period of time they
are likely to become resistant to such products. This is believed to be
the reason why chemical treatments are becoming less and less effective.
Dead organisms do not build up resistance because…they are dead
- More and more health authorities in the UK recognize the potential dangers,
which the treatments with pesticides may pose so they favour wet-combing over
the use of chemical shampoos
- There is always a risk of a particularly resistant strain of lice developing
(so called "Super-bug"), so if you choose to use a chemical treatment,
do not repeat it over and over again, if it didn't work the first time. By
re-applying, you might be adding to the problem of building up resistance in
lice and you might be adversely affecting your child's health
- Be aware of the treatments which call themselves “natural”
just because they include one or two herbal ingredients. They may still
contain harsh chemical additives or solvents, so always read the label
carefully and do not be afraid to ask questions
- If you suffer from any specific skin condition or scalp sensitivity even a
genuine natural product may not be suitable for you. Always clarify your
doubts before you make a purchase
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