NIT TIPS

A guide aimed at providing advice about head-lice and the different treatment options

Written by Homeopath Janice Beckwith, LCH, RSHom

What are Head-lice and Nits?
Head-lice are small wing-less, six legged insects which are brownish-grey in colour. The warm, humid conditions of the human scalp and hair are an ideal habitat and lice feed off blood by biting through the scalp. Adult lice are about two weeks old before they mate and the female lays eggs. The eggs are dull brown/grey in colour and fastened to individual hairs close to the scalp. Approximately, seven days later the eggs hatch, leaving a tiny white eggshell (“nit”). In many cases nits remain stuck until the hair grows out or are physically removed and are often found for weeks/months after the head-lice infestation has been eradicated.
Nits do not mean that you have head-lice.

Where do head-lice come from?
Head-lice are most common in primary aged children, mainly due to their close contact with each other, and can be found in all types of hair, irrelevant of length, colour or cleanliness. Generally, they are firmly attached to their host so the chances of catching lice from bedding, hats or other clothing is minimal. In-fact, only capable of crawling slowly, it is thought that contact of about 30 seconds is required for transfer to a new host.

Signs and Symptoms
It can be very difficult to detect head-lice because they are light sensitive and only a few millimetres in length.
• Look for head-lice under fringes, by the nape of the neck and behind ears. Rashes, due to biting, can also appear in these places often but not always accompanied by an irritating itch.
• Nits stuck to hairs may indicate the presence of head-lice but could also be due to a previous infestation, therefore further investigation is warranted before treatment commences.
• Louse droppings, which look like fine black powder, may be noticed on pillows or sheets and require further examination.

Treatments Available
Bug Busting or Wet Combing
This involves combing the hair in sections with a very fine “nit” comb, this is easier if the hair is wet or either olive oil or conditioner is applied. It is important to comb the entire length of hair (root to tip), checking the comb after each stroke. If head-lice are detected, combing needs to be repeated at least every four days over a two week period so that newly hatched lice are removed before they lay eggs. This method is effective for routinely checking the hair for infestation. It does not involve harsh chemicals and head-lice cannot become resistant to it.
Vinegar
Vinegar rinsed through hair helps to dislodge the “glue” used by head-lice to stick their eggs to the hair shaft. This assists when trying to remove the eggs and nits by either combing or by hand.

Conventional Treatments
Insecticides
Insecticide preparations kill head-lice by disrupting the insect’s metabolism. Examples include Lyclear (Permethrin), Full Marks (Phenothrin), Prioderm (Malathion) and Derbac M (Malathion). Lotions are available in water or alcohol bases. The scalp is a highly absorbent and sensitive area of skin, it is generally thought that water based solutions offer safer treatment and are recommended for people with asthma, eczema or broken skin.
The problem with insecticides is that treatment will kill the living lice but may not kill the eggs and treatment often needs repeating to destroy lice that have hatched since the first application. Repeated use can cause side-effects such as scalp irritation. There is also evidence to suggest that insecticides can quickly loose their potency due to insect resistance.

Dimeticone Lotion
Hedrin is an example of this type of treatment which kills head-lice by a physical process, smothering the louse and interfering with its ability to excrete surplus water. However, this preparation does not kill un-hatched eggs and two applications of the lotion are required, seven days apart, in order to kill any lice that have hatched, since the first application, before they are old enough to lay eggs.
The manufacturers claim that the active silicone ingredients are not absorbed through the skin and due to its mode of action, lice do not become resistant to its effects.

Alternatives to Conventional Treatment
Lice Deterrent Essential Oils
Rosemary and lavender are established insect repellents the former being used in many Asian hair preparations. Geranium, eucalyptus and lemon are also regarded for their insect discouraging qualities. These oils can be mixed into synergistic blends to prevent or eradicate head-lice infestations.
There are various products based on an extract from the Neem tree. The oil is a powerful insecticide, which contains substances that mimic the insect’s hormones disrupting feeding, breeding and metamorphosis.
Products containing tea-tree can be effective if used as a preventative and studies have shown that the main components of tea-tree oil can kill head-lice.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a holistic form of medicine which looks at the whole body. This is especially useful with the treatment of head-lice because like all childhood infections, some children appear to be more susceptible than others due to their depleted general health.
Constitutional homeopathic treatment can help balance the body’s chemical environment so that head-lice are unable to thrive, with the added benefit of positively contributing to the child’s general health, growth and development.
Staphisagria, Carbolicum Acidum, Lycopodium, Mercurius and Psorinum are remedies that may be used when treating head-lice. However, it is recommended that you consult a professional homeopath.

Ongoing management/Prevention
Children need not be kept away from school, since the child is likely to have had head-lice for several weeks prior to finding them. However, infected children will require treatment because head-lice will not go away on their own.

The following points may assist with preventing further infestations:
• Tie back or plait long hair for school or if playing with other children.

• Put 1 drop of either lavender or tea-tree oil onto a hairbrush each morning and brush as normal. The oil rests on the hair and deters lice. I have used “Nitty Gritty” head-lice deterrent spray in this instance, to great effect.

• Also brush hair before bed, since regular brushing dissuades head-lice.

• Check at least once a week for the presence of head-lice, eggs and nits.

• Use a Tee-Tree Shampoo. Please note some essential oil shampoo’s can irritate sensitive scalps.

Remember that infection does not mean that your hygiene standards are being questioned. Please inform the school if you notice head-lice in your child’s hair, even if it is a re-infection so that the problem can be dealt with collectively and effectively.

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