Black lice are one of the varieties of blood-sucking ectoparasites, the appearance of which is caused by the infection of a healthy person by an infected one. Depending on the species of parasites and the specifics of their localization, several types of parasitic diseases are distinguished - pediculosis, phthiriasis.
To remove black lice, it is permissible to use chemicals or safer folk remedies. How to promptly detect infection with pediculosis and phthiriasis, get rid of parasites, and prevent their appearance - we will consider further.
What do nits look like?
Female lice are quite fertile and are able to lay eggs several times during the day. A nit is a capsule that is covered with an adhesive membrane. It is thanks to the adhesive substance that the egg is attached to the hair. When examined under a microscope, a tail is identified, which fixes the parasite on the hair.
Live and dry nits differ in their appearance. Living eggs are white and glisten when illuminated. After the louse hatches from it, the white shell gradually darkens to a gray-yellow hue, but remains on the hair. This visually leads to the fact that the number of nits significantly exceeds the number of lice.
Description of the appearance and characteristics of nits in humans
To successfully get rid of lice, you need to know what nits look like on a person’s head.
Nits look like small translucent droplets or dots no larger than two millimeters in size.
Due to the ignorance of some people how to distinguish dandruff from nits, the disease becomes neglected. They are similar in itching and appearance. But there is still a difference. Dandruff flakes are flat, and lice eggs are round in shape. Dandruff is easily separated from the hair, but removing nits is difficult. By carefully looking at the color of lice eggs, you can distinguish them from dandruff.
By the appearance of the nits, you can easily determine whether larvae have hatched from them or not. If they are shiny, then the lice are inside the egg and that means they are alive. Dead nits have a matte appearance. If the eggs do not click when pressed, then they are empty. Living nits burst when pressed hard, producing a characteristic sound - a click.
It is also necessary to know the life expectancy of nits in order to choose the most effective methods for getting rid of lice. The life of a nit is short - only a week. After this, the lice larvae hatch, and only after ten days do they reach sexual maturity. Then the lice begin to actively lay eggs. If you don’t know this, the fight against lice can drag on for many months.
How is a nit different from a louse?
The differences between nits and lice are obvious, since these are different stages of development of the same type of parasite. The nit represents the initial stage, that is, the embryo in the cocoon.
As a result, we can conclude that a louse and a nit have fundamental differences - appearance, feeding method, transmission options from person to person.
Possible methods of transmission of parasites
There are many transmission options, but the leading one is close contact with a sick person. Infection can occur:
- during a hug and a kiss;
- sexual contact;
- while playing together;
- in case of accidental contact of hairstyles, etc.
A child can acquire head parasites as a result of playing together or having close contact with an infected friend. In children's groups they spread instantly. At the same time, the appearance of insects in a child has nothing to do with non-compliance with personal hygiene rules. They appear on both clean and dirty hair.
Parasites also appear through other methods of transmission. Human infection can occur in the following ways:
- adults, as well as nits and nymphs, get onto the hair through shared things - combs, pillows and towels;
- swimming in the same water. Head lice appear in a healthy person after taking a bath in which an infected person had washed before. The insects do not die after falling into the water, but safely move onto the hair of the new host;
- wearing hats together. This method of transmission is especially popular among children. After a child tries on the hat of an infected friend, the appearance of bloodsuckers is inevitable.
Where do nits come from?
Most often, lice are transmitted through close contact, during which the louse moves on to the next victim. The nit cannot move on its own, so this type of infection is less common. This can happen if you share a comb, a hat, a bobby pin, or a hair tie.
Under the age of 12, children are constantly in contact with peers, so the prevalence of head lice in children and adolescents is high. And if a disease is detected in one of the students, it is recommended that all his classmates, as well as their families, undergo treatment.
What threat do they pose?
The immature nits themselves do not pose a threat, with the exception of the unattractive appearance of the hair and white formations in it. But when the louse begins its parasitic life, symptoms appear that can significantly worsen the quality of everyday life. These symptoms include:
- almost constant itching of the scalp;
- infection of scratches and wounds, their infection and suppuration;
- sleep disturbance;
- inability to concentrate;
- irritability, nervousness.
Sometimes typhus or age-related typhus can become a complication of pediculosis. Infection of damaged skin after a louse bite, which is dangerous to health, occurs as a result of contact with the waste products of parasites, that is, with liquids and feces. The main unpleasant consequence of infestation with lice and nits is constant discomfort and apparently dirty hair.
TOP 5 ways to treat dandruff
Various shampoos are mainly used to treat dandruff.
To effectively treat this disease, they must contain certain substances against fungi that cause dandruff. These include:
- selenium sulfide;
- ketoconazole,
- zinc pyrithione;
- tea tree oil;
- olamine piroctone;
- coal tar;
- salicylate.
IMPORTANT! Only a dermatologist can advise which product to use in each specific case for better treatment effectiveness. The best of these remedies are:
The best of these remedies are:
- Garnier, Fructis 2-in-1 anti-dandruff shampoo - its active ingredient is zinc pyrithione. Green tea extract has an astringent effect and enhances the effect of the main medicinal substance. It effectively deals with dandruff. Removes it after the first use. Prevents the recurrence of dandruff for six months.
- Vichy shampoo Dercos Technique - it contains a complex of active substances that fight dandruff (salicylate, bisabolol, olamine piroctone). The product not only has an antifungal effect, but also nourishes the scalp, restoring cellular metabolism.
- La Roche-Posay, intensive anti-dandruff shampoo Kerium DS - it contains salicylate, olamine piroctone and lipohydroic acid. They help remove scales and have an antifungal effect. It can prevent the recurrence of dandruff.
- Kiehl's, Zinc Dandruff shampoo – salicylic acid and zinc pyrithione contained in this shampoo help remove dandruff. To improve nutrition of scalp cells, herbal ingredients (rosemary oil, menthol, aloe juice) are added to the shampoo.
- Janssen Pharmaceutica, NIZORAL shampoo - its active substance is ketoconazole. This is a substance that has a pronounced antifungal effect. As an auxiliary, it contains hydrochloric acid, which optimizes the acid-base balance of skin cells. And also imidourea, which has an antimicrobial effect.
If there is no improvement using these remedies, you should consult a dermatologist for further examination and treatment.
Are there nits without lice?
In some cases, dead nits may still be found without the presence of live lice. This is explained by some detrimental effect on the hair, which led to the death of lice. For example, after coloring your hair with a dye containing hydrogen peroxide (peroxide), which destroys parasites.
In any case, if a nit was found on the hair, then it is worth thinking about the need to use some additional methods of treating the scalp in order to prevent possible relapses.
Development period
A nit is the initial stage of louse development. The louse develops from egg to adult within 2-4 weeks. During this time the following periods are observed:
- egg (nit);
- larval stage;
- 1st and 2nd order nymphs;
- adult parasite.
After a week or a little longer, the nit becomes a larva. The ripening period depends on temperature conditions. So, the most favorable temperature is the human body, that is, 36.6 degrees with minor fluctuations. But if you don’t wear a hat in the cold or the heat is unbearable in the summer, then the life cycle of lice slows down, but does not stop.
Once the louse has emerged from the outer shell of the cocoon, it begins to feed. And literally after 2 days the female is ready to reproduce. During her life, the female lays many eggs - 80-150 nits. In favorable conditions (air temperature +30), the number of lice increases tens of times in just a few months.
Linen lice
Body lice or linen lice, despite their inactivity, quickly spread among people upon contact. They are especially often infected with parasites in homeless places, refugee camps and shelters of various types (tents, tents), in places where children stay for a long time - in kindergartens and schools, public transport, public baths and saunas, hiking trips, cheap hotels and children's holiday camps .
Parasites live and lay eggs in folds and seam areas on clothes and underwear, on clothes - most often in the area of the belt, collar sleeves and cuffs.
The body louse is larger in size than the head louse, has an elongated abdomen and a uniform gray color. The length of adult individuals is 3 - 5 mm.
Linen lice feed 2-3 times a day. To feed, insects crawl onto the skin, most often the lumbar and neck area. Egg laying occurs 6 - 14 times a day. Over the course of her life, one female lays 180 - 200 eggs.
The lifespan of a body louse is 4 weeks for males and 1.5 - 2 months for females.
The body louse dies at temperatures below 13°C and above 60°C. This allows you to get rid of parasites using non-chemical methods (washing clothes and freezing).
Rice. 22. The photo shows a linen (body) louse and its nits.
Rice. 23. Nymphs and adults of bed (body) lice appear transparent (photo on the left). Adult pubic and head parasites darken slightly (pictured on the right).
Rice. 24. The photo shows a cluster of body lice on clothing (photo on the left) and synthetic insulation (photo on the right).
What do they eat?
A nit, that is, an egg from which lice will hatch in the future, does not need nutrition. The egg shell contains all the necessary microelements for the development of larvae. Only after the larva leaves the cocoon does it begin feeding - it makes a small wound in the human scalp and sucks out a drop of blood.
After lice bites, wounds form, which can sometimes be confused with urticaria, an allergic reaction, or sweat rash. But do not forget about possible infection by parasites.
What to do next?
After you have dealt with lice in your child, you need to eliminate their possible presence in your home.
Check everyone who lives with you for head lice. This must be done even if there are no symptoms. Remember that signs of infection do not appear immediately.
Wash your child's and family members' clothes, towels, and bedding. To cope with parasites, you need to wash things at a temperature of at least 55°C. Then iron them and leave them to sit for two days. This way you will not only kill insects with mechanical processing and high temperature, but also deprive possible survivors of food. And they don’t live long without it.
It is also necessary to treat the mattress, blanket, pillow, outerwear, and upholstered furniture used by the child.
For items that cannot be washed at high temperatures or are difficult to wash (upholstered furniture, carpets, safety helmets), there are special products. For example, you can use an antiparasitic aerosol. It is easy to handle things, it does not stain the fabric and does not require dry cleaning.
Important!
- The pillow and blanket must be treated on both sides.
- Pay special attention to the seams of outerwear, furniture and bed linen.
- Treated items can only be used a few hours after using the aerosol. They must be left in a well-ventilated area, for example, hung on a balcony.
- Things can be used when the smell of the drug disappears.
How to detect?
The louse for laying eggs rises along the hair to a height of about 3 centimeters. It is at this height that you should look for nits. In rare cases, the egg may attach to the scalp. This occurs as a result of it falling from the hair after mechanical impact.
It is extremely rare for a louse to lay nits on a hair that already has masonry. But if more than one nit is found on one hair, then the number of lice has reached incredible proportions and it is necessary to immediately take measures to destroy them.
To search for the parasite's nest, you should start from the occipital region. It will be easy to spot light eggs and dry shells on dark, straight hair. Examination of curly blond hair will be a little difficult. While the larvae are almost mature and ready to leave the shell, the nit becomes dark brown in color and blends in color even with dark hair.
Inspection of the hair on the head should be carried out using a comb, which will facilitate the process of combing the hair and dividing it into individual strands.
Remedies for head lice
Knowing how to remove lice and nits, what methods and means are truly effective, you can get rid of “uninvited guests” in just two weeks.
Comb for combing out nits
A necessary tool for fighting nits is a special comb for combing them out. You can't do without it. This comb is sold separately in pharmacies or is included with medications for killing lice. To get rid of nits completely and without much harm to the hair, you need to constantly dip the comb in some vegetable oil during the combing process.
Medicines for lice
The choice of means for the treatment of pediculosis is quite wide. These can be pharmaceutical drugs and folk remedies, the most common of which are:
- Cream "Nitifor".
It is applied to damp hair and left until dry. Then wash off with any shampoo, and nits are carefully combed out or selected by hand. Aerosols “Pedikulen Ultra”, “Paranit”, “Para Plus”, “Nuda”. They all have a similar principle of operation and method of application. They need to be sprayed onto the scalp and along the entire length of damp hair, left to act for 10-15 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly. Comb out nits with a special comb or select them manually. Shampoos “Pedilin”, “Parasidos”, “Veda”. The instructions for use are the same as for a regular product, but you don’t need to rinse it off immediately, but leave it on your hair for about 20 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly. Remove nits mechanically. Lotions “Avicin”, “Medifox”, “Medilis”. Hair should be wet before using the product. Apply to head. Leave for 10-20 minutes and rinse. Remove nits with a special comb or manually.
All these drugs should not be used once. After 10-14 days, the procedure must be repeated. This is necessary in order to destroy the lice that appear from the surviving nits.
How to distinguish from dandruff?
A person who is not familiar with lice may confuse nits with dandruff. There are several significant differences that will allow you to determine the true cause of the appearance of white spots at the hair roots.
- Dandruff flakes have different sizes and irregular shapes. The shape of the nits is round and smooth. The size of each egg is practically the same.
- Dandruff easily moves along the length of the hair and is also easily removed. But the sticky shell of the nit holds it firmly at a certain height from the scalp. To remove a nit, you need to grab it firmly with your nails and pull it off the hair. When pressing with a fingernail, a distinct click is heard.
- Dandruff flakes can be found on the collar of a shirt, on the shoulders of outerwear. Nits can leave the head only with the hair.
- The main symptom of lice is severe itching, and if dandruff is present, it can cause minor skin irritation.
- The localization of dandruff is concentrated on the crown of the head, but the favorite places for laying nits are the frontal, occipital and temporal parts of the head.
It should also be noted that dandruff is a purely personal problem of an aesthetic nature. But pediculosis becomes a problem for the entire person’s immediate environment (family, team), since the parasites are constantly in search of food and will not miss the chance to spread to new pastures.
To clarify the diagnosis and determine the exact source of deterioration of the hair condition, it is recommended to consult a specialist with a medical education - a dermatologist.
How to get rid of lice quickly and without any problems?
The main problem with anti-pediculosis drugs is that lice can become resistant to the active ingredients. The Paranit line of anti-lice products does not have this drawback. The mechanism of action of Paranit differs from standard insecticide-based products. Instead of paralyzing the nervous system of insects, Paranit has a physical effect on them.
Lice breathe through tiny holes (spiracles) located on the sides of their bodies. Paranit products contain dimethicone (liquid silicone) and/or mineral oil. These substances tightly clog the spiracles of lice, depriving them of access to oxygen. The light oily structure of Paranit makes it easier to comb and remove dead insects and nits.
An important factor when choosing anti-pediculosis drugs is their safety. Dimethicone, which is part of Paranit products, is actively used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. This substance is a component of many hair care products. It has a softening, moisturizing and antistatic effect. In addition, dimethicone is included in drugs for the treatment of dermatitis. As a chemically inert substance, it does not cause allergies, except in rare cases of individual sensitivity.
Thus, “Paranit” belongs to the class of low-hazard compounds, and therefore can be used to treat children from 1 year of age and pregnant women (Paranit Sensitive). This is a product that can be used repeatedly without fear of lice developing resistance.
