What to use to combat parasites on the head: what are lice and nits afraid of?

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Svetlana Tarasova

Hairdresser-stylist with more than 8 years of experience, expert in the field of haircuts, styling, hair care, coloring.
Lice are blood-sucking parasites of the insect class. People are parasitized by 2 types of lice: human (includes two subspecies - head and body lice) and pubic. If a head or body louse has settled at the roots of the hair, the disease is called pediculosis. If pubic - phthiriasis. These diseases are transmitted only from a sick person to a healthy one. The disease is treated with medications and alternative medicine. There are effective methods of prevention.

Who are lice?

Lice are small bugs, up to 0.5 mm , that live in people's hair, such as on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows and pubic area. They are an insect with 6 legs and a gray or light brown body. Lice are very fast, but they cannot jump, like fleas.

The insect feeds on human blood through a special flagellum , so it chooses habitats with the thinnest skin to make it easier to suck the blood.

A fertilized louse lays thousands of nits during its 40-day life, which take approximately 14 days . Nits are attached at the roots of the hair and have a characteristic transparent white color.

What do they look like?

Linen lice, photos of which you see in our article, like their fellow species, have a rather inconspicuous appearance. The need to look as inconspicuous as possible makes these bed and body parasites very dexterous in solving camouflage issues. Getting rid of body lice at home can be quite difficult. First you need to figure out where they come from and what they look like. The description of their biological parameters looks succinct. These are insects with a translucent body, no more than 3 mm in length, the wingless body is elongated, and when saturated with blood it acquires a brownish-brown tint.

Larvae and nits are no more than half the size of an adult's body. Insects prefer to stay in groups; it is the massiveness of their colonization that usually allows us to detect the source of problems. At first glance at them, it may seem that small whitish grains are scattered on the surface of the fabric. But, taking a closer look and discovering the presence of paws, it is difficult to doubt the species of blood-sucking skin parasites.

Prevention measures

To protect a child from head lice and protect all other family members, it is necessary to take a set of measures:

• avoid large crowds of people in public places;
• collect hair in a tight bun or braid, use a headdress;
• do not use other people’s hygiene items;
• protect the child from communicating with children from disadvantaged families and strangers;
• regularly treat combs, combs, and hair accessories with soapy water.

To prevent lice, you can use essential oils, shampoos, and soaps with a scent that repels lice.

Causes of parasites

The occurrence of lice and nits is usually associated with poor personal hygiene. Most often, this disease accompanies people leading a vagabond lifestyle. Children from disadvantaged families also get lice quite often. Because of this, there are outbreaks of lice infections in kindergartens, schools and summer camps.

You can become infected with lice not only through close contact with a sick person. Lice are also transmitted as a result of using the personal belongings of an infected person:

• combs, combs;
• hair clips and elastic bands;
• hats;
• towels;
• bed sheets;
• cloth.

On a note!

Within two days, parasites can remain outside human skin and remain viable. And when they come into contact with the human body, they become active again.

Where do lice come from?

The only reason lice appear in people is the transfer of nits or a fully formed individual from another person . Most often, lice occur in children; even a newborn child can become infected with lice, for example, from his mother or the people around him. Children are more susceptible to diseases than adults, so lice is more dangerous for them than for others. The child does not understand the full danger of the disease, which can lead to some consequences:

• Sleep disturbance in a child
• The child cannot concentrate on anything because the itching in the head bothers him.
• Due to the constant itching, which the child cannot control and scratches his head without stopping, bloody and purulent wounds appear, which in the future can lead to infections and contracting dangerous diseases.

The main places of infection with pediculosis:

• School and kindergarten.
• Trains and planes.
• Swimming pools, saunas, concerts, with a huge audience.

What and how can you overcome head lice?

What are lice afraid of and how to get rid of them? Currently, products for killing lice and nits are available in a wide range.

1. The most popular are anti-head lice shampoos . They differ in the type of active ingredient, but most of them are safe and can be used in childhood.
2. Anti-pediculosis sprays are characterized by higher efficiency, although they are not without certain disadvantages associated with the complexity of use, aggressiveness and side effects. Such preparations are more suitable for clothing and bedding infested with lice.
3. Anti-lice creams are not as widely available as shampoos. Although these two types are similar in their principle of action and composition.

• Folk remedies against lice include cranberry juice, hellebore tincture, citric acid, a mask of ground garlic, vinegar solution and even kerosene. The last remedy on the list is dangerous and therefore requires extreme caution.

In addition to the above, you can find out how to remove parasites using dichlorvos, laundry, dust and tar soap, hairspray or essential oils.

• Special combs against lice are used using the mechanical method. They are easy to use and do not cause any side effects. Lice and nits should be combed out over the bathtub, immediately rinsed off with a shower stream. The use of combs can complement any of the above methods for maximum effectiveness.

as alternative methods of combating lice and nits on your head:

1. Pediculen Ultra;
2. paranitis;
3. nude;
4. benzyl benzoate;
5. paranit repellent.

Substances

Chemicals that have an adverse effect on lice are included in pharmaceutical preparations, these include:

• permethrin;
• malathion;
• phenothrin;
• dimethicone;

All of them have different effects on insects: some paralyze the nervous system, others corrode the chitinous shell, others have a suffocating effect, but ultimately lead to the rapid death of adult individuals.

The most effective and efficient way to remove lice is an integrated approach. When treating pediculosis, it is necessary not only to treat the head with a special product, but also to comb out the nits mechanically every day, using a comb.

For preventive purposes, in the summer, you should constantly inspect your head for lice and nits, since absolutely anyone can become infected with lice, regardless of their cleanliness.

Ways to combat pediculosis

If a person does become infected with parasites, it is necessary to get rid of lice as soon as possible. There are a large number of different means and methods for this. There are several types of effects on lice and nits:

• chemical using drugs containing toxic toxins and insecticides;
• temperature effects on lice using low and high temperatures;
• mechanical by combing hair out with special combs and combs;
• repelling parasites with strong-smelling substances containing natural ingredients and extracts.

How dangerous are lice?

Lice are not poisonous insects, but due to their rapid reproduction, they are still considered dangerous . Lice bites leave red spots on the skin and itching, accompanied by unpleasant sensations. With constant scratching of the bite sites, a purulent wound may form. Dirt from under the nails, dust and many other factors can get into the wound, which can subsequently lead to rotting of the entire head, infections and various dangerous diseases.

Not only do lice suck blood and reproduce at a tremendous rate, but they also transmit diseases such as typhus, typhus, typhus, and STDs, which can be seen through many symptoms.

Typhus is caused by bacteria that enter the bite wound along with louse feces. Accompanied by symptoms:

• Body temperature is more than 38.5.
• Feverish condition.
• Excessive nervousness.
• Eternal heart tingling and “grasping.”
• Rash all over the body, like chickenpox.

Typhus Tularemia – the main carrier of the disease is large animals, as well as dogs and cats, but lice can also spread the disease to people. Symptoms of the disease:

• High body temperature.
• Dizziness and fainting.
• Headache, which is accompanied by a sensation of “splitting” of the skull.
• Pain in fingers and toes, difficulty bending.
• Confused consciousness.

Tularemia

Living conditions

Linen lice are not only an unpleasant, but also quite dangerous phenomenon. How to get rid of parasites at home depends on their prevalence. Their main habitat is dirty clothes. But in order to receive nutrients for their vital functions, they need to periodically move onto the human body.

The problem is not only that lice suck blood. To reduce clotting and make it easier to obtain food, insects sprinkle a special enzyme under the skin of the victim. Because of it, a person experiences allergic reactions and spots appear on the skin.

It is known that linen lice can withstand a fairly wide temperature range. Adult parasites are able to exist at temperatures from 0 to 45 ° C. Larvae require slightly more comfortable conditions, from 5 to 40 ° C. But for active reproduction, a warm and dry environment is required, where the temperature is within 30 ° C

It is important to understand that when a person takes off his clothes, his temperature drops noticeably and the activity of the individuals slows down. High humidity has a beneficial effect on their body

Therefore, a sweating person is an ideal victim for them.

Why is it impossible to eradicate pediculosis?

The louse is a human ectoparasite that loves unsanitary conditions and crowds of people. The disease is widespread among the population of undeveloped countries and occurs in outbreaks throughout the world.

Dysfunctional families, people without a fixed place of residence, people leading a dissolute lifestyle are a source of infection. In such cells of society, the fight against pediculosis is not carried out at all, or it is done superficially. Lice continue to inhabit the planet, infect people, and annoy people with their existence.

On a note!

You can catch lice anywhere, through close contact with an infected person or his things. The opinion that lice love unsanitary conditions and choose dirty, unwashed heads is completely unfounded. Insects settle on a well-groomed head equally quickly and feel much more confident there.

Travelers, volunteers, children, and people who neglect basic personal safety rules are at risk.

How to treat the affected area

If you find moose lice bites on your body, do not panic under any circumstances. Even if you are an insectophobe or believe that after a bite you are guaranteed to develop an extremely severe form of inflammation, proper treatment will allow you to avoid consequences.

It is ideal if you feel good about your body and can remove moose lice directly while feeding them.

It will be almost impossible to remove the thin flat body of the insect with your fingers, and if you do, its cephalothorax will remain in your skin, which will aggravate the situation. An ordinary thread will come to the rescue: tighten a loop near the insect’s head and begin to unwind and swing the thread so that the sting itself slips out of the skin. It’s even better if you have a first aid kit (or manicure set) with tweezers with you, then you can eliminate the insect in a few seconds.

And the simplest way we use to fight ticks is to lubricate the skin with oil and roll the body. Immediately after this, it is necessary to disinfect the affected area, if the wound channel is large - try to squeeze out the poison and clean the skin as much as possible (Figure 5).

If you don’t have a first aid kit or wet wipes with antiseptic at hand, you can use:

1. Using matches to cauterize a wound:
   at first glance, this is an outdated barbaric method, but if done correctly, you will not get burned, but will only cauterize the edges of the wound.
2. Celandine juice:
   Celandine is a ubiquitous weed with bright yellow flowers that have bright orange juice inside the stem. After cutting or tearing the stem, apply a few drops to the wound. You will feel a burning sensation, as when using iodine - the wound will be disinfected.

Figure 5. The bite site must be immediately treated and disinfected.
Remember that if itching occurs later, you should never touch the wound. In order not to tempt yourself, try to put on an adhesive plaster at first. When you realize too late that a bloodsucker has bitten you, the elk tick bite still needs to be treated. Also, do not forget about antihistamines such as Mebhydrolin, Diazolin, Loratadine, which block allergies due to parasite venom.

What repels lice and what are they afraid of?

To get rid of lice, you need to use only products purchased at a pharmacy on the advice of a pharmacist. With some products you just need to wash your hair, some leave it on your head for 2-6 hours, wearing a medical cap, a swimming cap or a plastic bag on top. Products to be used:

1. Medifox . Prepare a 0.2% solution of the drug: dilute 8 ml of the drug with 200 warm boiled water. Rub into areas of head lice infestation and leave for 20 minutes. Wash off with water and laundry soap.
2. Foxylon . Apply lotion to clean hair, rubbing evenly into roots. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse with shampoo. Instead of regular rinse aid, use a solution of 4.5% acetic acid.
3. Pedilin . In this case, emulsion and shampoo are used. Apply each product in turn for 10-15 minutes.

Also, lice are afraid not only of drugs, but also of various factors :

• Lice are afraid of strong odors ; essential oils can easily cope with the destruction of lice and their nits. The best oils are lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, orange and others. It is worth lubricating the areas behind the ears, the back of the head and 1 cm of the forehead located after the hairline. Also, adding a few drops of oils to your shampoo will also help.
• Hair dye . Any paint using essential oils, hydrogen peroxide or ammonia will also help get rid of lice, but this method will not help with nits.
• Frost or heat . In 40-degree frost, lice die after 30 minutes, and in 40-degree heat they begin to slow down. To get rid of lice, simply treat your hair with hot air from a hair dryer for 30 minutes.
• A haircut . During the war period, this method was used more often than all others. Shaving your head will help both from nits and from adult lice themselves.
• Lice hate birch tar , so washing your hair with tar soap will help kill the parasites.
• A solution of salt, alcohol and acetic acid . Mix one tablespoon of alcohol with 3 tablespoons of salt and 100 ml of acetic acid with a low acidity percentage. Apply to the scalp and hair roots and do not rinse for two days.
• A decoction of tansy, wormwood and rosemary will also help cope with lice. Take 50 grams of herb and add 300 ml of water, bring to a boil. Leave to infuse for 24 hours, then strain and rinse your hair. Wrap in plastic and do not rinse for 30 minutes.
• If a person is not afraid of an unpleasant odor that will accompany him for a long time after the procedure, then it is worth trying kerosene (the odor remains in the hair for 10 days), karbofos (the odor will remain for two weeks) and many other folk remedies.

Chemical exposure

Chemical effects on lice and nits Among the chemical active substances, the most effective are permethrin, malathion, phenothrin, tetramethrin, and clearol mineral oil. They are used to produce shampoos, ointments, sprays, repellents, lotions and other products. Lice and nits under the influence of these drugs die or are paralyzed, after which they can be easily removed from the hair with a comb.

Important!

Many remedies for lice, which contain toxic substances, cannot be used by small children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, or people with allergies. Before using this or that drug, you should carefully read the instructions.

Among the folk remedies, the following compositions will help protect against lice: kerosene, acetic acid, hair dye based on hydrogen peroxide. Their pungent odor and chemical composition contribute to the poisoning of parasites. But we must not forget about precautions and the possible harm that these household products can cause.

Smells

All animals and insects react negatively to sharp, specific aromas; lice are no exception . You can repel parasites from your hair using essential oils:

1. Tea tree.
2. Lavender.
3. Cypress.
4. Wormwood.
5. Geraniums.

Parasites primarily inhabit the temporal and occipital parts of the head, so for preventive purposes it is recommended to apply essential oils behind the ears and on the back of the head.

Can lice appear on colored hair?

When there is a suspicion of lice infection, almost every representative of the fair half of humanity asks the question of whether lice get in colored hair?

Despite the fact that some paints contain components that have a negative effect on the body of parasites, lice can feel quite comfortable if the coloring procedure was carried out several days ago. Thus, the answer to the question of whether lice live on colored hair can only be positive.

Why don't lice live on painted ones?

Exceptions that exclude the possibility of lice include the regular use of aggressive dyes containing ammonia, perhydrol, and a number of others. On a head that is dyed at least once a week, lice may not appear.

However, dyeing so often is still not recommended, as curls and strands become brittle and dull. A strong, strong odor can repel lice. For example, seams do not sit on dyed hair directly during the dyeing procedure, as this may well cause their death.

Persistent bitterness of wormwood

If you don’t want to prepare the composition yourself, buy the pharmacy version. Yes, today there are many supporters who believe that natural essential oils are effective and safe for human health protection against bedbug bites. True, they need to be used correctly. Scented compounds, to which people generally have a positive attitude, have a repellent effect on pests precisely due to their persistent, specific odor. When a person uses oils, aromatic particles envelop him in an invisible cloud, which prevent bedbugs from even approaching him.

The specific smell of wormwood grass is guaranteed to help rid the room of bedbug attacks. These pests have a keen sense of smell, and the pungent smell of grass can irritate their receptors. But this can continue until the bedbugs become very hungry. Practice shows that even the smell of wormwood will not be able to stop them from thirsting for blood.

Orange oil has also been a long-known effective remedy for fighting bedbugs. For humans, its smell is very pleasant, but for “unwanted household residents” it is pungent and frightening.

Orange oil smells pleasant and repels bedbugs - an excellent functional load

Preventive agents

The most radical and effective means of combating head lice is still the mechanical method, that is, shaving the head. However, for ethical reasons, this option is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, it is worth considering all possible options and, after consultation with a dermatologist, choose the most suitable one. Usually, all means to combat pediculosis are also used to prevent the disease.

The most effective way to combat head lice is shaving your head.

Table: pharmaceutical products for the prevention of pediculosis

Table: folk methods of protection against pediculosis

Tar soap is effective only if the louse has not had time to lay nits, otherwise you will have to use this hair-aggressive product for a long time

How does temperature affect the rate of lice reproduction?

Temperature also affects the rate at which lice reproduce quite significantly. At temperatures below +22°C and above +40°C, lice larvae and nymphs stop feeding and do not develop. At the same temperatures, nits do not develop - larvae do not hatch from them, although the nits themselves do not die, their development is simply inhibited.

At the temperature at which lice die, nits are still able to survive. In general, even a small change in temperature already affects the duration of the reproductive cycle of lice.

The optimal temperature for lice reproduction is +30-32°C. Under such conditions, the period from egg to egg is about 16-18 days. Lowering the temperature to +28°C extends this period to 23-24 days, and at +25°C about 35 days pass from egg to egg.

At a temperature of +22°C, larvae stop hatching from nits. This is how the natural defense mechanisms of the population work - at low temperatures, lice are not viable, and it is more rational to preserve dormant nits until the next warming than to risk hatching larvae, which may simply die of starvation.

Interestingly, increasing the temperature at which lice live does not have the opposite effect. If an increase in temperature to +34-35°C maintains the duration of the reproductive cycle at 16-17 days, then upon reaching +37-38°C the reproduction of lice practically stops altogether, and after +40°C they begin to die.

Moreover, under natural conditions, lice practically do not find themselves in such conditions.

Effect of temperature

Many insects cannot tolerate sudden changes in temperature. Lice and nits are no exception. At temperatures around zero degrees they become slow, and at minus 20 degrees they hibernate and die within a few hours. But it is impossible to get rid of head lice in this way, since a person can cause more harm to himself by being in the cold without a hat.

Freezing bedding and clothing will help protect against parasites. If there is a risk of infection with head lice or immediately after its treatment, it is necessary to take out all the things with which the infected person had contact in the cold and leave them for 2-3 days. During this time, the parasites will die.

Additional processing

After washing or boiling linen or clothes, they must be allowed to dry naturally. Hang it in the cold or in the bright rays of the sun. The final stage is ironing at high temperature with steam. Particular attention is paid to folds and seams.

We suggest you read: The cat is losing hair and itching

Steam can destroy parasites that accidentally end up on a mattress, sofa, carpets, or rugs. The procedure requires special effort and time, but the final result depends on its quality.

Treatment of pediculosis

If you find lice, treatment should begin as quickly as possible. The essence of getting rid of pediculosis is to use the following methods:

Combing - for this, use a special “combing comb” or a comb with fine teeth. This procedure is best performed on damp, clean hair. Combing is an economical and safe way to get rid of pediculosis, preventing the recurrence of the disease. It must be remembered that the comb is good for getting rid of nits, but it will not get rid of all adult nits. To destroy all pests, it is necessary to use special means. The combing process must be carried out 4 to 10 times.

Chemicals

To use them, you should remember the safety precautions and be sure to follow the instructions included with them. At the moment there are many types of chemical anti-pediculosis drugs:

• Shampoo.
• Lotion.
• Emulsion.
• Aerosol.
• Ointment.
• Pills.

Other methods are less effective and not popular, these are electric combs and the destruction of parasites by hand. Given the size of the insects, it is very easy to miss a louse or nit, which will hatch, lay eggs again and lead to repeated treatment. Shaving the head, groin area, or disposing of items infested with lice really helps. However, not everyone agrees to these measures, because not every parent is ready to throw away their favorite clothes or shave their daughter’s hair and ruin her appearance.

External factors

The most important factor for the life and reproduction of lice is air temperature .

A high air temperature of 25 to 35 degrees is considered favorable. At this temperature, insects reproduce quickly: in just 5-7 days, a young individual emerges from the nit.

Unfavorable – temperature above 40 degrees and below 10. In the cold, the louse dies in a matter of minutes. When the air temperature drops below 10 degrees, insects move slowly, are unable to lay eggs, and at zero air temperatures they hibernate for a long period of time (up to 60 days).

If the air temperature rises above 40 degrees, the parasites also fall into a stupor: they move slowly, are unable to reproduce, and do not feed well. At temperatures above 50 degrees they die instantly.

Important! You can loosen lice by drying your hair and the entire scalp with a hot hairdryer for at least 15 minutes. The insects will become slower and will be easier to remove from the hair using a comb.

Why don't lice die when you wash your hair?

If suddenly a person has lice, then simply washing them off with regular shampoo will not work . This is explained by the structural features of the parasite's body. The louse is attached to human hair by three pairs of strong and tenacious legs, which provide a strong hold.

IMPORTANT! When the female lays eggs, she secretes a sticky substance that does not dissolve with water and simple shampoos.

Climate influence

Insects that parasitize humans live and reproduce in the home. The climatic zone where a person's habitation is located is of secondary importance.

The microclimate of the room is very important for bedbugs. In a well-heated house located in Siberia, insects will be as comfortable as in a dacha located on the shores of the southern sea.

Many years of experience have made it possible to accurately determine at what temperature bedbugs die.

• They tolerate very hot microclimates worst of all. If the temperature is more than 50 °C, the bug survives for less than 5 minutes. At 45 °C it can last for half an hour.
• Insect eggs are covered with a thermal protective layer, thanks to which they remain viable at 50 °C for 24 hours.
• Bedbugs tolerate low temperatures more easily. At a frost of 10 °C, they temporarily reduce activity, freeze, and enter a state of suspended animation.
• When the temperature drops another 5-7 °C, bedbugs can remain viable for up to 4 days.
• If the frost reaches 20 ° C, the insects will die within a few hours.
• Eggs tolerate low temperatures better. At -20 °C they can survive for 2 days, after which they die.

Linen bug

Frost has a detrimental effect not only on bedbugs, but also on the communication systems of an apartment or house.

In residential areas, you can place small items in the freezer. It is advisable to keep them there for a week.

In a private home, you can take sofas and armchairs out into the cold. Freezing the entire apartment is problematic. Walls, wallpaper, and water pipes may be damaged.

How to use the three-component drug?

1. Carry out processing in a well-ventilated area.
2. Have a timer or watch ready to keep track of time.
3. Shake the can of the product and spray it evenly over the entire length of the child's hair. If your hair is long and thick, use a fine comb to separate strands for maximum effect.
4. Time it for 10 minutes. There is no need to wrap the child's head in anything. After about 9 minutes, you can begin to adjust the temperature of the water for rinsing. If for some reason you exceed the required application time, hypersensitivity reactions and irritation may develop. Therefore, be careful.
5. Wash your child's hair with regular shampoo and conditioner. This is necessary to create a sliding effect when combing.
6. Comb out dead insects and nits with a special metal comb. The frequent teeth of such combs allow you to grab and hold nits and remove them from the hair. It is better not to use a comb, as it will not allow you to get rid of the nits and they will have to be removed manually. And this is several days of not very pleasant work.

If the lesion was massive, the procedure may need to be repeated. But usually one application is enough.

Is it possible to kill nits with a hair straightener?

The lethal temperature for nits is +60 degrees . Therefore, a hair straightener can be used to combat them. However, this method of disposal may damage your hair due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures .
Nits can be very close to the skin and using a flat iron can cause burns . Also, the iron is completely useless in the fight against adult lice. It can only be used to destroy nits and only after treating the hair with an anti-lice product .

General instructions for removing lice

In most cases, it is not possible to eliminate parasites the first time, because even one missed nit will lead to the re-development of the disease.

Stage 1. Preparation

To remove lice from a child or adult, you first need to prepare the necessary tools and supplies:

1. Frequent comb. You can use a regular wooden one. Also, recently, pharmacies have been selling combs that easily collect all the eggs, which makes the procedure much easier.
2. A remedy against pediculosis.
3. Shampoo.
4. Conditioner balm.
5. Cotton towel – you need to wrap your head with it after treatment.
6. A white cloth, such as a sheet, to cover the shoulders and neck while brushing.
7. A bowl of vinegar solution. It is needed to wash the comb from nits.

Stage 2. Selecting a product

This stage is one of the most important, because the effectiveness of the procedure depends on the product.

Lice are afraid of insecticides - chemicals designed specifically to kill insects. The poison contained in such preparations helps not only to immobilize parasites, but to kill them immediately. With the advent of such chemistry, it has become much easier and faster to remove lice: in 30-40 minutes, the active substance infects insects and eggs, all that remains is to comb them out.

Stage 3. Combing out and destroying nits

If the hair is sparse, shorter than 3 cm, then one shampoo is enough to remove nits. However, it is better to play it safe and additionally comb out the eggs with a comb.

The most effective way to remove nits is by combing out:

1. Comb your hair from roots to ends.
2. Divide your head into separate sections, and those into small strands. This reduces the risk of missing the parasite.
3. You need to start the procedure from the back of the head, as well as the area behind the ears.
4. Gradually move from short hair to long hair, the last to process the strands at the temples.
5. To easily remove nits from long hair, you need to moisten the comb in an aqueous solution of vinegar (1:1). This will make the eggs easier to release.

The procedure will take no more than an hour: 15-20 minutes for short hair, 30-45 for long hair.

Stage 4. Disinfection of clothing and premises

Getting rid of lice on your hair does not mean completely eradicating their population. Anything that the head of someone infected with lice came into contact with could have nits left on it. Therefore, to display them completely, you need to:

1. Throw away all combs, elastic bands, and hair clips that were used during the infection period.
2. Wash bed linen, hats, and frequently used clothing at the highest permissible temperatures.
3. Steam pillows and mattresses with an iron or steam generator.
4. Wipe all surfaces and floors with a solution of vinegar in water (1:1).