Why is it that you have to use a head lice comb in order to treat head lice? Why is it that the teeth of the comb are so close together making it difficult to comb through my child’s hair?
Great questions with defensible answers!
Head lice combs (nit combs) have been specifically designed to remove lice and their eggs from the hair. The removal teeth and designed close together as the head lice and especially their eggs are so small. A nit (head lice egg) is between just 0.5 – 2mm in length and an adult louse is between 2- 3mm in length. A regular comb’s teeth are around 3mm apart which will allow the parasite to slip straight through the teeth.
The design of a head lice comb will remove the lice and nits from the hair shaft and hold on to them until the comb has gone through the hair. Wipe the comb on to a tissue after each stroke to remove the collected lice and nits.
There is no easy way to remove the lice and eggs from the hair, but there are ways to make it a little easier. Use a white coloured thick combing solution to help detangle the knots and soften the hair.
So do you really need to comb to get rid of nits? YES. Unless you can find a super dooper treatment that kills all the lice and all the eggs in one foul swoop - you will need to comb. Most treatments don't penetrate the eggs which leaves the embryo inside to continue to grow and hatch, creating a new generation of head lice.
Check out the NitWits Head Lice Comb!
