The term “nit” is merely a different term for the egg of a Head Lice additionally

identified as “Louse”. Head lice and pubic lice attach their eggs, or nits, to head or body hair extremely close to the  skin surface. Nits are attached to the hair follicle with a very stout glue like matter that holds them strongly to hair shafts and can be difficult to disconnect if there is a considerable number of them.

Nits of head lice additionally called pubic lice, need the heat and high humidity that is found near human being skin to grow accurately. If nits are removed from this warm, moist surroundings they will die. This is the reason they are for the most part usually establish next to the skin.

Effective lice control begins with careful nit elimination. Living Lice or Louse can be killed speedily with the appropriate products. If the nits are not likewise detached a live infestation will occur quickly starting the development over all over again. Nits can be either bodily detached or crushed. Lice combs do a good quality job of crushing nits in place or if lice combing is shared with one of the nit-loosening lotions found in several head lice home remedies, over the counter goods and products prescribed by physicians you can actually eradicate nits devoid of pulling hair out.

When young lice emerge they leave behind the empty egg shell. The egg shell will linger still attached the hair shaft. This vacant shell can linger attached for weeks, or months so as the hair grows the empty shell moves further and further from the scalp surface. If left they become very noticeable. Many Mothers develop into what is known as “Nit Picky” and will pick the Nits from the hair of their children. A Nit comb will do this but if time is a factor and you want to remove them quickly it can be easily done by simply picking them off.

When searching for nits, any nits found further than roughly a 1/4″ away from the skin it is most common to find that they may have before now hatched or they are dead. Nonetheless, some new study suggests that in warm climates lice will at times lay viable eggs further out on the hair shaft.

Color may be a improved way to discern blank or dead nits from live ones. Empty egg shells are white whereas live nits with lice inside are darker in color. The difference between live and dead nits is clear and easy to see.

Head lice also known as head-louse infestation or nits is usually found in children between the ages of 3-10 but can also be found in the scalps of adults.  Females are more prone to get head lice with comparison to men.

Forms of Head Lice
Following are three forms of head lice:

Nit: Nits are tiny head lice eggs and are often confused for dandruff. They are usually yellow to white and oval in shape. Nits are 0.8mm by 0.3mm in size. They are strongly attached to the hair shaft. Nits take one week to hatch.

Nymph: The nit hatches into a nymph. Nymphs are young lice. They are smaller in size and can move quickly. They are yellow to rust colored. Nymphs mature into adults about 7 days after hatching. They live by sucking blood from the scalp. Nymphs are commonly found behind the ears and at the neckline.

Adult:  The adult louse is 2-4 mm long with six legs. Adult lice can live up to thirty days on individual’s head. To live, adult lice suck blood from scalp. The color of adult lice is rust.

It is very easily transferrable, just the simple contact of heads or sharing of pillows may lead to it being transferred from one scalp to another.  It is a medical condition caused by the colonization of the hair and skin by the parasitic insect Pediculus humanus capitis.   Most often head lice will be found only in the scalp area however in rare cases it may also be found in other hairy areas of the human body.  The source of food for head lice is human blood and they usually feed once or twice in a day by piercing the skin with their tiny needle like mouthparts. One main symptom of head lice is a lot of itching in the infested area such as the scalp.

Excessive scratching of the infested area could cause sores, which eventually could become infected.  It must be noted that head lice cannot be considered a disease but actually a condition or a cosmetic problem for the carrier.  There are hundreds of millions of cases of head lice each year and still there is no method or product that could assure 100% destruction of the eggs and hatched lice after a single treatment.  However, there are a number of different treatments one may adopt in order to get rid of these little microscopic pests such as, chemical treatments, combs, shaving, natural products, hot air and last but not the least silicone based lotions.

The most common treatment of head lice is using medicated shampoos, cream rinses, and nit combs.  Lastly, it should be noted that some lice have become immune to some but not all insecticides used in commercially available products, therefore it would be most appropriate to have a physician or pharmacist prescribe or recommend a treatment.