Whenever we talk about treating head lice, sooner or later the subject of nits is sure to come up. Everyone knows that head lice are small grayish insects seen around the scalp. They are moving and although tiny, are easy to spot. A nit, however, is smaller and far less conspicuous. Recognizing and dealing with them is a critically Important part of successful lice treatment.

When going through the hairline, remember to search for all of the eggs or "nits." These small white pellets will be tightly integrated between the hairline and each individual follicle. These bits cannot be eliminated through regular brushing or combing of the hair. They are also completely static, and cause no secondary symptoms until they hatch. Every single one must be killed or removed, as a single nit can start the process again.

The simplest means of removal is the use of a special very fine toothed nit comb. The teeth are so small and close together that any nits are scraped off. After using a shampoo or solution to kill all of the live lice, every strand of hair must be searched and any nit removed. Some lice treatments will kill these eggs, but many do not. Never skip this step.

Nit removal is the most essential part of getting rid of lice. Even after trying the home remedies of mayo or petroleum jelly the nits or eggs will not be dead. Picking the nits off of hair strand or using a fine tooth comb to search for them is the best way to get rid of them. Once you have removed the nits flush them or put them in a sealed container to dispose of them.

If a nit drops off in bedding, furniture, clothing or stuffed animals, it can also hatch out live lice. Thorough vacuuming must be done and everything that can be cleaned or put through a dryer needs to have that done. Steam cleaning with real steam can also help. Anything that cannot be cleaned needs to go in a sealed bag for about three weeks.

Even after treatment for head lice, the host may still be at risk of contracting the lice again. This is because nits can remain in the hair even after treatment. You can find nits by carefully and methodically checking the hairline, nape of the neck and the entire head for them. After removing any nits, you should retreat the head with the lotion or shampoo. While having head lice is no fun, by carefully following the directions on the label and removing any nits, you can eliminate the problem.