11 debunked lice myths

These small insects are most common in childhood when the child begins to go to school. But we adults are not free from this terrible evil. Much is said about its treatment and characteristics, but not everyone knows for sure what is true. Learn the 11 most common myths about them.

1. Head lice can jump from person to person
   Head lice are parasitic insects that survive with their host's blood. Don't they jump? or fly, as many people think. They move through indexing, wandering from one host to another through head-to-head contact. Once they find a host, the lice begin their reproduction. Adult females lay eggs (nits), which are cemented near the person's scalp. After about a week or two, it becomes an adult louse.
2. Having lice is having a disease
   Head lice are not known to necessarily spread a disease. However as they cause excessive itching, itching can sometimes lead to excessive risk. This can increase the chances of developing a secondary skin infection.
3. Lice are a sign of poor hygiene
   When submerged in water, these insects cling firmly to human hair, and data show that lice can survive underwater for several hours. This means that even children who regularly bathe are vulnerable to this problem. To give you an idea, chlorinated pool water is not enough to kill them.
4. You must use strong light to find them.
   An adult louse? which is gray-white, and the size of a sesame seed, moves quickly to avoid light, which makes it hard to see. That's why doctors often use special light, such as a black light in a dark room, to help detect lice. However, to remove the nits, or eggs, you will need a good bright light and a magnifying glass.
5. A good look is enough to diagnose an infestation.

   The nits are white and the size of a knot, given with a hair, or with a thread. So before jumping to conclusions, make sure that what you are seeing is not just a sign of dandruff, hair spray, or even dirt particles. If you can see the head lice walking through the person's head, or get a doctor's diagnosis, then start a treatment.

6. Anti-lice shampoo is enough to eliminate them
   There are no lice removal products that are 100% effective for killing eggs. You still need to comb your hair with a fine comb (you can buy one at the drugstore), and examine section by section of the hair. So remove any lice you find by hand. Importantly, not all lice shampoos are safe for children and young people. Before using any substance, consult a dermatologist.
7. If the medicine does not work, repeat use as often as necessary.
   You may need to have follow-up treatment one week to 10 days after the first attempt, but never repeat treatment with the same medication more than two or three times. You may be using the product incorrectly or the lice are resistant to it. Remember: drugs used to treat head lice are insecticides and can be harmful to health if they are misused or overused. So ask your doctor about alternative methods.

8. You Can Wash Your Child's Hair One Day After Applying Head Lice Remedy
   Washing your hair with normal shampoo less than two to three days after anti-louse shampoo can interfere with medication and make it less effective. Also, do not use hair conditioner before using the lice medicine. Conditioners can act as a barrier that prevents the medicine from sticking to the hair, reducing its effectiveness.
9. Alternative Treatments Don't Work
   Some parents report good results using olive oil (just be sure to wait two or three days after using the lice shampoo). The idea is that the oil will choke the lice and the nits and prevent them from moving around the head. If you are ready to try this method, learn how to do it: thoroughly wet your child's hair with the oil. Then cover the hair with a towel or shower cap overnight. Wash the oil with warm water and shampoo. Some parents have also reported success with coating their child's head with petroleum jelly or mayonnaise. A study that examined various home remedies (including vinegar, alcohol, olive oil, mayonnaise, melted butter and petroleum jelly) found that petroleum jelly killed most eggs.
10. Now you need to clean your entire house.
    Contrary to popular belief, after a head lice crisis, you only need to clean the items your child's head came into contact with 48 hours before treatment. This includes objects such as pillows, sheets, combs, brushes and clothes. Dip combs and brushes in boiling water for five to 10 minutes. Wash your child's bedding and any other clothes in hot water and dry at the dryer's high temperature. Items that cannot be washed, such as coats, plush toys or sleeping bags can be dry cleaned, or you can put them in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks. Can you also vacuum the floor and furniture where the infested person has been sitting? however, the risk of getting carpet or furniture lice is very small, as adult lice only survive a day or two outside the human head without feeding on blood.
11. You must remove all nits after treatment.
    Contrary to popular belief, dead nits are not contagious. Once you have followed the lice shampoo instructions, and all of them, as well as the nits are dead, your child can go back to school.

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