Nits are the eggs left behind by lice. Humans have been afflicted by lice for thousands of years. In humans, lice normally feed on the skin and blood located at the scalp. They can, however, be found on other body locations that have hair. Lice attach their eggs to the actual strands of hair with a glue-like saliva that they secrete. Removing nits from the hair strand can be extremely difficult and usually needs a special lice treatment. There are several different options available.

The first step to take if someone has lice is to eliminate the external sources of the lice. Anything that comes into contact with the affected area, like sheets, combs, and pillow cases, should be removed. If the items are washable, they should be washed. If not, they should be placed in an air-tight container for at least two weeks. Then, you can begin treating the actual head.

The easiest way of treating head lice is to shave the head of the infected person. A trim will not work: the head must be completely shaved. Obviously, this is easier and less burdensome when the infected hair is not on the head. However, since many people are uncomfortable shaving their head, other treatments are recommended.

Less dramatic methods for treatment of head lice also exist. It's helpful to use a lice comb to get nits out of the hair, but that treatment alone usually isn't wholly effective. If you feel more comfortable with natural remedies, you're in good company. Many people are concerned about the possible side effects of chemical solutions; however, the chemical treatments are almost always the best. All-natural solutions minimize the problem but rarely completely eradicate it. Some natural solutions may actually be more harmful than their chemical counterparts because they aren't required to have government regulation!

Applying a physician-approved chemical pesticide is the most popular option. In these solutions, a 1% mixture of permethrin or pyrethrin is dispersed into the lungs of the lice and kills them. Always check with your doctor before trying one of these methods, because they are pesticides and must be used with caution. Chemical solutions like this require re-application for several weeks and hair must be thoroughly combed through with a lice comb for effective egg removal. They are massaged into the scalp only of a person with dried hair.

Less common methods of treating head lice may also work. By weakening the lice's hold and making the nits more visible, ordinary hair conditioner may be an effective treatment when combed through the hair, and allowed to set for four hours or more. Electric combs advertised for lice treatment are also available. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that people with shorter hairstyles are at reduced risk of contracting lice, and that lice infested in shorter hair is easier to treat. These alternative methods, as yet unproven, require more research.

It is best to visit a doctor to help you sort through the many treatment options.