How To Clean A Lice Comb
One of the options for treating your child's lice infestation is to rummage them out with a high-quality metallic lice comb. Combing tin be a highly effective method if you're very careful and consistent nearly doing it.
Lice combing can be done in addition to applying over-the-counter lice treatments such equally permethrin or pyrethrin, or on its own. What you need is a good lice comb, an effective technique, a lot of persistence, and a kid who will tolerate the procedure.
The American University of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends chemical lice treatments instead of combing, simply not considering combing doesn't work. It simply isn't practical for many parents to rely on combing lonely.
Why? Considering combing, when done properly, is irksome and extremely time-consuming – peculiarly if you're doing it instead of applying a chemical treatment. If yous're determined not to use an OTC lice treatment, though, or lice treatments have failed y'all, combing tin can eradicate a lice infestation.
A lice comb is a expert diagnostic device, as well. Studies have institute that a lice comb is the best tool for finding live lice.
How to detect a good lice-removal comb
A high-quality lice rummage has long, fine, metal teeth that are very close together. Some experts say not to bother with plastic combs or the ones that come up in the lice medicine packages. The best combs are available online (or possibly at your local drugstore) and from lice salons.
Skilful combs to try include the Nisska (High german-made, stainless steel), about $24, the Nit Free Terminator, around $13; and the LiceMeister, nearly $ten.
Yous may run across or hear about electronic combs, only according to Richard Pollack, a lice skillful at the Harvard Schoolhouse of Public Health, the electronic versions probably offer no advantage over a traditional, well-designed lice rummage.
Getting ready for a comb-out
Once you're ready to comb, set yourself up in an surface area with adept, stiff light. Y'all may want to be in the bathroom or fifty-fifty outside if there's practiced daylight.
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What to accept on paw:
- A regular rummage
- Conditioner or detangler
- A metallic lice comb
- Clips or barrettes to hold sections of your child's hair
- A plastic bowl to clean the comb (you can leave it dry or fill with soapy water)
- Paper towels to wipe comb
- A fabric towel to place around your child's shoulders
- Videos, handheld games, books, or other distractions for your child
- Rubber gloves (optional)
- Potent reading glasses or magnifying glass or loop to see better
- Lots of lite, such as a bright lamp that can be directed at the area you're combing
A proficient comb-out tin can take up to 3 hours depending on how long, thick, fine, or curly the pilus is. Be ready with an activity for your child. Many parents permit their kids play handheld games or watch videos to keep them nevertheless. Audio books work well as well.
Earlier beginning the lice rummage-out, wet the hair, add some conditioner or detangler, and comb out the tangles with a regular comb. Some people find that using plenty of goopy, white conditioner on the hair makes the combing process easier, slows down the lice, and makes it easier to see them on the comb.
How to do a thorough comb-out
- Part your child's hair down the middle and clip upwardly one half so it's out of the way.
- On the loose side, pick up 1 small-scale department of hair, nigh the width of your lice comb. Kickoff at the scalp to catch the nits (lice eggs), which are laid and hatch just a fraction of an inch from the scalp.
- Comb each department in multiple directions (up, downwardly, left, right).
- Pull the comb all the manner through to the ends of the hair. You lot may encounter lice on the rummage after you pull information technology through the pilus.
- Flick the teeth of the comb into a bowl, dip it in a bowl of soapy h2o, or wipe it with a paper towel afterwards each swipe.
- Continue combing each section until the comb comes out clean (no lice or nits). You may notice it helpful to twist the combed hair and clip information technology to the head.
When you've finished the whole head, unclip the pilus and rinse out the conditioner. Rinse the comb and clips in hot, soapy water to make clean them. Wash the wearing apparel you and your kid were wearing during the comb-out.
Impress out our illustrated guide that shows yous how to do a lice comb-out.
How oftentimes to exercise comb-outs
Do a comb-out for everyone who has an active infestation every day or two until you've seen no live lice in the hair for virtually 2 weeks. The starting time combing should get rid of well-nigh of the lice. With each subsequent combing, you'll remove more of the remaining lice and some that have hatched in the meantime.
If lice are an ongoing problem in your area, endeavour combing out hair once a month.
"Regular comb-outs are the best prevention," says ane mom whose daughter had lice twice. "The infinitesimal I see one of those lice warning notes from schoolhouse, I sit my girl down for a combing. I likewise comb her hair out after sleepovers or other outings where the kids are close together. Nosotros haven't had lice since."
What if the hair is besides difficult to rummage?
If your child'southward hair is too difficult to comb – too fine or long or thick or curly to become a comb through over and once more – y'all're going to accept a hard time getting the lice out using a comb.
Though it's pricey, a lice removal service tin be a great option, saving you fourth dimension and worry. These salons and individuals are skilled at rummage-outs and topical treatments, and they know how to go along kids occupied. Look online for one in your area or enquire at school for a recommendation.
Another pick worth considering is cutting your child's hair. A shaved head means an instant finish to head lice, but this solution is usually only acceptable to boys.
For girls, you may exist able to relieve yourself and your child a lot of fourth dimension and frustration by cut her pilus short (so it'due south easier to comb out) or shaving the back of her neck (a central identify for lice to hide and lay their eggs). Y'all'll accept to practise information technology yourself, of course, since you can't accept a child with lice to a hair salon.
Reviewed by pediatric dermatologist Anthony J. Mancini, K.D., caput of the division of dermatology at Children'due south Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Next: Lice removal services and salons
Go back to the Head Lice Survival Guide for Parents
Source: https://www.babycenter.com/health/conditions/lice-combs-and-how-to-use-them_10336054
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