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Nit combing is four times more effective at banishing head lice than applying chemicals to the scalp, according to a UK study. Head lice are the bane of many parents' lives when they have young children at kindy or school. The little beasties can run - or should I say jump rampant around the playroom. Desperation takes hold when after multiple shampooing with insecticide the pesky vermin just won't go away. For some years there's been a recommendation that parents give up the insecticides for nit combing after the hair's been washed in conditioner to make it soft and unknotted. This should be done four times separated by three days. The British have trialled such a method compared to common head lice insecticides. The results were dramatic. Nit combing was four times more effective at banishing head lice than the chemicals. About two children had to receive the combing for one to benefit. So it still isn't 100 per cent and may from other studies be similar to two applications of a lice-ocide containing malathion or permethrin although this study showed a high level of insect resistance. One key is the size of the teeth in the comb. It's important that you use a strong fine toothed comb so that as many eggs and lice are captured as possible. There must be no escape.
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