{"id":3011,"date":"2020-07-25T09:01:34","date_gmt":"2020-07-25T13:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/?page_id=3011"},"modified":"2025-10-21T09:37:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T13:37:33","slug":"combing-benefits","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/what-are-head-lice-and-nits\/head-lice-removal\/combing-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Combing Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Combing Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The NPA offers a comprehensive approach to managing pediculosis in children based on early detection and thorough removal of lice and nits through combing. Combing requires the use of a quality lice and nit removal comb which in turn empowers parents to send their children to school free of lice and nits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Combing<\/a>
Click image for a pdf version suitable for use as a poster.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Screening with a Comb<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Allows for early detection and removal<\/strong> when there are fewer lice and nits present<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Allows parents to be first to know<\/strong> when their child is infested<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Empowers parents as non-health professionals<\/strong> to screen children privately and effectively at home<\/strong>, protecting children from worry <\/strong>and possible embarrassment<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Eliminates later confusion<\/strong> as to whether newly-found eggs were present previously or represent a new infestation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Makes it unnecessary to determine whether removed lice and nits are alive or dead<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Provides an objective method to examine a child\u2019s hair after an infestation to confirm its successful resolution before the child reenters the group setting<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Detection\/Identification with a Comb<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Allows any insects or eggs that are present to be collected by the comb for accurate identification<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Allows a person with an itchy scalp to avoid worry and unnecessary treatment<\/strong> by determining that it is not caused by pediculosis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Is four times more efficient<\/strong> and twice as fast as direct visual examination in diagnosis<\/strong> of louse infestation1<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Removal\/Treatment with a Comb<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Ends an infestation<\/strong> \u2013 no matter what other products are used. The FDA has acknowledged that combing on its own is a valid treatment <\/strong> for head lice.2<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Eliminates the need for additional chemical treatments<\/strong> aimed at killing any lice that survive the first treatment as well as any new lice that will hatch from surviving viable eggs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Is a critical part of good personal hygiene<\/strong> because it removes lice \u2013 human parasites that infest hair and scalps, feed on blood, defecate, breed, and glue their eggs to hair close to the scalp\u2019s warmth in order to hatch new lice \u2013 and their eggs<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Prevention through Combing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Prevents continuing infestations caused by surviving nits hatching new lice<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Prevents pediculosis transmission to others<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Empowers parents to send their children to school free of lice and nits<\/strong>3<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Safety through Combing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Is a safe replacement for chemical treatments<\/strong> that can be harmful both to the person applying the treatment and the person being treated<\/strong>, especially for those for whom chemical treatments are contraindicated<\/strong> (women who are pregnant or nursing; anyone on medication or who has a preexisting medical condition such as allergies, asthma or cancer; children under two years of age; children who have been repeatedly exposed to chemical treatments for head lice)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Avoids overexposing children to pesticides <\/strong>because there is no need for a second treatment. Parents can use too much of a chemical treatment or use it too often due to traditional pediculicides directing two treatments because they don\u2019t kill the eggs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Other Benefits of Combing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Provides a cost-effective alternative<\/strong> for those who need or prefer to avoid pesticides<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Enables parents to independently screen and treat themselves<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Allows for more accurate collection and accounting of louse and egg specimens for scientific research<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            4. Enables parents to send their children to school free of lice and nits<\/strong> \u2013 helping to keep all children in the classroom3<\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            5. Similar to hand washing, teaches young children personal care habits<\/strong> that benefit themselves and the community<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            6. Is the basis of the lice removal (\u201cnit picker\u201d) service industry<\/strong>. (These professionals often use hair conditioners when they comb \u2013 parents can do this too.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Some characteristics of pesticide treatments that parents should be aware of when making a pediculosis treatment choice<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              1. None of the chemical treatments on the market are 100% effective<\/strong> in killing head lice or their eggs, despite product packaging claims that may provide parents and others with a false sense of security <\/strong>that they will work and a sense of failure <\/strong>when they don\u2019t<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Pesticides in treatment products are not necessarily completely washed away<\/strong> at the end of treatment; residual amounts can persist, be absorbed and accumulate in the human body<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Pesticide treatments can predispose a person to adverse reactions<\/strong> with even one chemical exposure<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. Lindane and malathion are among the most neurotoxic pesticide ingredients contained in some prescription lice treatments. These pesticide treatments are also environmentally unfriendly because they can pollute both water systems and the atmosphere.4<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              5. Overuse of pesticide treatments contributes to the development of lice that are resistant to treatment products<\/strong> (often referred to as \u201csuper lice\u201d).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                1 <\/sup>K Y Mumcuoglu, Pediatric Dermatology<\/em>, Jan-Feb 2001 
                2<\/sup> FDA petition response<\/a>.
                3<\/sup>                 NPA\u2019s No Nit Policy<\/a>.
                4<\/sup>                 MVP Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n\n\n\n
                \n
                For more information visit HeadLice.org<\/a>.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                \n\n\n\n
                \n
                \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                Combing Benefits The NPA offers a comprehensive approach to managing pediculosis in children based on early detection and thorough removal of lice and nits through combing. Combing requires the use of a quality lice and nit removal comb which in turn empowers parents to send their children to school free of lice and nits. Screening …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3071,"parent":584,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-3011","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"entry"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/CombingPostersm.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/CombingPostersm.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3011"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3381,"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3011\/revisions\/3381"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.headlice.org\/comb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}