Report: Wet combing (bug busting) (page 9 of 28)
With all the publicity highlighting the long term health risks associated with insecticidal lotions, many people are turning to natural alternatives. The non-profit organisation, Community Hygiene Concern (CHC), has taken the lead in promoting wet-combing in the UK.
They produce a ‘Bug Buster Kit’ which sells for £5.95, and contains nit combs, a plastic cape and full instructions. The CHC campaign has been so successful that the term ‘bug busting’ is now widely recognised, and the kit is available on NHS prescription.
Bug busting works by combing out the head lice after they’ve been soaked in hair conditioner. In normal conditions lice can move quickly through hair, enabling them to evade a comb, or prying fingers. But when moisture clogs their breathing pores they stay still, making them far easier to remove.
Bug busting isn’t complicated, but it does depend on following the instructions closely over a two week period. This requires a fairly high level of family motivation, which is often seen as one of its main disadvantages.
Once the hair is washed and rinsed, a conditioner is applied to keep the hair wet and easy to comb. The combing process needs to be thorough and methodical, taking between 15 and 30 minutes to do properly.
Bug busting with a good nit comb should get rid of any lice that are present. But it may not remove all the nits. Three more treatments – one every four days – will catch any lice that may have hatched since the previous application. This breaks the life-cycle of the lice, ensuring none are left to breed.
An alternative to purchasing the complete Bug Busting Kit is to simply buy a good nit comb. The theory behind wet-combing is very straight-forward. (See wetcombing instructions.)
