The Effects of Wearing Beanies to Not Catch Nits

Nits, and the head lice they hatch into, are a major health problem, especially among those who work with children under the age of 12. If you've ever thought about slapping on a beanie or other hat to keep the nasty little buggers away, think again. You'll have to do more than that to avoid being infested.

Hats and Nits

• Nits are the eggs of the head louse. They look like tiny brown, yellow, or tan dots. Female lice use a cement-like substance to attach their eggs to human hairs, and the eggs themselves cannot be removed using standard shampoos. Lice can live on beanies and other hats, which is why KidsHealth.org recommends people avoid sharing headwear.

Advantages

• Although lice can survive inside hats, wearing a beanie might indirectly prevent you from getting nits. The hat doesn't provide much of a barrier, but if you're not used to wearing a hat, having something on your head could remind you to be careful to avoid head-to-head contact with others. Just as tying a string around your finger helps you remember something, having a hat on your head could remind you to use proper precautions.

Considerations

• Just wearing a beanie isn't enough to keep nits away. If you let anyone else wear your beanie, you could pick up lice from the hat itself. Beanies are made of yarn, and yarn has a similar texture to human hair. That makes it easy for a louse to attach eggs to a beanie. If your beanie has been worn by someone you suspect has nits, or if you see the telltale dots, wash it in hot, soapy water or replace it.

Getting Rid of Nits

• If you do manage to pick up a case of head lice, you'll need to take action to get rid of the parasites. Use a shampoo designed to kill lice, then comb your hair with a lice comb to rid it of any lice that would otherwise hatch into more lice, as recommended by FamilyDoctor.org. You may have to repeat the treatment.