Anyone who’s ever dealt with head lice will be painfully aware just how much time and energy it takes to get rid of them. Small wonder, then, that it’s every parent’s worst nightmare to have their children catch lice at school.
Sadly, head lice are a prolific problem, and one more difficult to avoid than you might think. This is especially true when school returns after the holidays and children have been mixing with one another during summer.
It starts with one or two children itching their scalps and escalates from there. Before you know it, the whole family is having to be wary of contracting lice.
Then comes the lice removal cream, with is no one’s idea of a good time. It can be sore, takes time out of your day and there’s no guarantee that once the lice are gone they’ll stay gone.
The spread of lice
Commonly it’s children who ensure lice spread so far, so quickly. According to the Care Guidebook, kids are at greatest risk during the summer months. When school starts up again, the lice then have the ideal conditions in which to thrive.
It’s important to remember that lice can neither jump nor fly, but instead spread by climbing across hairs.
Detecting and Treating Lice: A Quick Guide
Misconception Alert
Contrary to popular belief, lice rarely spread through shared brushes or hats. According to Care Guide, lice that fall out of hair are too weak to infest others.
How to Spot Lice
Lice are tiny (1–3 mm), translucent insects that range in color from gray to red. To detect them:
- Examine the scalp using a lice comb, combing from back to front.
- Lice will typically drop into the sink.
Detecting Eggs
Lice eggs, found near the scalp, are often easier to spot than the lice themselves. Eggs may be dark (unhatched) or light (hatched) and are about 1 mm long. Empty eggs need no treatment and will naturally disappear as hair grows or with combing.
Effective Lice Treatment
While lice shampoos can help, they often require multiple applications and can be expensive. An alternative, chemical-free method recommended by Healthy Life Center is outlined below:
What You’ll Need
- Lice comb
- Mouthwash
- White vinegar
- Shower cap/plastic bag
- Towel
Steps
- Saturate the hair with mouthwash to repel lice. Cover with a shower cap for one hour.
- Rinse out the mouthwash, then soak the hair with white vinegar to loosen eggs. Cover again for one hour.
- Wash hair with regular shampoo and comb thoroughly with a lice comb.
- To prevent future infestations, lightly spray hair with mouthwash before school.
Prevention Tip
Share these steps with friends and family to help everyone stay lice-free!
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