Feature: Lice Prevention 101
Lice Prevention
Lice.
By Theresa Parr RN, BSN
Even the mention of the word has all of our heads itching and fearing that it could be on our child’s head. Whether your kiddo is heading to summer camp, or you’ve heard there is a lice outbreak in your area, here are some tips to keep your family lice free this year. Tip #1: Know the Facts There is a ton of misinformation out there about lice. Contrary to popular belief, head lice do not jump or fly, but they are fast. They spread quickly by crawling from one person’s head to another. Tip #2: Avoid Head to Head Contact While many are worried about getting head lice from movie theaters, bean bags, and couches, the truth is that head lice is rarely spread via inanimate objects. Ninety percent of head lice is spread directly from head to head contact. Activities like hugging and snuggling, resting your head on someone’s shoulder, group selfies, and playing head to head are just some of the prime opportunities for lice to spread. Tip #3: Keep Your Hair Up Lice have little claws on the end of their legs, which enable them to grab a piece of hair and hold on for dear life. Wearing a braid or tight bun decreases the amount of loose hair they can grab onto.
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Tip #4: Smell Good to You, Bad to Lice Lice have a very keen sense of smell and there are a few scents that they hate. While tea tree oil is one that many swear by, other scent deterrents are peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Some people add essential oils to their shampoo or conditioner. I recommend Happyheads ScootieCootie Leave-In Conditioner and Detangler ($20, available at Picky Picky in Vancouver) for my clients because it has multiple essential oils. And a cheaper option is Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel ($10 on Amazon). Tip #5: Teach Children to Share, But Not Everything While sharing is encouraged in the classroom, some things should never be shared. Items like brushes, hair ties, hats, jackets and scarves can spread lice. Children should keep those items to themselves. Tip #6: Blow Dry and Flat Iron While blow-drying and flat ironing are not treatments for getting rid of lice, dry heat can kill lice and their eggs.
Tip #7: Once a Week Take a Peek The number one way to prevent a full-on lice infestation is to check your child for lice weekly. If caught early, it is much easier to get rid of, so make it a weekly habit with your Sunday bath. The best way to check your child for lice is to invest in a good, metal, lice comb and comb through your child’s hair when it is wet (conditioner makes it slide through easier). After combing through your child’s hair, wipe the comb on a white paper towel and see if anything was picked up in the comb. If you see lice or several dark specks (called nits) then think “LICE!” and get it taken care of ASAP. Even the possibility of a lice outbreak can strike fear in any household. But, remember: there’s strength in knowledge, a few good products, and a routine care-plan. So, stay alert and be proactive, and spread these tips to your child’s friends and classmates.
Theresa Parr is a Registered Nurse and the owner of RN Lice Removal serving Salem, Oregon and the surrounding area.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • July 2017