[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So, your child came back from summer camp or the first week of school with more than just a handmade pinecone pet or a gold star for participation. Bummer! But you're not alone. According to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 6 to 12 million people in the U.S. deal with head lice each year, with children ages 3 to 11 being the most commonly affected.
What are head lice?
Head lice (
Pediculus humanus capitis) are small, parasitic insects that feed on human blood – somewhat like fleas – settling wherever there are lots of hair follicles, most often the scalp, where they lay eggs at the base of hair shafts. Fortunately,
unlike fleas, head lice are not known to carry or spread disease. They are a nuisance, however, and can be tricky to get rid of once they've started multiplying.
Even though lice can’t jump, fly or hop, they can be quite contagious, spreading most easily through direct head-to-head contact. Though not as common, lice also spread through shared clothing items such as hats, scarves or sports uniforms, or personal items such as hair ribbons or barrettes, combs, brushes or towels. Even less common, but still possible, is transmission by sitting on a couch or bed, or lying on pillow or rug/carpet that a person with head lice has also sat or lied upon.
My child came home with head lice - now what?
Don’t panic. Lice and their eggs (also called nits) die soon after being separated from their human host. In fact, adult lice can survive for only about a day, with juveniles living even less time than that. Nits cannot hatch at temperatures below those of the human body.
Before you start spraying every surface in your home with Lysol, start with these simple and effective spread-prevention steps:
1. Wash any clothing or hats/accessories that your child was wearing in hot water, at a temperature of 130° F or higher. This is the temperature at which lice cannot survive.
2. Place other non-washable items that your child regularly comes into contact with in a sealed plastic bag and let it sit for at least two weeks. You can also soak items in 130° F water for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Vacuum furniture, flooring and other surfaces your child may have had contact with or that you suspect may contain lice or their nits. Remember that they die soon after separation from a host, so simple, responsive cleanup is all that is necessary.
4. Separate your child’s toys and personal items so they aren’t being shared with others.
5. Have your entire family use shampoos and conditioners with ingredients like rosemary or citronella that lice, like mosquitos and other insects, actively avoid.
Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Shampoo and
Creme Conditioner are great products, featuring the perfect blend of rosemary, tea tree, citronella and lavender extracts with moisturizing jojoba oil to help to prevent the spread of lice while keeping your family smelling fresh and clean at the same time.
Nit picking (literally) 101
If your child comes home with head lice, be sure to check every household member's hair regularly until the problem is resolved. Treatment options range from natural remedies to over-the-counter (OTC) medications to prescription medications (if the infestation is resistant to the first two methods).
Home remedies for head lice
Natural remedies
Natural remedies include coating hair with oil such as
anise essential oil,
coconut oil,
mayonnaise or
petroleum jelly. The method of action for all of these substances is similar – the oil coats the lice, suffocating it until it dies. Olive oil, such as
Bragg’s Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, may be the easiest, most effective option. Unlike with mayonnaise, you don't have to worry about salmonella, and olive oil is easier to rinse out than petroleum jelly.
Suffocating head lice in 6 easy steps
- Part hair in sections and apply olive oil to the base of the scalp.
- Massage oil into the roots of the hair in each section, then place a shower cap or plastic wrap over the head. Olive oil will cut off oxygen to the lice, so you may feel them start to move. It takes 6 to 8 hours for lice to die, so keep on the cap or wrap for at least that amount of time.
- Before rinsing out the oil, use a fine-toothed metal lice comb to work through hair, one small section at a time, to remove lice and nits.
- After combing, when all lice and nits have been removed, wash hair with a clarifying shampoo that contains rosemary, tea tree oil or citronella. It may take more than one wash to remove all of the oil residue.
- When hair is dry, examine it under a bright light for any missed eggs. You may need a magnifying glass, especially if you are working with fine, blond strands (as nits can blend in).
- Flush all lice and nits that you find down your toilet.
Note: Natural remedies like oil treatments kill adult lice, but they do not kill nits. So unless you remove nits one by one with a lice comb (and some patience!) or repeat the process multiple times over the course of a week, you may have continued infestations.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicated shampoos
Medicated shampoos containing pyrethrin (Rid) or permethrin (Nix) are another option. Be aware that these products contain neurotoxins, so follow directions carefully to avoid any adverse effects. Do not let shampoo drip into your child's eyes, and do not exceed recommended dosages thinking using more product (or treating more often than noted) will help.
Like natural remedies, medicated shampoos kill only adult lice, not the nits. You’ll still need to comb through wet hair to remove nits and potentially repeat the treatment after 7 to 10 days to address new lice that have hatched.
Note: According to research published in 2016 in the
Journal of Medical Entomology, 98% of head lice in the U.S. now carry genes that are resistant to pesticide shampoos, so OTC medications may not be as effective as they were, say, 50 years ago.
Prescription medications
Prescription medication is often considered a second-line treatment when first-line treatments like home remedies and OTC medicated shampoos do not solve the problem. They may be effective, but they also come with some restrictions and side effects.
For example, Malathion lotion (Ovide) contains alcohol, making it flammable. Spinosad (Natroba) kills many species of lice, but it shouldn’t be used on infants under 6 months of age. Lindane lotion can be used by adults only. Topical Ivermectin may have side effects such as skin rashes and other discomforts, according to
Mayo Clinic.
Note: These medications must be prescribed by a medical professional. Consider using them as a last resort, and always follow directions provided.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a newer lice removal method to consider, offered at specialty clinics with an FDA-approved device that uses heat and air to dehydrate lice and nits. The device goes by many names: Lousebuster, Nitless Noggins, AirAllé and Hair Whispers are some examples. The technology utilizes a combination of air and heat along with a combing technique that reduces risk of burning the scalp. Both lice
and nits are dehydrated so neither survive.
It was created by insect and parasite expert
Dr. Dale Clayton, a scientist at the University of Utah, who discovered that lice become weak with arid air and quick changes in temperature. A
2007 study published in American Family Physician demonstrated the effectiveness of the treatment. In the study, 169 children who underwent hot air treatments all had higher louse eradication rates and lower egg-hatch rates compared to no treatment. At one-week follow-up appointments, 10 out of 11 children treated with Lousebuster had no lice at all.
Without using harmful chemicals (which lice are becoming increasingly resistant to) or the painstaking process of searching through your child’s hair for hundreds of nits, the procedure is usually complete within an hour and often does not require follow-up treatments. Most devices are safe for children ages 4 and up, but be sure to discuss the procedure with clinic professionals to see if it’s the right method for you and your family.
Note: When word got out that hot air kills lice, many parents tried using hair dryers to treat head lice at home. This method is not advised, as it can be harmful and not effective. Devices used in clinics are applied by professionals with a specific combination of air and heat, whereas a hair dryer only blows intense heat at localized spots on the head (which can potentially cause scalp burns). Hair dryers also may not provide
enough heat to actually kill lice and nits. Avoid taking matters into your own hands; let a professional use an FDA-approved device to eradicate lice for you.
Remember that if you’re proactive in your response, take strategic and preventative measures, and form an action plan
pronto, lice will not be around for long. Hopefully these suggestions will help accelerate their departure from your home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="168364" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1692747594022{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/fairy-tales-rosemary-repel-shampoo-12-fl-oz"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="168365" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1692747616794{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/lice-queen-lice-treatment-4-step-kit"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="168363" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1692747636175{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/fairy-tales-lice-good-bye-lice-and-nit-removal-system"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
