With the back to school season in full swing, so comes the onset of the dreaded head lice season. Tips to prevent head lice will be an abundant interest as parents nationwide begin preparing for battle looking for their own arsenal of ways to prevent head and keep them out of their homes.
The September 2011 issue of Parenting School Years can help give parents practical ways to keep head lice away with an informative article that included some great parenting tips to prevent head lice as well as get rid of them effectively if you already have them.
How Head Lice Occur
Person to person contact directly with an infested person’s hair is the primary way that head lice make their way around. However, personal items that are often times shared between people like combs, brushes, ponytail holders, pillows and headphones all help head lice get on our heads.
Head Lice Symptoms
Persistent itching on the head is the first sign you can try to be in tune to when your watching for head lice. When looking through the hair itself, look for small white specks scattered throughout the hair, clinging to the actual hair shafts when you separate portions of the hair. Those are the eggs that are secured to the shaft of the hair with a substance made by the lice.
How to Get Rid of Head Lice
There are many over the counter products that can be purchased to get rid of head lice. Follow the direction provided on the product. The article in Parenting School Years mentions a product called LiceMD. It is known for being harsh on eggs and lice but easy on the child.
Other methods include any cooking oil like olive oil, or canola spread throughout the hair to suffocate the head lice. I’ve personally done these methods and had success. Although you have to repeat the process for it to be effective in getting rid of the lice. Thick types of hair gel can be used to suffocate the lice as well.
The Environment
It’s important to stay on top of vacuuming and cleaning as well. Scrutinize your household closely. Clean and sanitize your personal items like brushes, combs. Wash all bedding and clothing in hot water and then dry on the hottest setting. If you cannot wash specific items, place them in a garbage bag for 10 days and store in a closet to suffocate any lice present. Be sure to install new vacuum bags to your vacuum cleaner to prevent spreading the eggs and lice throughout your home.
Be Vigilant
Keep checking your child’s head every 2 or 3 days for 2 weeks or so to be sure the head lice have not reinfested their head. In this way you’ll be able to stay on top of the problem as soon as it begins by starting more treatment measures.