The Trouble That Is Head Lice

In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know about head lice: who gets them, how they spread, how to treat them, and how to prevent them.

Who Gets Head Lice?

Anyone – children and adults alike – can get head lice. It has nothing to do with whether hair is clean or dirty, so let’s clear that up first. Children are more likely to get head lice because they play closely together and love to hug. Teenagers are also susceptible, especially when taking selfies with their heads touching or looking at a phone together.

How to Recognize Head Lice

A louse is about 3mm long and grayish-brown or reddish-brown in color. Lice live on blood, which they suck from the scalp of their "host." This is what gives them their reddish-brown color.

The most common symptom is itching. A child with head lice will scratch their scalp almost constantly. Lice prefer warm spots on the head, like behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. If you suspect your child has lice, these are the first areas to inspect.

Lice lay eggs, called nits. These are tiny white dots that cling to the hair close to the scalp. They look similar to dandruff, but while dandruff flakes off, nits remain stuck to the hair. Nits must be combed out with a fine-tooth lice comb.

Treating Head Lice

If you discover head lice, it’s important to check all family members during the treatment period. It’s not necessary to deep-clean the house, but avoid sharing hairbrushes and hair ties.

Wash Hair with a Lice Shampoo
Lice shampoo kills the lice in the hair. Massage the shampoo thoroughly into the scalp and wash the entire head, paying extra attention to lice hotspots like behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. Follow the instructions on the shampoo packaging to ensure proper use.

Combing the Hair

After washing the hair, detangle it using a wide-tooth comb or brush. Then, use a lice comb. Work over a white surface, such as a sink, white towel, or piece of paper, so you can easily spot the lice and nits. Comb the hair carefully, section by section, starting at the scalp where the nits are located.

Tap the comb on the white surface to remove the lice and nits, and clean the comb thoroughly with hot water after each use.

Keep Washing, Combing, and Checking

You’ll need to repeat these steps daily for two weeks. This is because it takes 10 days for a louse to hatch from an egg (nit). If even one nit is left behind, the cycle will start all over again. If no lice or nits are found after two weeks, the infestation has been successfully treated.

How to Prevent Head Lice

Add 1 or 2 drops of tea tree oil to your child’s collar or hood. This is a 100% natural way to deter lice from settling on the scalp.
For children with longer hair, it’s advisable to keep their hair tied up.
Finally, check your child’s hair regularly for lice and nits as a preventive measure.