They may be small, but lice leave a big impression. If you or a family member has ever had lice, you know how horrible the experience is.
Without warning, they make a home in your hair, feeding on your blood and making life absolutely miserable. The itching, the thought of having bugs in your hair, the washing, the nit-picking, the laundry, and the cleaning are exhausting.
Whether you’ve never had lice before or your head is itching while you read this, here’s what you need to know to diagnose, treat, and prevent these worrisome bugs from taking over your hair follicles.
Scratch, Scratch…
An itchy scalp brought on by an allergic reaction to lice bites is the main symptom of lice. You may also feel tickling from the lice moving ever so gently through your hair. Constant scratching, especially around the nape of your neck and behind your ears is a clue to check your head for lice. Though you may hope it’s just dry skin or dandruff, tiny bugs, small red bumps from their bites, or their eggs (nits) tightly attached to hair near the scalp are all indications that you’ve got a bigger, bloodier problem to deal with than good ol’ dandruff.
Head Hoppers
People most often get lice from direct bodily or head contact with someone who has an infestation. And while they seem to spread like wildfire, lice can’t hop or fly. Rather, they just crawl. Kids playing together or parents hugging their kids are two common ways lice are transmitted.
You can also get lice from contact with objects that have had contact with the bugs or nits. This may be from hats and jackets hung on hooks near each other at school, contact with shared furniture, or sharing contaminated hats, brushes, towels, bedding, hair bows, clothing, or headphones.
People are like lice—they get under your skin and bury themselves there. You scratch and scratch until the blood comes, but you can’t get permanently deloused.. – Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer
Bug Off!
Unfortunately, getting rid of lice isn’t as easy as getting them. You can’t just wash your hair and think you’re safe. The lice or their eggs ready to hatch may be anywhere in your home, waiting to find you. Adult lice can live as long as two days away from blood, and eggs take a week to hatch.
The first step in treating lice is to wash your hair with a nonprescription insecticidal shampoo to hopefully kill the lice. The shampoo, however, doesn’t kill the eggs that may later hatch and cause a re-infestation. To do this, you’ll need a special comb to pull all the eggs out for sure.
On top of these personal steps, you’ll need to wash and clean everything you came in contact with. Sheets, blankets, towels, clothes—it all needs to be washed in hot, soapy water and dried in a hot dryer that reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Pillows and stuffed animals must be run in a hot dryer. Items too large or unable to be placed in a dryer should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least two weeks. Hair combs and brushes must be soaked in water 130 degrees or in rubbing alcohol for an hour. All floors, carpets, mattresses, furniture, and car seats should be meticulously vacuumed. Some people recommend throwing away your vacuum bag after each time it’s used.
After these steps, if lice are still showing up on your head, a stronger insecticidal shampoo may be necessary.
Prevent the Pests
Lice spread easily when people live in close contact (child care centers, schools, or at home). Contrary to what you may believe, lice are not an indicator of your hygiene habits. Anyone is susceptible to getting lice. In fact, lice prefer clean hair, as is it easier for them to grip and stay on a head of clean hair than dirty, oily hair.
Help your kids avoid lice by teaching them not to share hats, scarves, brushes, or headphones. Teach them to avoid head-to-head contact with other kids and to stay off of their friends’ beds.
