Now September has arrived and the kids are going back to school it’s that time of the year again to be on the look out for head lice. I don’t know about you but has soon as my children scratch I have to check them. Head lice at their school is unfortunately really high and it is beyond frustrating for many of the parents. Have a read to see more about headline and how to treat them.

What Are Head Lice?

Head lice are tiny bugs that live on the scalp and use hair to stay attached to it. The problem with head lice is that it can be transmitted from person to person, even though it does not happen all the time.

Where can head lice be found?

The only place the head lice can be found is in human hair, specifically on the scalp. However, they can spread to other parts of the body if they are not managed properly.

How does someone get head lice?

Getting head lice is a common problem among parents with young children. It usually happens when they share their hair accessories, such as hats or brushes. They can also jump from one person to another if you are close enough.

Some of the most common ways to get head lice are:

– Sharing combs, brushes, hats or clothing that has been worn by someone who has head lice.

– Touching a friend’s hair and then putting your hands in your own hair.

– Sleeping in a bed where someone with head lice has slept recently.

What is the difference between eggs and nits?

A nit or nits is a type of louse that infests the hair, clothing, bedding, and body of humans. They are also sometimes called nits. They are very small and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Nits are sometimes confused with eggs because they both plug up hair follicles. However, eggs are oval-shaped while nits are round.

Where are eggs found?

Eggs are found on the head, body, and clothing of an infested person.

What do the live eggs look like?

These eggs are most often yellowish-white in color. Lice eggs stick close to either side of a strand of hair with their pointed ends pointing towards each other, making them easy to spot.

How long do the eggs take to hatch?

Louse eggs hatch in about three days and will turn into an adult louse after about 10 days. After hatching, they will need about 24 hours before they can reproduce and lay more eggs for someone else to find.

Do I need to treat everyone in the house?

If your kids are having problems with head lice, you should treat everyone in the house. You also need to wash all bedding, towels, coats, basically anything their head may have touched.

Nits or eggs can live for days on clothes, bedding, furniture and other household surfaces.

Checking:

Checking with a nit comb. This is a good way to check whether your child has lice or not. It is also a good way to check for nits that are attached to hair shafts. Use Conditioner to make it as comfortable as possible for your child.

Treating:

If you’re looking for a natural way to treat head lice, there are several options. One is with tea tree oil and another is with lavender oil. A popular choice is with apple cider vinegar-based shampoo or conditioner. However, it can be difficult to get rid of the nit eggs with this method so it’s best to use an over the counter medication from your local pharmacy when possible.

Preventing:

The easiest way to prevent an infestation is by using a good quality nit comb and making sure it is used often on all family members’ hair (including adults).

Putting your daughters hair in plaits also helps. My son used hair gel to stop the headline attaching themselves.

Please check out A Parents Guide to Outdoor Play by the amazing Mental Health Parent blog.