Tips of Preventing & Treatment of Lice

To prevent head lice, avoid head-to-head contact, refrain from sharing personal items like hats and brushes, and keep your belongings separate. Regular head checks can help catch infestations early. Wash bedding and clothing in hot water (at least 130°F) and dry on high heat to kill any lice, as they cannot survive long off the human scalp.

Do head lice jump?

NO, they do not jump or fly. They are usually transmitted by direct head-to-head contact with an infected person or their belongings.

Ways to prevent head lice:

Just as you apply sunscreen or insect repellent before entering a wooded area or going to the beach, you can protect yourself during a lice outbreak with the right products.  Haircare products that contain a significant amount of essential oils, such as mint or tea tree oil, have been proven to repel lice.

Personal Contact & Belongings

Avoid head-to-head contact: during play, sports, sleepovers, and other activities at school, home, or elsewhere.

Do not share personal items that come into contact with hair, such as combs, brushes, hats, scarves, towels, hair ties, headphones, or helmets.

Keep belongings separate from others, especially at school and daycare.

Checking & Cleaning

Perform regular lice checks on family members, particularly if there is a known infestation in the community.

Wash and dry bedding, clothing, and stuffed animals: in hot water (130°F or higher) and on a high-heat drying cycle.

Disinfect durable items, like brushes and combs, by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5-10 minutes.

Other Prevention Tips

Put long hair in tight braids, buns, or ponytails to reduce hair-to-hair contact.

Don’t use household items or chemical products to treat or prevent lice, as they may be ineffective or harmful.

Avoid lying on furniture or beds: that have recently been in contact with someone who has lice.

Understand how lice spread: Head lice do not jump or fly, but crawl from one person to another through direct hair-to-hair contact

What Are Lice?

Need to know: Lice infest regardless of social status and personal hygiene. They like CLEAN hair not dirty, as it’s easier to attach to an uncoated hair shaft.

• What: six-legged insects; size of a sesame seed
• Color: grayish, whitish brown
• Found: directly on the scalp
• Feed: need human blood to survive
• Lifecycle: can live 30 days on scalp
• Not dangerous: bothersome but don’t spread disease
• Symptoms: itching, irritation, small red bumps

What Is a Nit?

Nits are lice eggs. They look like dandruff; only they can’t be removed by brushing or shaking them off. They are attached to the hair shaft with sticky nit glue.

• What: small, oval sacs; the size of a pinpoint
• Color: yellow, tan or brown dots
• Found: on the hair shaft about 1/4 – 1/2 inch from the scalp
• Hot spots: behind the ears, nape of the neck, and part lines
• Lifecycle: newly hatched nymphs migrate to the scalp to feed
• Timeline: 9-10 days from hatching they begin to lay their egg

Help Your Kids Prevent Head Lice

Efficient and thorough head lice treatment for children involves using an approved medicated shampoo, followed by a wet-combing technique to remove lice and nits. The treatment is then repeated, and the combing process is repeated a second time after 7-10 days. You should also wash bedding and clothing in hot water and vacuum to prevent re-infestation.

Treat with Medication

Over-the-Counter or Prescription: Use a lice medication containing permethrin or pyrethrins (like Rid or Nix) or other prescription options if OTC ones fail.

Follow Instructions: Thoroughly saturate the hair with the medicated product and leave it on for the time directed on the package.

Safety: Ensure an adult applies the medicine, and rinse it off in a sink, not a shower, to prevent contact with other skin.

Comb for Lice and Nits

Use a Fine-Toothed Comb: After treatment, or to inspect for lice, use a fine-toothed lice comb.

Wet-Combing: Wet the child’s hair and apply conditioner to make combing easier.

Section Hair: Separate the hair into small sections and comb from the scalp outward.

Clean Comb: After each pass, wipe the comb on a wet paper towel and dispose of it in a plastic bag to prevent lice from escaping.

Repeat: Repeat the combing process every 2 to 3 days for 2 to 3 weeks to catch any lice that hatch before they can lay more eggs.

Repeat Treatment

Second Application: Re-treat with the medicated product 7 to 10 days after the first treatment. This is important because most treatments don’t kill newly hatched eggs, and the second treatment will kill the lice that have hatched by then.

Prevent Re-infestation

Wash Bedding and Clothes: Wash all recently used clothing, bedding, and towels in hot water (130°F/54.4°C) and dry them on a hot cycle for at least 20 minutes.

Vacuum: Vacuum rugs, car seats, and upholstered furniture to catch any lice that may have fallen.

Check Family: Inspect all family members for lice and treat them only if live lice are found

Preventing head lice involves adopting simple, consistent habits at home, especially for children who are most susceptible. Since lice primarily spread through head-to-head contact, teaching your family mindful habits and performing regular checks are key to avoiding an infestation.

Teach your Family Smart Prevention Habits.

Avoid head-to-head contact. Remind children to keep their heads apart from others during play, sleepovers, or sports. For children with long hair, tying it back in a ponytail or braid can make it more difficult for lice to crawl in.

Don’t share personal items. Lice can cling to brushes, combs, hats, helmets, scarves, coats, and hair accessories. Emphasize that these items should not be shared with friends.

Keep coats and backpacks separate. At school or during activities, have children hang their belongings on their own hooks instead of leaving them in a pile with others.

Perform weekly lice checks.

• Regularly checking your family’s scalps is the best way to catch an infestation early, making it much easier to treat.
• Use a fine-toothed metal comb (also called a nit comb) and a bright light for the best results.
• Wet the hair and apply conditioner to help slow down the lice and make combing easier.
• Separate the hair into small sections and gently comb through from the scalp to the ends.
• Wipe the comb on a tissue after each pass to inspect for lice or nits (eggs). Nits are tiny, oval-shaped, and firmly attached to the hair shaft, while dandruff flakes are easily removed.
• Focus on the most common areas: behind the ears and the nape of the neck.

Take Steps to Prevent the Spread.

If you get a notification that lice are in your child’s school or if a family member is diagnosed, take these steps:

Wash contaminated items in hot water. Machine-wash bedding, towels, and clothing that may have been in contact with lice in the last two days. Use a hot water cycle (130°F or 54.4°C) and the high-heat setting on your dryer for at least 20 minutes.

Bag items that can’t be washed. Place stuffed animals, pillows, or non-washable items in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks.

Vacuum your home. Vacuum floors, upholstered furniture, and car seats where lice or nits may have fallen. It is not necessary to spend a lot of time or money on extensive housecleaning, as lice cannot survive for more than a day without a human host.

Treat combs and brushes. Soak them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes.

Consider Preventive Products like Fairytales Rosemary Repel^®