As a parent, the thought of head lice brings shivers of fear and frustration. From the itching to
the cleaning and nit picking, head lice are something parents are not excited about. Before you
let your fears and concerns about what to do about lice get the better of you, here are 5 things
that all parents should know:
1. Anyone can get head lice. Contrary to the rumors floating around that lice prefer dirty
hair, clean hair, short hair, or long hair, lice have no preference to hair type, style, or
cleanliness. They are simply attracted to the warmth of the human scalp and feed on
human blood. Also, age is no factor for head lice. Children more commonly get lice due
to how they tend to play and interact with each other both at school and at home. This
does not mean that adults are immune! Parents very often get lice if one of their children
come home with them, and it is not uncommon for adults to pass lice to each other as
well.
2. Head lice are NOT dangerous. Although they look creepy and crawly, head lice are
simple bugs that only live for about 30 days on the human head. Head lice do not carry
diseases nor do they have wings. Head lice are an itchy nuisance but present no real
danger to you or your family’s health.
3. Hand picking and combing takes more time than you think. Although nit picking and
combing are effective in removing head lice, it is an incredibly time-consuming process.
To thoroughly pick and comb through an entire head of hair, you need to set aside 2-5
hours per session and repeat each session at least 3 times. That’s a lot of time! Also, the
effectiveness of hand picking and combing is entirely dependent on the person doing it,
and even one missed egg can lead to reinfestation.
4. It is best to screen the entire family once lice is detected. No matter who
in your family has lice, we recommend screening the entire family. You never know
where the lice came from or how and when you had contact with them during their
infestation. They could have lice for one day or 20 days, it is hard to know. It is best to
be proactive in checking the whole family since it is extremely likely for lice to spread
between family members.
5. There are professionals here to help you. You are not in this alone! At Pediatric Hair Solutions
we understand that you lead busy lives and don’t have the time to deal with
head lice alone. We also understand that not everyone feels comfortable dealing with
these little, annoying bugs, even if you did have the time! We are trained healthcare
professionals who know how frustrating it is when lice have entered your home. From
the initial screening to the final treatment, we will walk through the entire process with
you to ensure that you are comfortable and fully satisfied.
If you discover lice on the head of your child or family member, remember that Pediatric Hair
Solutions is here to help. Contact us with any questions or concerns, or stop by one of our clinic
locations for assistance today!
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