The Scoop on Head Lice and Swimming
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Here’s the Scoop on Head Lice and Swimming this Summer

There is nothing as thrilling for kids as jumping into a cool, fun pool with friends and splashing around for hours during the heat of the summer days! Due to the expense of owning and maintaining a private pool, for many kids, the only option is a public pool often overcrowded with children. As a parent have you ever wondered, what are the risks associated with public pools and head lice? Are children at greater risk for contracting head lice during the summer? What do I need to know to protect my children while swimming during the summer months?

You have questions and Lice Clinics of America has answers. Here’s the scoop on swimming and head lice:

 

Can Head Lice Swim?

When head lice are put under water they go into survival mode. Gripping tightly with the claws on the tip of each leg, they literally hang on for dear life and most often are able to keep a tight grip.  If a louse does lose grip and is knocked off the host head, it will float at the top of the water for hours. In fact, an adult louse can hold their breath for over 4 hours, quite an amazing fete. This is why bathing and shampooing hair does NOT kill head lice. So, ultimately head lice cannot swim but they can survive in water for many hours.

 

Can Head Lice Be Transferred Through Water?

If a louse is floating in the water it is possible, but highly unlikely, that it would be able to grasp onto a new host head. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the biggest threat for contracting head lice during swimming is through the sharing of towels. The interwoven fabric of towels is the perfect place for head lice to grasp onto and lay in wait for their next human head. Laying on towels, drying bodies and especially drying off hair are all a realistic way that head lice can be transferred from person to person while swimming.

 

Doesn’t Chlorine Water Kill the Head Lice?

No.  Scientists have debunked the myth that chlorine water kills head lice. They can survive it for several hours and not be affected.

 

How Can I Protect My Kids From Getting Head Lice at Swimming Pools?

If you are concerned about contracting head lice while swimming the best option would be using a swimming cap. This would protect the hair from any contact of a live louse. Most importantly, talk to your kids about NOT sharing towels at the pool. This is the best way to prevent head lice at the pool.

 

Is Summer Time the Most Active Time for Head Lice Outbreaks?

Some people think that head lice are more prevalent in the warmer months because of weather. Actually, the biggest factor for the transfer of head lice is direct head to head contact from people. Therefore, summertime is a high time for head lice outbreaks not because of the heat, but because children spend more time together at summer camps and playing outside. The most common time for outbreaks we see is summer camp, spring break, back to school, and extended vacation times from school such as Christmas break.

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Keep Your Kids Lice Free at Summer Camp
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Keep Your Kid a Happy Camper

Summer camps all across the United States report that head lice are a common problem for them. According to the The American Camp Association, there are about 7,000-overnight camps and about 5,000-day camps in the U.S., for a total of more than 12,000 camps. These camps are attended each year by more than 11 million children. Many of these camps contact local professionals to provide head lice screenings in hopes of preventing an outbreak. Others do not even have a plan if someone is diagnosed with head lice.

 

Why Is Summer Camp Prime Time for Head Lice?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, “Head lice are spread by direct contact with the hair of an infested person. Anyone who comes in head-to-head contact with someone who already has head lice is at greatest risk….Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the (camp) has nothing to do with getting head lice.”  

Summer camp brings kids together! They spend days living close together in tents or cabins, sharing clothing, sleeping near each other, and spending all day with their friends. This gives head lice more opportunities than normal to transfer from one head to another.

Children also become more close-knit and tend to share things they normally wouldn’t. Whether its a sweatshirt, a swimming towel or a teddy bear, kids who are staying together become closer and borrow things more frequently.

 

Does Your Summer Camp Provide Head Lice Screenings?

There are several ways to ensure that your child is protected against head lice during summer camp. Checking with their camp policies and procedures is a great way to start. Some camps will send a child home if they show signs of head lice. Others will simply treat the problem at camp.  Lice Clinics of America is an excellent resource for providing camp screenings and offering onsite treatments if needed. If your camp doesn’t have a plan in action, suggest they contact our offices today to determine what would work best for your summer camp.

 

How to Keep Kids Head Lice Free at Summer Camp

  • Don’t send your child to camp without first ensuring they do not already have head lice. Take the time to perform a head lice screening on your own child. Using a nitpicking comb, look through the child’s hair for any signs or traces of head lice. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Lice Clinics of America for help. We also offer head lice screening in the clinic and can show you what to look for.
  • Contact your local Lice Clinics of America for any preventative products that may be able to help your child during summer camp. We offer safe, affordable shampoos, conditioners, and sprays that deter head lice from making your child’s scalp a host.
  • Talk to your kids about the ways head lice are commonly transferred. Teach them that direct head to head contact poses the greatest risk. That means snuggling, hugging, sitting next to someone, or even standing closely. 
  • Remind them not to share personal items, hair brushes, blankets, etc. Ensure they understand that these belongings could pass along nits, or lice eggs and cause an infection.  Even things such as electronic devices with earbuds or headphones could transfer head lice.
  • Reassure children that people with head lice are not bad or dirty. Anyone and everyone is at risk. Teach them that there are safe and painless ways to eliminate head lice and possibly prevent it.
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The Art of Nitpicking
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To Nitpick or Not to Nitpick? Every Parent’s Dilemma.

Did you know that centuries ago head lice and body lice developed into two separate species? One that exclusively fed on human life and one that lived off of chimpanzees and other animal mammals. These pesky parasites became such an irritant for our early ancestor homo sapiens and chimps alike that they would spend a lot of time sitting around, picking nits and lice off of each other to help relieve the irritation. The term “nit-picking” is a direct result of this act. In fact, for chimpanzees, it has continued to be an important social bonding time for families and groups.

 

So no, we aren’t giving every parent an automatic pass to constantly nag your children. We are referring to taking an active role in keeping your family free from head lice. Head lice checks, or nitpicking, is a great way to catch the problem early on and prevent it from spreading. How does a parent go about nit-picking?

 

Tips for Parents on Performing Head Lice Checks:

 

  • Know what you are looking for. Lice grow in three separate stages. You can learn more detailed information about these stages through the CDC. Essentially, a nit or egg is laid near the base of a scalp. They will be transparent in color and literally glued onto individual hair strands. After about 9 days the nit hatches and nymph emerges. Nymphs are smaller lice that will molt several times until they have grown into a full grown louse. Adult lice are the size of a sesame seed, brown in color and quickly scurry away from direct sunlight. For this reason, the best way to indicate a head lice problem is to find nits or eggs.
  • Use a nitpicking comb. Having the right tools for the job can make all the difference. Nitpicking combs can be purchased at Lice Clinics of America. We offer expert advice on head lice checks, can even perform them for you, or show you the best ways to look. At home, we definitely recommend using a nitpicking comb that is specifically designed to have narrow, long teeth that will grasp eggs and live lice and comb them out of the hair.
  • Where do I start? Begin by wetting the child’s hair and applying hair conditioner. Comb their hair through to remove any tangles. Get a clean paper towel and have it handy. Next, start behind the ears, at the crown of the head and near the neckline where head lice like to hang out. Comb through hair carefully and one small section at a time. Each swipe, wipe off the comb onto a clean paper towel so that you can observe any remnants that are coming off. Make sure to scrape lightly against the scalp with each combing to catch nits that are laid near the base.
  • Be patient. Especially for children with thick hair, this process can seem daunting. However, the more often you do it the less time it will take. Remember, even school nurses who deal with head lice checks regularly are often mistaken in their diagnosis. If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to contact the professional staff at Lice Clinics of America. We deal with head lice every day and can help you identify if you have a problem, quickly and eliminate it effectively.  
  • Know when to check. Head lice are a problem all year long.  However, the most common times for children to contract head lice are while participating in sporting teams, summer camps, sleepovers, spring break, vacations and back to school. Especially after these events take the time to check your children for symptoms of head lice. Finding the problem early on can alleviate a lot of the concern of head lice passing from person to person in your household.
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Head Lice Pop Quiz!
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Head Lice Pop Quiz! How Much Do You Really Know About Lice?

While life is rushing by us sometimes the last thing we are thinking about is preventing bad things from happening. We might just be trying to survive today! However, did you know that parents who are informed about head lice and take steps to proactively protect their families are better off than those who do not? Of course, anyone can still bring home a case of head lice. But, parents who know are prepared to handle the situation calmly and effectively. Ultimately, they may even prevent it after all!  Take a quick Head Lice Pop Quiz to see how prepared you are as a parent against head lice. Have fun and see how you favor against others!

 

Head Lice Pop Quiz for Parents

 

Question #1 – Why do head lice need a human host?

  1. They don’t. Head lice can live on any number of animals, pets or even birds.
  2. Head lice are exclusively a human parasite that lives off human blood and warmth to survive.
  3. Head lice eat human hair and can survive without a human host as long as they have a food source, such as a hairbrush.

 

Question #2 – What time of the year do head lice outbreaks occur?

  1. Head lice are active all times of the year, with more occurrences seen during spring break, summer breaks and back to school time.
  2. Head lice are only active during the summer months when it is warmest.
  3. Head lice are dormant all winter and come out for spring, summer, and fall.

 

Question #3 – What are super lice?

  1. Head lice that have developed the ability to fly, making it much easier for them to infect many people.
  2. Head lice that are able to hold their breath for up to 10 hours. This allows them to be unaffected by shampoos or water.
  3. Head lice that have build up immunities to the active ingredient in over the counter shampoos.

 

Question #4 – What should you do to clean your home if someone has head lice?

  1. Only worry about washing pillows that touch the head. Everything else is unaffected and not a threat.
  2. Wash all bedding, sheets, towels, and stuffed animals. Deep clean carpets, furniture, and clothing. Place items that can’t be washed in the warm dryer for 20 minutes.
  3. Take everything out of the child’s bedroom and sanitize it. Throw away bedding and clothing and replace with new.

 

Question #5 – Who is most likely to contract head lice?

  1. Children between the ages of 3-11 are the most likely.
  2. Adults who take the bus and/or fly frequently.
  3. Elderly people are most likely to contract head lice because they don’t wash their hair very often.

 

How do you think you did? Here are the answers in case you are unsure:

 

Answer #1 – Head lice are exclusively a human parasite that lives off of human blood and warmth to survive. Pets play no role in head lice or the transfer of head lice.

 

Answer #2  – Head lice are active all times of the year, with more occurrences seen during spring break, summer breaks and back to school time. The cold winter months do not kill them.

 

Answer #3 – Super lice are head lice that have build up immunities to the active ingredients in over the counter shampoos, pyrethrins, and pyrethroids. This is found in common products that have been overused since the 1990s.

 

Answer #4 – Wash all bedding, sheets, towels, and stuffed animals. Deep clean carpets, furniture, and clothing. Place items that can’t be washed in the warm dryer for 20 minutes.

 

Answer #5 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that children between the ages of 3-11 are most likely to contract head lice.

 

Surprised at how little you know about this common, childhood problem? Contact Lice Clinics of America today with any questions or concerns you may have about head lice or the treatments we offer.

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Kids Say the Darnedest Things: Head Lice Addition
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Kids Say the Darnedest Things: Head Lice Addition

 

A big part of what we do at Lice Clinics of America is to help families through the headache of a head lice outbreak. We understand that this is not just a physical problem but can create quite a bit of stress and anxiety for everyone involved. With that in mind, we decided to take some time to talk with a few kids who have dealt with a case of head lice. We wanted to know how it made them feel, what they understood and what we could do to make the process easier for them.

Hunter age 12, Olivia age 8, and Ethan age 7 were happy to answer our questions. Here’s what they had to tell us:

 

Question #1 – “What are Head Lice?”

Ethan remarked, “Head lice is really little bugs that have sticky stuff that sticks them to your hair. I think you can get them from outside.”

 

Olivia answered, “Head lice is where you have little bugs in your hair. You have lice bugs. Head lice they eat your hair. I am just guessing because they like to go on our head.”

 

Hunter told us, “Head lice are like really tiny bugs. They are only like a tiny speck so you can’t see them. I think they eat bacteria.”

 

Obviously, when it comes to the facts about head lice, these kids were a little unsure. It may not be very important that they know the correct details about what head lice eat, especially the fact that an average case of head lice results in 50-60 bites per day. However, knowing how head lice are transferred and where they are most likely to catch head lice can be a very important fact for kids. Teach them that head lice are most often a result of direct head to head contact with friends. Remind them not to share hair accessories, brushes, hoodies, hats, pillows or other things that come into contact with hair.

 

Question #2 – “How Did You Know You had Head Lice? How Did You feel?”

Olivia told us, “I was just taking a shower and then my mom sits on the couch, and I sit on the floor and then she combs my hair. With the bottom of the comb she was combing my hair and she found them. She tried to get all the bugs out with it. I felt so scared. I HATE bugs and I only wanted to sleep on the floor because I was scared the bugs were on my bed!”

 

Hunter said, “I felt like there were little bugs in my hair. I wanted to wash my hair like super, heavy duty, for like a really long time all day and all night. I wanted to get them out as soon as possible because it was gross.”

 

Ethan replied, “I think it felt kinda ticklish and like painful in my hair. I felt super scared and worried that I could get creeped out. I was worried I could get hurt.”

 

These feeling of worry, stress, anxiety, and fear can take over when your child has contracted head lice. It is important for parents to ensure children that head lice are not life-threatening, it is not something that makes them a dirty or bad person. Children can feel more strain and grief from these scenarios than we might realize. Information is power and can do a lot to help prevent children from catching head lice and feeling reassured if they do. Take the time to talk to your kids about prevention. Teach them the signs and symptoms as well so they know what to look for in the future. 

 

Question #3 – “How Did You Feel After Your Treatment and Your Head Lice was gone?”

Olivia told us, “I felt so happy and relieved! I would not share brushes with any more second graders!”

 

Ethan remarked, “I was so happy I wanted to throw a party!”

 

Hunter said, “I felt like I was clean and felt a lot better. I felt like I could be around people again.”

 

Many children feel embarrassed or want to withdraw from friends for fear of being labeled as a dirty kid. This is why we offer the latest, most effective, fast and painless treatment available for head lice removal.  Lice Clinics of America uses the AirAllé® (pronounced air-a-lay) FDA-cleared medical device to eliminate head lice in one quick hour-long treatment. This product offers you peace of mind and helps your child to be free of this irritating event quickly and for good.

 

Did You Know?

Head lice is a huge problem, worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the United States alone 6-12 million children between the ages of 3 to 11 will contract head lice each year. This number is only growing with new “super lice” that show strong immunities to over-the-counter head lice shampoos and treatments. Also be aware, adults living in the same household with small children are much more likely to contract head lice themselves.

 

Why are Children More Often Prone to Head Lice?

Children play in large groups, ignore personal space boundaries, don’t discriminate or feel afraid to get up close and personal. While they are attending daycares, schools, playgroups or just playing in the backyard, they spend much more time closely-knit together. Because head lice are passed most often through direct head to head contact, they are more likely to pass it to one another.

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Keep Kids In the Game and Head Lice Free
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Keep Kids In The Game and Head-lice Free

Most parents love to watch their children participate in sports. As your child is running down the field giving it their best, you can’t help but be filled with a sense of pride. Other parents may wonder if it’s even worth the time and effort for their kids.  Actually, there are many benefits to why children should play sports. Here are just a few to consider.

 

Benefit #1 – Sports Help Children to Feel Self-confidence

As they develop a new skill and talent kids self-esteem can be greatly increased. Through practicing and hard work children learn that they can accomplish much more than they ever realized. This is also a great opportunity for parents or older siblings to work with younger kids and spend time with them honing their skills. What is more fun for a mom or dad than to spend the afternoon throwing a ball with their kids or shooting baskets after school? It’s also a great way to have some family time! As your child develops an interest in a certain sport watch the professional teams as a family, pick a favorite team and root for them together. Children who spend time with a loving family do better in school, have much more self-confidence and will be better parents themselves in the future. 

 

Benefit #2 – Sports Help Children Develop Leadership and Teamwork Skills

 One of the most important lessons in life for any child is to learn to follow instructions and to work with others. Sometimes, we all encounter certain adults who struggle with this. It is vital as a child to learn to listen to instructions and follow them. With a coach to guide them, sports will give children this opportunity.  It is equally as important for children to learn to put the needs of the overall team above their own wants and desires.  Team sports for children can also help them to develop leadership skills as they notice a teammate who needs help and they take action. Leadership skills will emerge as they notice areas the team can improve and work hard with their teammates by offering encouragement and acceptance. 

 

Benefit #3 – Active Kids are Healthy Kids

In the United States, one out of every six children is considered obese according to the American Heart Association. This is not only an alarming statistic but also dangerous to their health as they grow into adulthood. Young children are starting to show signs of diseases that were previously only affecting adults such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. As children participate in sports they learn to love to be active. This love of healthy exercise can help them greatly as they grow into adults and continue this lifestyle.

 

Benefit #4 – Children Who Play Sports Workout Their Stress

 Kids can become very anxious with demands of school work, household chores, finding friends and many other things that sometimes adults don’t think about. Sports gives them an opportunity to have an outlet for these frustrations. As they exercise, run and play hard they’re able to deal with the stress in a healthy way and vent some of their frustrations. 

 

Benefit #5 – Playing Sports Build Lasting Friendships

Kids need friends so much in elementary and junior high school age. Friends give them a support system that parents simply cannot provide. They create many fun, happy memories together all the while building relationships that could last them a lifetime. Let the kids play and have fun together!

 

Although sports are a great outlet for kids there’s always the possibility of catching head lice. Here are a few tips on keeping your kids healthy and head lice free while they participate in sports:

  • Teach children not to share sports equipment that could be harboring head lice or nits. Items such as helmets, hats, jackets, towels, or any other equipment that could transfer lice.
  • Make sure your child is not sharing a locker or gym bag with another player.
  • Inevitably, all the children will show up at practice and throw their belongings in a large heaping pile next to the sideline. Teach your child to keep their belongings separate and away from the group pile where other children’s things could be infected with head lice.
  • Direct head-to-head contact is the most common way to catch head lice. Talk to your children about avoiding direct head-to-head contact wherever possible.
  • Teach proper hygiene by having your child shower and wash their hair after every practice and game.
  • As a parent be alert and watch for signs and symptoms of head lice. Catching the problem early on is a much easier fix than even a few weeks later.

 

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Lice Don't Go On Vacation.
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Lice Never Go On Vacation. Don’t Catch Them On Yours.

Stress-free Vacations Have Many Health Benefits

Millions of people are planning their getaways this summer. Family vacations are a healthy way to forget your troubles and leave the stress behind. In fact, Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D. elaborated on this topic in a recent article in Psychology Today, “Vacations have the potential to break into the stress cycle. We emerge from a successful vacation feeling ready to take on the world again. We gain perspective on our problems, get to relax with our families and friends, and get a break from our usual routines.”

So, what makes a vacation successful? Making memories, creating bonding time, having fun and definitely coming home head lice free! Did you know traveling can put your family at risk of contracting head lice? Here is some expert advice on ways traveling makes you susceptible and how to avoid head lice on your vacation.

 

Beware of Hitchhiking Head Lice

  • 1.73 million people flew commercial airlines every single day in 2017, according to The Bureau of Transportation Statistics.  That is millions of people sharing seatbacks, standing in overcrowded lines, and pushing through groups to catch a flight. All possible scenarios where head lice can be passed from person to person. Seats are not sanitized regularly enough to kill head lice on airplane seats.
  • Lice or nits can stay alive for 2 days when they are removed from the head of a human. That means it could be waiting in the woven fabrics of the seat, looking for its new host to provide shelter and food. Millions of travelers each day make your chances of catching lice on a flight, on a public bus, in a taxi, or any means of public transportation greater than you may think. Especially during summer months when travel is more common.
  • Heavily, crowded areas with large groups of people are always riskier when it comes to head lice. Amusement parks, beaches, theaters, malls or ball games are all places where direct contact may be unavoidable as someone pushes up against you in line, or bumps into you unknowingly to get past.
  • Super lice, lice resistant to over the counter treatments, are now more prevalent in the U.S. than ever. While traveling be aware that these super lice have been reported in 48 out of the 50 states in the U.S.
  • Family vacations mean staying in hotels, motels, RVs, tents, or accommodations that put your family members within close proximity to each other. Direct contact is the most common way head lice are passed from person to person. Living closer together means more contact is inevitable.
  • Sharing is often more common on vacations. Timmy forgot his pillow, or Mary left her towel at the pool.  Any of the personal items we use that could be harboring lice are sometimes shared by more people and more often on trips. We might not have access to washing machines as often as well.

 

Travel Tips to Avoid Head Lice on Your Vacation

  • Don’t be lackadaisical about head lice on your vacation. Sometimes during the fun and adventure, we can forget to be cautious. Maybe it would help to talk to your kids beforehand about being diligent to avoid head lice.
  • Each person should use their own beddings, towels, hats, jackets, stuffed animals or even headphones while traveling.  Individuals should try to use their own personal belongings and not share even in cars or while traveling on airplanes. Passing head lice is very common by sharing bedding and headgear. This does not change just because you are taking a vacation.
  • Avoid trying on hats and jackets at gift shops. Think of the thousands of people who may be trying on the same hat. Avoid this by coming prepared with your own gear from home. Order a hat online beforehand and sport it during the whole trip. It could still count as a souvenir and not be a risk for head lice.
  • Remember, people with long hair are more at risk for catching head lice. Did you know that head lice grasp hair strands with little claws attached to the end of their legs? Longer hair is more easy for them to attach to. Pull it back into a hat, up into a braid or ponytail to avoid contact with head lice.
  • Perform head lice checks on the scalps of all your family members before you leave for vacation. Vacation fun time is not the best time to discover one of your family members has head lice! Check beforehand to make sure you don’t have a huge problem on your hand once you reach your destination. Remember, sometimes symptoms can take weeks to manifest.
  • Utilize the Lice Clinics of America and their professional advice! We help thousands of people with head lice every day. Our clinics offer professional nit combs and kits to help you effectively prevent and treat head lice. Call us today to discuss any concerns or questions you may have about head lice checks.

 

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Connections Between Head Lice and Hygiene
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Head Lice & Hygiene: Here Are The Connections

 

Sometimes when we think of head lice we automatically think of poor hygiene. Are there really any connections between personal hygiene habits and the possibility of catching head lice? The truth just might surprise you.

 

Dirty Hair vs. Clean Hair

Kids at school have been known to laugh and tease someone who is caught with head lice. They might even call them dirty or gross. Science Daily recently released an article showing this false assumption is way off base. In reality, head lice are actually more predisposed to prefer shiny, clean hair when looking for a new human host. Anyone, including those who are adamant about hygiene, is at risk for catching lice. Lice do not fly, hop or jump and are transferred most often by direct head to head contact. Therefore, it is much more about who you come into close contact with than how often you wash your hair.

 

Proper Hygiene is Crucial in Eliminating Head Lice

With that being said, once someone is actually infected with head lice cleanliness becomes concern number one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to parents that head lice are not a result of poor hygiene, yet proper hygiene plays an important role in stopping the spreading of it. For example, if someone has caught head lice and is not quickly treated, the problem can escalate quickly. The more head lice they are carrying, the more likely it is to spread to those around them. Shampooing alone is not an adequate means for eliminating head lice. Nits and live lice must be killed and removed from the scalp.

 

Cleanliness in the Home is Just as Important

Those who live in the same household as others infected with head lice are the most at risk. Children between the ages of 3-11 pose the greatest risk for bringing head lice home. As parents interact with their children they are also at risk. This is definitely the most common way adults catch head lice, from their young children. Not only proper cleaning of the body but also of the home is important to stop head lice from spreading. Take care to thoroughly wash all bedding, towels, clothing, stuffed animals or school gear that your child has been in contact with. Place items in a hot dryer for 20 minutes if you are unable to wash them. Thoroughly vacuum all rooms and clean all couches and linens to eliminate lice and nits.

 

Teach Good Hygiene Habits to Kids

As often as we tell our kids to do something, it is far more advantageous to teach them through example. If hygiene is important to you, they are more likely to follow suit. With that said, it is not always that easy to know what you should do. The American Academy of Dermatology offers some guidelines and tips about hygiene for kids:

 

Children aged 6 – 11

  • Twice a week at least to wash the hair and body, is recommended.
  • Daily baths are not necessary, but ok if they would like to.
  • Shower or bath after swimming, or in lake or ocean water.
  • If they are outside and their skin is dirty or sweaty, as needed.
  • Use fun bath time toys or water coloring changing tablets to make it more enjoyable.
  • Get their favorite character soap bubbles or shampoos. Or buy them a fun, hooded towel they will enjoy using.

 

Children aged 12+

  • At this age children can get pretty stinky. Showering or bathing daily is recommended.
  • Usually, by sixth-grade kids start to feel self-conscious about being unclean and it gets a little easier to rely on them to shower daily. Except maybe for 11-12-year-old boys. They often require a little more persuasion.
  • Buy them their own body washes and sweet smelling shampoos. Make sure they are using a good deodorant.
  • Wash their faces daily to help fight acne.
  • Always rinse off in the shower after participating in sporting events.

 

 

 

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Do Head Lice Bite?
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Do Head Lice Bite?

 

As parent’s deal with a case of head lice, a hundred different questions can come racing through their mind. One of the most common questions we get asked is, “Do head lice bite?”

 

Yes, head lice do bite.

An adult louse will feed 5 to 6 times per day. The average person with a case of head lice is carrying 10-12 lice at a time. This averages over 50 head lice bites per day that person is infected. Obviously, this is assuming the problem is realized and taken care of fairly quickly. Infestations left untreated can be drastically worse as female lice lay up to 6 eggs per day. Lice eggs hatch every 7 days. You can see that head lice is a problem that can go from bad to worse in just a few short weeks.

 

How Do Head Lice Bite?

Lice have a mouth that acts as a tube with a suction cup on the end. They grab a hold of the skin on the scalp and push through small sharp teeth that penetrate the skin. As they feed, the skin is broken leaving red bumps and marks on the scalp.

 

Do Nits Bite, too?

Lice eggs, or nits, are not yet hatched and therefore unable to bite. As soon as an egg hatches, the newborn nymph will actively start looking for its first meal. Nymphs will bite and fed on human blood the same as adult lice while they grow and mature into adulthood.

 

What Causes the Itchiness?

As head lice bite they leave broken skin and open sores. They can become dry and irritated resulting in itchiness. This is just one of the reasons.  As a louse drinks human blood, they salivate a substance that prevents the blood from clotting as they eat. This saliva is spread over the skin of the host and causes significant allergic reactions. Ever wonder how lice move around? As lice crawl around from hair strand to hair strand on the scalp they use hook-like claws on the tip of their legs. This gives off a tickling or irritating feeling that can lead to itchiness. The combination of bites, saliva, and crawling make itching a major symptom in indicating a head lice infestation.

 

My Child’s Scalp is Itchy? What do I do Now?

The first thing we recommend is using a nit comb, or fine tooth comb to examine your child’s scalp. Pay special attention to behind the ears, near the base of the neck and the crown of the head. These are the areas head lice like to linger and lay their eggs most often. While examining look for yellowish, oval eggs that are very near the base of the scalp. They will not easily flake off as dandruff would, but will be peeled off only using the fine tooth comb. Watch for red irritated bumps or rashes. Live lice will scurry away quickly from direct light and may be difficult to spot. If you do see any small, sesame seed-sized brown bugs crawling on the hair you clearly have a case of head lice.

 

Your Professional Source for Treatment of Head Lice

Head lice are not something to take lightly. They are highly contagious especially to those living within a household and can multiply quickly. The professional staff at Lice Clinics of America have eliminated head lice for thousands of patients. We can help you accurately diagnose the problem, offer the most effective and safe treatments, and give you the assurance that our procedure is guaranteed to work. In fact, the process we use is the only FDA cleared lice treatment device that is proven over 99% effective. Call our clinic today to speak with a trusted staff member about your concerns.

 

 

 

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Spring Break Leading Time for Head Lice
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Spring Has Sprung and So Have Head Lice

Who doesn’t love the warm breeze that blows on a sunny spring day? As the daffodils blossom and the grass grows green many people have plans to head outdoors and enjoy Mother Nature. With the changing of the seasons comes an ever growing concern for head lice. Have you heard of any head lice cases around your neighborhood?

 

Lice Heat Up As Weather Turns Warm

Sunshine and head lice! Not the best combination. Unfortunately, as the winter months fade children spend more time playing with friends, participating in spring sports, and enjoying the great outdoors with friends. As kids socialize, lice spread. Winter months don’t mean lice is obsolete, just not quite as prevalent. Especially when school is out and kids have nothing but time on their hands, they often spend much more time surrounded by friends.

 

Lice Never Take a Vacation, Even When You Do

Along with fun spring break plans comes the worry of head lice. As family and friends gather together to camp, vacation or travel it is a prime opportunity for the transfer of head lice. Do your kids love to travel with cousins and share tablets, iPads, iPods or smartphones to pass the time? How about having a sleepover with friends to celebrate the school break? Anytime direct head to head contact is made the chance of infection increases. The best way to prevent this is to encourage children not to share bedding, towels, pillows, stuffed animals, hoodies, or hair brushes and accessories. As vacations usually mean families together in close proximity, sometimes this cannot be avoided. Talking to kids about the dangers of head lice can go a long way in prevention. When you travel home and the trip is over, no one wants the surprise of head lice.

 

Symptoms Won’t Show for Weeks

Don’t be fooled if you don’t initially see any symptoms of head lice. Once a louse or two find their way onto a new head they begin to feed on the blood of their new victim. They burrow around the scalp and female lice lay up to 5 eggs per day. The eggs are most often found behind the ears, close to the hair neckline and the crown of the head. The eggs are laid close to the scalp so that the heat and humidity from their host can keep them alive. It takes a nit, or lice egg, 8-9 days to hatch. Once hatched, the nymph, or immature louse, will molt three different times until it finally develops into an adult louse. This process takes a week. At this stage, more females lay eggs, up to 100 in their lifetime. Several adult lice can be found on the head after 2-3 weeks and symptoms become more apparent. The CDC states the following symptoms indicate head lice:

 

  • Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
  • Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse.
  • Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark.
  • Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria found on the person’s skin.

 

Lice Clinics of America Are Your Best Resource

The stress of head lice does not have to take over your spring break! The Lice Clinics of America offers the latest technology in removing head lice and their eggs.  Using the AirAllé medical device, an FDA-cleared medical treatment our professionals are able to guarantee a one-time application with over 99% effectiveness.  Question or Concerns? Call today to speak with a professional who deals with head lice every day.

 

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