The Do’s and Don’ts of Treating Head Lice

Most parents need to treat their child for head lice at least once while they are growing up. If you have dealt with this problem, you probably had more advice than you need. Home remedies, family cures and over-the-counter cures abound. Do you know which ones to try to which to ignore?

Do not use pesticide shampoos on your child’s head unless it is necessary! These shampoos are a health risk and many strains of lice are becoming resistant to the chemicals in these shampoos. Do use a regular shampoo, make the water as hot as possible and use a good conditioner. Do comb out nits!

Do not use sprays to control nits in your home. They are environmentally unsafe and could pose health hazards to family members. Do vacuum carpets, beds, furniture and wash all clothing and bedding. Do remember that lice are parasites and cannot live long without feeding on their human host. They must feed immediately after hatching. Lice will only survive up to 48 hours without being on a host head.

Do not treat any family members who do not have head lice. This will not prevent them from being infested and adds to the chemical resistance some lice strains have developed. Do use a good nit comb on other members of the family to check for head lice. A good quality nit comb with fine teeth is handy to keep in the shower. It should be washed in hot water after each family member uses it or soaked in alcohol.

Do not treat your pets for human head lice. Lice cannot live on pets; they must have human blood and a human host. Treating the pet may be harmful to the pet and for the human using the treatment. Do be thankful for you little pets and the fact they cannot be a host to head lice. Give them an extra hug or treat and inspect them for fleas and ticks.

Do not use head lice treatments to try to prevent infestation of head lice. This only adds to the resistance of some strains of head lice to the products designed to kill them. You cannot prevent head lice by using treatments. Do try using mousse, gel or hair spray to keep nits from sticking to the hair shafts. They like to make their own glue-like substance and do not like sticky hair shafts.

Do practice preventive measures. Educate your children about the results of sharing personal belongings such as combs, brushes, hair accessories and other personal items. Check your school-age children often for any signs of lice infestation. Be sure your school, camp or day care has the knowledge to watch for signs of head lice and gain immediate control of the situation. Many schools have a “no nit” policy. Your child must be free of any nits before returning to school. If your school has such a policy, follow it carefully. This will reduce the risk of other children developing an infestation of head lice.

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