Children returning to school may face a common concern for parents – head lice. With the start of the school year, many children may encounter head lice for the first time or a revisit from these pesky nits. Close contact with other children is a well-known cause of head lice, and a recent study suggests that the habit of putting heads together for selfies could be contributing to a rise in cases amongst young people. While sharing items like hats and hair brushes may not necessarily be a primary cause, it is still advisable to avoid such practices to reduce the risk.
Contrary to popular belief, head lice are not a result of unclean hair, as affirmed by the NHS. The surest way to identify head lice is by finding live nits in the hair. The NHS recommends using a detection comb, readily available at local pharmacies, to comb through the hair from root to end and detect any lice. Wet combing is a recommended technique where hair is washed with shampoo, conditioned generously, and combed using a fine-tooth detection comb in specific intervals to catch newly hatched lice.
To effectively treat head lice, it is essential to remove them promptly upon detection. In addition to wet combing, medicated shampoos and treatments are available, which work to eradicate head lice. These treatments can be purchased online or from pharmacies, with most lice usually eliminated within a day. However, certain treatments may require repetition after a week, and it is crucial to ensure that the chosen product is safe for use, particularly for children.
While medicated sprays and lotions are effective, caution is advised against treatments containing permethrin. Moreover, electric combs for head lice and plant oil treatments like tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and lavender oil are not recommended. By following proper treatment methods and being vigilant in detecting and addressing head lice, parents can effectively manage and prevent the spread of head lice among children, especially during the school season.