Talking To Other Parents About Head Lice

Head lice is always an uncomfortable topic to discuss, especially amongst adults. When it comes to neighborhood gatherings, PTA meetings, or lunch with the girls, the last thing anyone wants is to bring up uncomfortable topics. Head lice is one of those topics though that seems to wedge its way into conversation at the most inconvenient times, when it’s too late and an infestation has occurred. As parents, it’s our job to have the tough discussions ahead of time though to prevent this, so how can we talk to our peers to help avoid the head lice situation?

Be Open

Honesty is always the best policy. Be open about your head lice concerns and that you would like to discuss a plan incase of head lice infestation in your neighborhood, friend group, or school system. Explain the need for open communication, if lice appear in someone’s household it’s best to alert others who may have been exposed rather than be ashamed. Head lice is nothing to be ashamed of, as it can happen to anyone and opening these lines of communication can help set the tone for infestations to come. Help others to know they are not alone in this, and it’s something you as parents will get through together.

Be Knowledgeable

 

Learn your head lice facts. Having some information to bring to the table can help to ease other parents’ minds and prepare their families. Often people are afraid of head lice but knowing how they behave and how to eliminate them effectively will put their mind at ease. Discuss the difference between common myths they’ve heard and the reality of head lice. Dive deeper together by reading some expert blogs or information to prepare yourselves in case the need arises to use the information.

Be Prepared

 

Come up with a game plan in case of an infestation. Discuss common and effective treatment strategies like those that Lice Clinics Quad Cities offer. Set up a system for informing each other or those your family had recent contact with of the situation. When a plan has already been set in place, no one will be caught off guard if the need to enact it arises. Find out your school’s head lice policy and incorporate that into your action plan. The more prepared you are the less stressful you’ll be in the case of an infestation.

Be Cordial 

Sometimes talking about head lice is still hard and sometimes there are still individuals that just don’t want to talk. We encourage you to still include them in your planning but in a kind and friendly manner. Write a letter or send an email including the information discussed above. Explain your concerns about lice and state facts. Give them all the information they need to be just as prepared as those who took place in the discussion. Send them a step by step of the action plan, as well as, a list of treatment options and a copy of the school lice policy.

Be sure to keep the lines of communication with other parents in your area open. Talking about head lice and having a plan in mind can be one of the best preventatives. Keep yourself informed and prepared for head lice, but remember head lice is never your family’s fault. If parents work together, then you are never in it alone! 

Can Head Lice Make You Sick?

Can Head Lice Make You Sick?

 

Head lice are concern enough without having to worry about getting sick. Many have heard horror stories of those with head lice contracting infections and falling ill. The truth is head lice do not carry disease. Head lice cannot make you sick, but there is another way you can fall ill as a result of head lice. 

 

Can Head Lice Make You Sick?

As we mentioned above, head lice themselves do not carry disease. If you find yourself sick after having head lice it is likely the result of a skin infection. Excessive scratching can lead to sores on your head that can become infected from bacteria. This is a very rare occurrence but should be taken seriously. If an infection occurs, you should seek medical attention from a professional. While they can be easily treated, you should never let an infection go too long without proper medical attention. 

 

How to Prevent Infection

Treating head lice quickly and effectively can help prevent and eliminate scratching. Performing frequent head checks during times of outbreaks or close contact can help catch infestations early on. The sooner an infestation is caught and treated the less a chance of extreme itching. Lice professionals can treat infestations properly. Over the counter and DIY treatments leave behind nits and super lice prolonging the infestation. At Lice Clinics Quad Cities, we use our signature treatment to kill nits and lice, including super lice. 

 

Don’t worry about head lice or skin infections, let the experts at Lice Clinics Quad Cities treat your lice quickly and effectively. 

Person looking at lice egg in hair strand

What to Know About Lice Eggs

Person looking at lice egg in hair strand

What to Know About Lice Eggs?

 

If you find yourself with head lice, it won’t be long before head lice eggs appear. Head lice eggs, or nits, are the beginning of the lice life cycle and hatch into young louse quickly. Knowing how to look for head lice eggs and how to get rid of them can make all the difference in getting lice free.

 

What do Lice Eggs Look Like?

Nits are tiny little lice eggs you will find attached to the base of hair during a head lice infestation. They are often off-white or tan and oval shaped. If you see an oval blob attached to the base of your hair, chances are it’s a lice egg. Eggs that appear white or translucent have already hatched while darker eggs are still growing. Eggs are small, less than half a millimeter, and hard to remove.

 

Lice Life Cycle

Nits, or lice eggs, are the beginning stage of the louse life cycle. When head lice move in, they quickly begin laying eggs and growing the infestation. Nits take 7-10 days to hatch, and they will then begin the first of three molts. Each molt the young louse, or nymph, gets larger until it reaches adult size. Adults live around 30 days and will continue to lay eggs the entire time. 

 

What to Do About Nits

Nits can be extremely difficult to kill. They are stuck tightly on the base of hair follicles and protected by their hard shell. Many over the counter and DIY treatments do not remove or harm nits. Our premium treatment is designed to treat all head lice including nits and super lice. We stand by our treatments with a lice free guarantee meaning you can leave with peace of mind. 

 

Don’t let nits ruin your day, let the head lice experts at Lice Clinics Quad Cities help. Contact us today.