Preventing Head Lice

Preventing Head Lice at Day Camp

When you send your child off to day camp for the summer months you know they will have a great time. They will be taking swimming lessons, making new friends and playing the coolest new games. People rarely think their child may come into contact with someone with head lice in such a fun place.

The reality is that when people congregate, many contagious things are bound to spread. Most people are prepared for the common cold or maybe a relatively harmless virus. We rarely plan ahead for our child to come home with unwelcome visitors in the form of head lice. Head lice prevention measures should always be taken when your child will be in contact with other children.

Home Remedy For Head Lice…

If your child has contracted head lice at day camp, you may wonder what you should do next. Shampoos and medicated creams that you can get from your child’s pediatrician are known to contain toxic pesticides. Natural remedies include normal household items you probably have in your kitchen. More effective natural preventatives and treatments are available, often at minimal cost.

Learn to properly identify adult lice and incorporate head lice prevention measures into your daily routine. Education and prevention are the best defense against an infestation. Share what you learn with your children so they understand the risks and how to avoid them.

Head Lice Facts

Head lice are tiny bugs that live in their host’s hair. They lay eggs on the hair shaft and the eggs are kept there with a glue-like adhesive. Each egg takes seven to ten days to hatch. Once they hatch, they are called nymphs and begin feeding off of the host.

It takes about 10 days for a louse to grow to maturity. An adult louse can lay up to fifty eggs in one day. The life span of an adult louse is about one month.

Most people mistakenly look for something white on the scalp or in the hair. Usually, the only white you will find will be dry skin and hatched eggs. The eggs, or nits, with viable embryos in them, are a coffee or tan color.

Home Remedies For Treating Head Lice…

Depending on the living conditions, the lice themselves will be brown or grey. Though immediately after feeding off of the host’s blood, you may be able to see the blood inside of them, making them a dark red. The variety in color often makes them difficult to see in dark colored hair. A bright light is recommended when looking for them.

Opt for Natural Head Lice Removal

When your child has head lice, your entire family is at risk. All furniture, clothing and bedding must be treated. A simple case of head lice is nothing to panic over and nothing to be ashamed of. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

- What can I do to get rid of adult head lice and their eggs naturally?
– How can I get rid of the problem and prevent them from returning?
– What products can do this without causing harm to my family or pets?

These are questions that we all face when something like this happens. The first thing you should do is relax. You already know that there are ways to get rid of these pests and prevent their return.

Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil kills live bugs once hatched. The properties in this oil are medicinal and natural. The oil itself has a very medicinal odor. The addition of lavender oil is not only a great way to even out the smell, but it is also a widely used louse repellent.

Directions for Using Tea Tree Oil: Create a mixture of 75 percent tea tree oil and 25 percent lavender oil. Thoroughly wet the affected person’s hair and cover with a shower cap to reduce drip. Allow the mixture to stay on the hair for three to four hours.

Wash the hair and generously condition. After brushing the hair, use a nit comb to remove the head lice and their eggs. This process takes a lot of time and patience. It will be necessary to repeat this in ten days to kill any eggs that may have been missed and hatched. Combing is essential and cannot be replaced by any other method.

Natural head lice prevention is as simple as adding some tea tree oil and lavender oil to your daily shampoo and conditioner. Not only will it repel the embarrassing critters from returning, but your child’s hair will smell delightful. You may also choose to purchase louse repellent leave-in tonics and sprays for daily use on the hair.

Specially formulated fabric sprays will help protect your child at daycare or day camp. Take the extra time to include fabric spray during your normal laundry routine or just as you’re taking your child to camp. Share head lice prevention tips with other parents and adults you entrust with your child’s care.

Author: Liz Solovay

For effective, 100% natural head lice treatment try Bon Cheveux. Clinically tested and proven effective, these products have been created by a board certified pediatrician, for the Lice Treatment Center.

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