Here are some ways families can defend against and prevent these nuisance invaders, including super lice:
Don’t share items that touch the head: Although the most common way for head lice to spread is through direct head-to-head contact with an infested person, it’s possible to transfer head lice by sharing items. It’s important to teach children to keep their hats, helmets, brushes, headbands, scarves other items that are on or around the head to themselves. Especially at school or summer camp, it’s important children are using their own brushes and personal items.
Avoid shared spaces: Encourage them to not share close quarters with friends. Encourage children to keep their belongings, including hats, coats, scarves and other articles of clothing to themselves.
Go for an updo: When possible, have children wear long hair pulled back.
The “star method”: It’s difficult to avoid contact between children as they wrestle, cuddle and play. Utilize the “star method”, where everyone is placed in a circle, with feet touching in the center rather than heads. This may help prevent the spread of anything extra that guests have brought with them.
Catch it early: The key to controlling a head lice infestation is to catch it early. Be aware of the signs and symptoms related to lice, including excessive itching or an irritated scalp. If you notice your child or another child scratching, do a thorough check to be sure he or she doesn’t have lice.
Act quickly: If you are notified of a possible outbreak near you, immediately check all the children’s hair searching for nits close to the scalp or sores from scratching at the nape or behind the ears. A fine-toothed louse comb can help detect live head lice by trapping them in their teeth as the comb is pulled through the hair near the scalp. Catching an infestation sooner rather than later makes treatment more manageable. Learn more about how to check for lice here.
It’s not the end of the world: If lice do take up residence, it’s important not to panic, chastise, or humiliate a child for having them. Although it may make your skin crawl, having head lice is a relatively mild condition that impacts as many as 12 million school-aged children annually in the U.S. Products from Vamousse help families treat and defend against these unwelcoming visitors without applying pesticide to a child’s head.