It can be a taboo subject among parents, but it happens to the best of us: lice. Those tiny bugs and their eggs that spread so easily
and can be such a nuisance – just thinking about them makes you start to scratch your head! But identifying the problem and knowing how to treat it are the keys to stopping what can be a vicious cycle. So, let’s talk about lice.
It Takes Contact
How does it spread? Most lice cases come from head-to-head contact. Jill Bazos, the owner of the certified lice treatment lounge L!ceOut911 in Bedford Hills, has made knowing all about these pests her business. “Lice can only live on a human scalp. Their claws are shaped in a manner that allow them to hold onto hair, to crawl and to travel. Lice do not jump or fly. They live on the scalp and typically lay eggs about a quarter inch from the scalp,” she says.
Lice spreads in obvious places where there are children, such as schools and camps, but it can also be picked up during travel. Debra Rosen, the founder of the tri-state lice service LiceXchange, has seen cases come from all parts of the world in her over 25-year career. Rosen says to make sure to check for lice after any vacation. “Going to Disney World, Disneyland, we find it everywhere, certainly every time anyone travels abroad.”
Symptoms
What is it that parents should be looking for? Bazos says, “Usually, the first signs of lice are the visual signs of lice eggs, commonly known as nits. The most reliable way to detect lice is to thoroughly check the entire head for nits – small, translucent white, sesame seed-shaped specs on the hair shaft that do not come off with the simple movement of rubbing your finger over them.”
While many kids and adults do start scratching if they’ve had lice for a while, not everybody will. Rosen explains, “If they’re allergic to the saliva of the bug, that’s what that is, they’re allergic to it, so they scratch.” Others may also see a light rash, but again, not everyone.
Take Action
What should parents do once lice is detected? According to the experts, it’s all about “comb-outs” – meticulously combing through every strand of hair with a specially- designed metal comb and special shampoo for a two-week period (make sure you stick with it!). It is recommended that this regimen should also be combined with the use of a white-colored conditioner mixed with baking soda to nudge off any eggs. Comb out the hair onto a white paper towel to check for any signs of eggs or bugs.
If it seems the process is a little confusing and time consuming, it’s because it is. That’s why many parents turn to the professionals for help to find the right products and to learn the right combing method. Bazos has a lounge where kids come for treatment, while Rosen travels to people’s homes. Do your homework to find a trustworthy professional to work with.
Don’t forget, if you find your child has lice, have all family members, babysitters and recent playdates checked too. And take some precautions in your home as well. “Any object with which your child, or any other lice victim, has come in contact can either be washed, placed in a dryer for 30 minutes, placed in the freezer overnight, or left alone in a room for 24 hours,” Bazos suggests.
Prevention
There are some preventative measures you can take to keep your child from getting lice. Rosen recommends using oils (sunflower, olive, etc.) on the scalp and hair to make it too slippery for the lice to grab hold of. “Oils are key to preventing anything with this kind of pest. If you want to add a little peppermint or lavender or rosemary … those are all great repellents for this bug,” she says. You should also educate your child about lice and remind them not to share brushes, hats, etc. And girls should keep their hair contained as much as possible.
Finally, if you do end up with lice, don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed. It doesn’t discriminate and you are only immune if you are bald. Bazos puts it this way: “The fact is, if you have lice, you caught it from someone and you gave it to someone. It is just the way it is. Lice have been here as far back as ancient recorded history and likely longer than that. There was even a lice comb found in Cleopatra’s tomb … and she was royalty!”
Lice really does happen to the best of us.
Andrea White is a freelance writer based in Edgemont.
