Head lice are more common in summer when it is hot and sunny. Head lice can cause frustration and discomfort for both parents and children. Head lice and nits can cause severe irritation to children if they scratch their scalp too often. Although it is not a severe disease, it can be contagious. It is important to understand the root cause of head lice and how to prevent it from growing faster at home.
Head Lice
There are many misconceptions regarding the nature of head lice. Many people believe that lice can spread easily and are a communicable disease. Head lice cannot fly, but can crawl. This is why it is easier to spread head lice from one person to another by direct contact. You may also be infected with lice if you have hair, clothes, or grooming products. Head lice are dependent on sucking blood from the scalp of humans for food and survival.
Adult louse feeds on the skin five times per day, piercing it with its sharp claws. This is why you will feel a little bit of itching on your scalp when louse bites. They can survive for at least 24 hours without eating blood and can live for up to 30 days on the scalp.
Keep in mind
Head lice can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or location. To prevent the spread of lice to other family members, head lice treatment should be taken seriously. To ensure that everyone is protected, the infested child should be treated first.
For initial treatment, you can use medicated lotions and shampoos. Shampoos are effective in getting rid of lice and nits. They work well if used regularly within 7 days. Apply medicated lice shampoo to damp hair and rinse off after about 15 to 20 minutes. Once hair is dry, separate it into 1-inch sections and begin combing from the roots to the tips. After each pass, remove any lice or nits from the comb. Take a closer look at all personal belongings in the house. Get rid of all bedding, linens and hair combs. Wash them with hot water, soap, and bleach.
Good to know
Lice and nits exposed to temperatures above 125 F could cause them to die. Other items can be dried in a dryer for 20 minutes to kill lice and nits. You can place your items in an airtight container to keep them safe and dry clean the rest. To remove all lice and hidden eggs, you can clean your hair by placing your combs, hair clips and headbands in a pan. Thoroughly clean all furniture in the house.
Use vacuum cleaners to clean carpets and upholstery. To remove lice eggs, wash all bedding and mattresses with hot water and bleach.
Prevention
These are effective ways to prevent head lice from spreading to other family members. It is important to treat lice immediately. If not treated promptly, these parasites can disrupt your daily activities and cause severe irritation to your scalp. It is important to get immediate treatment within the family by maintaining good hygiene and cleanliness at all times. It will be easier to treat head lice if everyone cooperates and the treatment is done correctly and consistently.