Winter and spring breaks are a great time for families. The kids are home and many families choose to go on vacation or to visit family they haven't seen for some time. School holidays are a time for rest, relaxation and play. Eventually, this comes to an end and you have to go back to your daily routines. Moms and dads go back to work and the kids go back to school.
What many parents do not consider is the fact that, other than the beginning of the school year, returns from extended breaks are the most common times for children to contract head lice. Many prevention and treatment options include natural, essential oils that are 100 percent non-harmful to children, pets and the environment.
Head lice are small bugs that feed off of human blood. They live on the scalp and in the hair. Lice typically like to reside in a clean head of hair. They are more able to cling to the clean hair shaft and lay their eggs, or nits.
Once a person has been affected it is very difficult to get rid of it completely. It is not only time consuming for the adults, but upsetting for the children who hate to sit still. Depending on the length and type of hair, head lice removal may even become painful as the parent is going through the hair with a small comb.
Head Lice Prevention
The good news is that there are ways to prevent head lice. There are many reputable products that you can purchase over the counter to prevent an infestation. There are shampoos, sprays and creams that you can apply to the hair daily.
It is not recommended that you use a product that is made out of harsh chemicals on a daily basis. Harsh chemical treatments can cause damage to the hair and the scalp. Many of those products have also not been tested to see if there are health ramifications from using them.
Purchase a product that is all natural. You can also use simple home remedies such as tea tree oil in your shampoo. You could spray a mixture of one part tea tree oil, one part lavender oil, and one part water right on your scalp daily. Proven, natural preventative measures are safer, healthier, and usually more effective than harsh chemicals.
Head lice do not just come from hair. If your children go to a school where a "coat closet" is shared, they can contract head lice that way as well. Cubbies and closets are very popular areas for them to spread from item to item easily.
Contrary to popular belief, a louse cannot jump from one head to another. A louse moves from one person to another through direct contact. If your hair is close enough to their hair, if your jackets touch, if you sit on a seat after a person with lice sits there, these are a few ways you can contract head lice. While the most common times for spread is after school breaks, a person can contract head lice anytime.
If you do contract head lice, there are a few tips to help you get rid of them quickly. Use natural products, such as those mentioned above. Harsh chemicals are never the way to go. Comb through the hair and ensure that all of the eggs, or nits, are gone. Treat two times, even if you think you got everything in the first treatment.
Last but not least, it is important to clean everything when lice have been identified in your home. Clothing, bedding, pillows, furniture, and cars all must be treated to kill any head lice that may be lingering. Prevention is the key in head lice management.
Author Resource:-
Liz Solovay writes about lice prevention and lice removal for the Lice Treatment Center. She promotes Jolis Cheveux, a line of 100% natural head lice treatment products. Find out more by visiting the Lice Treatment Center.
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