Your Child and Head Lice

Well it's that time of year again when all of our little munchkin's are off to school and of course the rise of Head lice is back in full action!  

Here are a few tips to help you beat the head lice itch!  

What is Head Lice anyway? 

Lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp, where they lay their eggs and feed off blood in the skin.  The eggs, called nits, which are whitish grey, tan or yellow ovals, approximately the size of a grain of sand.  They can look like dandruff.  Adult lice can be the size of a sesame seed and are hard to see. Head lice doesn't mean that you're unclean.  Lice actually prefers clean loose hair. 

How does lice spread?

Head lice can spread through direct hair to hair contact or by sharing things like hats, hairbrushes and headphones.  Lice does not fly or hop however they do crawl very quickly.

How do you know if your child has lice?
The most common sign that your child has lice is if they have an itchy head or neck.  head lice however can also have no symptoms.  


How do you treat head lice? 


The most common treatment is an over the counter insecticide in the form of a cream, lotion or shampoo.  Make sure to follow all instructions carefully. Combine this with manual nit removal with a fine comb.


What should you clean in your home?
Lice has a very short life spa away from the scalp, there is no need to disinfect your entire home.  Make sure to was bed linens, pillow cases, towels, hats and clothing in hot water at least 50 degrees Celsius and dry them in a hot drier for at least 20minutes.  Remember to include stuffed animals or toys that have a clothing component.  


Need more help?  
At Baden we are always asked if there is an easy and fast way to get rid of lice. 
Click on the link below and find more information on Lice.
http://www.licebusters.ca/

Good luck in your Head to head fight with lice!