It's been a long time between posts, but with school going back, I thought my first topic for 2012 should be head lice. Ugh, my head gets itchy just thinking about it. I still remember being back in primary school and queueing up to see the "nit nurse", just hoping that I wouldn't be one of the unlucky few who were pulled to one side after nits were found in their hair. Luckily, I never had head lice as a child, but it appears to be much more common these days.
Head lice, or nits, are small, wingless insects that live, breed and feed on the human scalp. They can resemble dandruff and can be found either on the scalp or the hair itself. Although people tend to think of itchy scalps when they think of head lice, about half the people who have head lice never scratch their head. Other signs to look for are the eggs which are generally at the base of the strand of hair and are difficult to dislodge, or moving lice on the scalp or hair. The lice themselves are usually about 2-3 mm long and can range in colour from greyish-white to reddish-brown. Some people also get sores on their scalp from the itchy bites which may become infected.
Because the lice do not have wings, they cannot jump or fly from one person to the next. They spread by head-to-head contact, such as hugs or close playing. If you know someone with head lice, it's important to also notify people who may have had head-to-head contact with them so they can also be checked.
The best way to check for head lice is to use the wet combing method.
- Apply hair conditioner (any type or brand) to either wet or dry hair, covering the entire length and detangle with a regular hair comb. The conditioner makes it difficult for the lice to cling to the hair or crawl.
- Divide hair into 3-4 cm sections and use a fine-toothed lice comb (available from Berwick Pharmacy) to slowly and carefully comb the hair all the way from the scalp to the ends.
- After each stroke, wipe the comb onto a paper towel until clean. Check the paper towel for any lice or eggs.
- Comb each section of hair through at least twice before thoroughly rinsing the hair.
You can also use the above wet combing method to treat head lice, but it needs to be done every second day for at least ten days in a row after lice or eggs are found. There is no need to treat head lice unless lice or eggs are actually found. If multiple members of your family are found to have head lice, make sure you treat everyone at the same time to prevent reinfection amongst each other.
Berwick Pharmacy carries a wide range of products to treat head lice. They range from shampoos and conditioners to lotions, sprays and mousses. We also stock herbal products to treat head lice. All head lice treatments must be applied to all parts of the hair in order to kill the lice and must be used twice, seven days apart. This ensures that not only the lice, but any eggs, are also killed. It is very important to read and follow the directions carefully as they can differ between products and correct use means a much higher chance of effective treatment. Do not shampoo the hair before using the treatment. Afterwards, hair should be dried with a towel as the heat from a hairdryer can prevent the product from working effectively. Special care should be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under two years old or have any open scalp wounds, allergies or asthma. Speak to our pharmacists who can advise on which product is best for you and your family.
Resistance to head lice treatments is unfortunately becoming more common so sometimes you may need to try a different product to ensure the hair is rid of lice. Once the treatment is complete, use the wet combing method the following day to ensure the lice are dead. If not, it is likely that the lice are resistant to that product and the active ingredient in it, so speak to your pharmacist about finding an alternative.
If your child has head lice, you should advise the school as well as any close contacts so they can be checked and treated. Children can return to school after their first treatment, but don't forget that they will still require a second treatment one week later.
In addition to treating the hair, towels, sheets, pillow cases and headwear such as scarves and hats should also be washed in hot water (at least 60 degrees celcius) or dried in a clothes dryer for at least 15 minutes. Combs and brushes should be placed in hot water (again, at least 60 degrees) for at least five minutes after combing through hair with head lice. Items such as bicycle helmets which cannot be washed should be placed in a sealed plastic bag for at least two weeks.
Advice to prevent catching head lice includes keeping long hair tied back and not sharing hats, brushes or combs. It is still relatively common though so some parents find it useful to check their children's hair every week using the wet comb method in order to catch it early.
Make sure you drop into Berwick Pharmacy to speak to our pharmacists if someone in your family has head lice. We can show you our wide range of head lice treatments and help you decide which one is best for you. We also have free Self Care Cards which you can take home with lots of useful information. Our staff would love to help you get rid of this common, but frustrating condition as quickly and easily as possible.
Here's a cute cartoon I found online...
If your child has head lice, you should advise the school as well as any close contacts so they can be checked and treated. Children can return to school after their first treatment, but don't forget that they will still require a second treatment one week later.
In addition to treating the hair, towels, sheets, pillow cases and headwear such as scarves and hats should also be washed in hot water (at least 60 degrees celcius) or dried in a clothes dryer for at least 15 minutes. Combs and brushes should be placed in hot water (again, at least 60 degrees) for at least five minutes after combing through hair with head lice. Items such as bicycle helmets which cannot be washed should be placed in a sealed plastic bag for at least two weeks.
Advice to prevent catching head lice includes keeping long hair tied back and not sharing hats, brushes or combs. It is still relatively common though so some parents find it useful to check their children's hair every week using the wet comb method in order to catch it early.
Make sure you drop into Berwick Pharmacy to speak to our pharmacists if someone in your family has head lice. We can show you our wide range of head lice treatments and help you decide which one is best for you. We also have free Self Care Cards which you can take home with lots of useful information. Our staff would love to help you get rid of this common, but frustrating condition as quickly and easily as possible.
Here's a cute cartoon I found online...
References and further reading
- Head lice (nits) - treatment and control Fact Sheet, Better Health Channel, published August 2011 (accessed 31 January 2012)
- Head Lice Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published April 2011
