How to Prevent Head Lice Infestation

Check your child's hair daily to prevent reinfestations of lice.

An itchy scalp that leads to constant scratching may indicate that a person has head lice. Head lice are tiny, six-legged parasites that live on people's heads and feed on their blood. According to "Head Lice" by Elaine Landau, 6 million to 12 million people a year in the United States have head lice, most commonly in children from 3- to 11-years-old. Lice can spread among humans through close physical contact. To protect yourself or your children from acquiring lice, take simple measures to prevent initial or recurring infestations.

Things You'll Need

• Coconut oil-based shampoo
• Vacuum
• Plastic, sealed bags

Instructions

Preventing Initial Outbreaks

1. Avoid head-to-head contact with another person who may be infected with lice. During play, sports or school, children often brush their heads together and should limit this form of contact.

2. Brush your hair with your own brush or comb. Do not let someone use your brush and do not use another person's brush.

3. Sleep on your own pillow and do not share your pillow with another person. Children attending sleepovers should have their own pillows and sleeping bags.

4. Wear your own scarves, helmets, hats and hair accessories and do not share them with others or wear accessories that are not your own.

5. Shampoo your hair regularly with a coconut oil-based shampoo. Coconut oil contains dodecyl alcohol, which can kill adult lice.

Preventing Recurring Infestations

1. Machine wash your clothes, towels and bed linens in hot water and dry them on high heat to kill any lice that may cling to them.

2. Wash your brushes and combs with soap and hot water.

3. Vacuum your carpet and couches and place children's stuffed animals in sealed, plastic bags for two weeks to kill any lice on them.

Tips & Warnings

• Place children's clothing and accessories in individual lockers at school or daycare instead of in shared storage. Make sure your child's daycare does not have dress-up corners where hats, scarves and clothes are shared.

• Too much Tea Tree oil can dry out your hair!

References

• "Head Lice"; Elaine Landau; 2010
• "Bug Busters: Posion-Free Pest Controls for Your House and Garden"; Bernice Lifton; 2005

Resources

• KidsHealth: Head Lice