Common Causes of Head Lice

No one likes to discover they or someone they live with has head lice. Unfortunately, you can bath and shampoo regularly and still get lice. It isn't about staying clean. In fact, according to Bayer HealthCare, lice prefer living on those who are clean. Millions of children get lice every year, but adults get them too. You can protect yourself.

Head-to-Head Contact

• Lice can crawl, but they can't fly. Lice crawl from an infected host to a new host. Teach your child to avoid head-to-head contact. Lice can be transferred when the head of the host comes in contact with furniture, car interiors, towels or clothing. If you are aware that any of these items have come in contact with the head of someone who has lice, treat appropriately with lice control spray or launder in hot water and dry on the hottest setting possible.

Shared Bedding

• If you use a pillow or lay in a bed that was used by someone who has lice, it is possible to transfer the parasite from them to you. If you know that someone has lice and has used bedding you might come in contact with, wash the linens in hot water and dry them on the hottest setting. Adding a small amount of tea tree oil or lice shampoo to the wash water will kill any live lice and their eggs.

Headgear

• Hats, coat hoods, sports helmets, ball caps and any other headgear can transfer lice from an infected person to a new host. Caution children not to share hats, coats, caps, sweaters, headbands, scarves, headphones or other head wear with any other child. Wash washable items in hot water and dry them on the hottest setting you can use for the item.

  If a lice infestation occurs, you can spray non-washable items with lice control spray. If you don't want to use a chemical pesticide, mix 1/4 cup of olive or coconut oil with five drops of each of these essential oils: tea tree, rosemary, peppermint, lemon balm, eucalyptus and lavender. Put the oils in a spray bottle and mist the item. Seal in a bag and leave for several hours and then blot the item with a clean, dry cloth. Use tweezers to pick out any nits or dead insects.

Combs and Brushes

• Combs and brushes can transfer lice from one host to another. Caution children to never share combs, brushes, barrettes, hair bows or other personal items. If your child has lice, treat all combs, brushes, plastic and metal hair items with a hot water (130°F or hotter) soak for at least 10 minutes. Wash fabric items in hot water and dry for at least 20 minutes in the dryer on the hottest safe setting possible.

Plush Toys

• Stuffed animals, blankets and other items that occupy the bed can also harbor lice. Pack toys that cannot be washed in sealed plastic bags; leave them sealed for at least six weeks if you don't want to spray them with lice control spray. According to Bayer, the life cycle of a louse is 40 to 50 days. Lice must have blood to live, so quarantining the toys for this length of time will insure there are no live parasites in the toys.